Turning to the local elections, and the Clare FM Countdown continues with a look at West Clare today.
The area takes it Kilrush, Ennistymon and surrounding areas and there are 16 candidates looking for 8 seats on May 23rd.
There are eight seats on offer in the West Clare electoral area which, in spite of it's name, also includes much of North Clare, by stretching from Black Head to Loop Head and including the likes of Corofin and Ennistymon.
Fianna Fáil field five candidates, all current members of Clare County Council.
Michael Hillery of Spanish Point, Kilkee's Patrick Keane, Lissycasey's PJ Kelly and Ennistymon's Richard Nagle are joined on the ticket by Bill Chambers of Cooraclare
For Fine Gael, Kildysart's Oliver Garry, Gabriel Keating of Cross, Kilrush and Bill Slattery of Lahinch are also current County Councillors, while Marian McMahon Jones has served on Kilrush Town Council.
The party's only first-time candidate is Gerard Kennedy of Corofin, who is hoping to use three decades of experience of work in rural enterprise and development should he be elected.
There are four Independents in this area.
Former Clare Mayor Christy Curtin was first elected in 1979, while Ian Lynch has served as a member of Kilrush Town Council.
The other independents are retired Teacher and Writer Jackie Dale of Cree, and former Garda Sergeant Joe Enright of Kilmihil.
The field is completed by Kevin Heapes from Querrin, Kilkee who's running for The Green Party, and by Ballyvaughan woman Noeleen Moran for Sinn Fein.
