The Progressive Democrats and Sinn Féin may make unlikely bedfellows, but they spoke this week with one voice in Galway West.
Candidates for both parties have called on a group of community representatives in Knocknacarra, Galway, to state the residents associations they represent.
This follows a move by the group - linked to the Combined Western Suburb Residents Association (CWSRA) - to back the Independent MEP, Ms Dana Rosemary Scallon, in the general election.
Ms Scallon, who welcomed the support, scored something of an own goal in an election debate on Galway Bay FM radio when she was questioned on her geographical knowledge of Knocknacarra by PD councillor Mr Terry O'Flaherty. Ms Scallon was unable to give a response, and said this was because she was "nervous".
A report in last week's Out of the West on the move by the five community representatives drew an angry reaction from the Mayor of Galway, Mr Donal Lyons, one of three PD candidates standing in Galway West. He questions the representation of the group, which includes a former Independent candidate, Mr Pat Maher.
Coming out in support of Mr Lyons is the Sinn Féin candidate, solicitor Mr Daniel Callanan. He has called on the Combined Western Suburb Residents Association to list the residents associations affiliated to it and the number of representatives from these associations who attended the meeting which decided to endorse Ms Scallon.
Mr Callanan said he believed the statement by the association relating to its demands for Knocknacarra - which has a population of 12,000 but lacks many basic services - was "very unfair" in view of the hard work put in in the area by Mr Lyons.
Ms Carmel Garrett of the Gentian Hill and Knocknacarra Residents Association is incensed.
She says the group includes "failed politicians", three of whom have either run or have failed to be selected to run, in local elections.
"It would appear that they now see Dana as their last chance to achieve fame," Ms Garrett says. "These people do not represent me, and they certainly have not made any attempt to survey my community."
Her association is the original residents' representative group in an area, which has multiplied in size and which is now synonymous with poor planning decisions by public representatives in Galway.