THE "Continent" of Donegal is how a former Fine Gael councillor used to describe his county, where geography is the political factor as in no other area.
Come election time, it's not rival parties that candidates are afraid of. Sitting TDs are most worried about their running mates, who don't have the constant 200 mile travel to Dublin to contend with during a campaign. Donegal is 70 miles from end to end, but canvassing a single peninsula in one of the two constituencies can involve a round trip of 100 miles.
Outgoing Fianna Fail TD, Pat "The Cope" Gallagher, won't have that headache anymore. The energetic MEP for Connacht Ulster and former junior marine minister is not running for the Dail this time round. As with NorthEast, where Neil Blaney's death has opened up the political landscape, there is a question mark over the third seat in Donegal South West.
Gallagher's replacement, accountant, Enda Bonner, has worked behind the scenes for many years. He is a very successful businessman, handling the accounts for the Killybegs super trawler fleet. However, the Fianna Fail selection convention in Glenties was steeped in controversy, and Bonner's profile is not substantial enough to claim victory yet. His campaign fears a slippage in The Cope's healthy personal vote. Should Bonner not retain around 85 per cent of his colleague's first preferences, he could be sweating it out at the count.
The "Kelly" factor is one variable, as Paddy Kelly, from Falcarragh, who topped the poll in Udaras na Gaeltachta elections, is running for Independent Fianna Fail (IFF). The Blaney party is not as strong in the south of the county, but could still eat into the vote for the vacant seat, and may benefit from some Fianna Fail transfers. Sitting TD, Mary Coughlan, is regarded as "safe".
The hardworking Fianna Fail deputy hasn't let pregnancy stop her from canvassing.
Fine Gael is also reported to be at ease with itself. Deputy Dinny McGinley is regarded as secure, though under some scrutiny after his by election showing. His running mate, Frank O'Kelly, is an outspoken and well known Ballyshannon vet. The big fear for Fine Gael - an Independent, as in the neighbouring constituency - has receded with the announcement by the former TD and hotelier, Jim White, that he is not running. Speculation had been rife, fuelled by Mr White's comment to the Donegal Democrat earlier this month that he had "nothing to say" on the matter. In 1992, on the party ticket, White polled almost 6,000 first preference votes.
The big issues are unemployment, fishing, local services like waste water management, and the North. There is a widespread belief that Donegal has lost out on major industrial investment, and anger over lack of government commitment to the marine sector; commercial fishing represents some 25 per cent of employment in the northwest. Democratic Left may have produced a good junior marine minister but the party's stalwart, Seamus Rodgers, is not running again.
Labour, which has nominated two candidates in the respective Donegal constituencies for the first time, could pick up the slack, although a possible Fine Gael Democratic Left pact has been mentioned. Seamus Rodgers polled almost 2,000 votes for Democratic Left in 1992.
Labour's Manus Brennan is a physical education teacher, who is best known in Donegal town. It is his first time out. He was director of elections for Donegal South West during the 1994 European elections.
The MMDS television campaign is running a candidate, Tom Gildea, but it is regarded as a "dying" issue, with most support confined to the Glenties/Ardara area of the county. Then there's Tom Kennedy of Mountcharles, an Independent who stands at every possible outing. The Green Party is running Dr Liz Cullen, who is health spokeswoman and secretary of its constituency branch. Dr Cullen has campaigned against MMDS and has called for a monitoring body for radiation. Her platform includes adequate remedial teaching and support for children with special needs.
However, come June 6th Fianna Fail's Mary Coughlan and Fine Gael's Dinny McGinley are expected to be returned, and Enda Bonner should hold on to Pat The Cope's seat for Fianna Fail.
