When the electorate in Dublin South Central cast their votes in the forthcoming by-election the name of one of the constituency's long-time campaigners will be absent from the ballot paper. At every contest since 1977, Mr Eric Byrne has sought to represent Dublin South Central in the Dail.
However, on this occasion he will be canvassing for Labour Party colleague Dr Mary Upton, a sister of the late Pat Upton whose death earlier this year caused the vacancy.
Following the merger between Labour and Democratic Left, Mr Byrne and his supporters were faced with the reality of being unable to gain sufficient votes to win the nomination. Last Wednesday night at the Labour selection convention, he stood aside as Dr Upton was chosen unopposed.
The merger was bitterly opposed by Labour Party members in Dublin South Central. Some 12 months ago they predicted "wholesale defections if this merger goes ahead. The proposal is a recipe for discord and conflict".
Now facing into the by-election campaign, however, the message is one of sweetness and harmony. Dr Upton (53) says that with "Eric Byrne and his team supporting me, we will have a united team".
A native of Co Clare, Dr Upton has been a lecturer in microbiology at UCD since 1969.
She starts as favourite to win the by-election in Dublin South Central which is one of the State's largest-working class constituencies. It takes in areas such as Crumlin, Drimnagh, Ballyfermot and Kilmainham.
According to members of all parties, overcoming apathy is likely to be the single biggest task facing all the by-election candidates.
In last June's local elections, some of the ballot boxes in Drim nagh and Crumlin reflected turnouts as low as 16 per cent. And against the backdrop of the Ansbacher revelations, the two tribunals in Dublin Castle and the DIRT inquiry, one TD who represents the constituency said: "There will be a `plague on all your houses' attitude for this by-election."
Housing is expected to figure large on the doorsteps, with an electorate seeking more local authority and affordable houses. The candidates are also likely to be asked about their plans to tackle the problems associated with childcare provision.
If the Labour Party candidate is overturned, the possible victor could be Cllr Michael Mulcahy (39) of Fianna Fail. A barrister, Cllr Mulcahy is no stranger to Dublin South Central, having run in the last two general elections and the 1994 by-election.
In 1997 he polled just over 4,500 first preferences votes - only slightly fewer than those received by his two running mates, Mr Ben Briscoe and Mr Sean Ardagh, both of whom were elected.
In the recent local elections, Mr Mulcahy out-polled Mr Ardagh in the Crumlin/Kimmage area.
Fine Gael has also chosen a local authority member to contest the by-election. Cllr Catherine Byrne will be seeking to join Mr Gay Mitchell in the Dail.
Despite her involvement in many community and voluntary organisations, she is likely to suffer from the fact that her electoral base is outside the constituency. Only when Dublin South Central is expanded to a five-seater at the next general election will Ms Byrne's electoral area come into the constituency.
The writ for the by-election is expected to be moved in the Dail next Tuesday, with polling day likely to be towards the end of October or early next month. The other candidates already selected to contest the by-election are Mr Aengus O Snodaigh of Sinn Fein and Mr John Goodwillie of the Green Party.