The Presidental Election Campaign is now officially underway.
Nominations closed at midday and a record seven candidates will contest the election.
Campaign launches are planned for today and the coming days with the battle set to start this lunchtime with all 7 Aras hopefuls taking part in a live debate.
Meanwhile, as Election Posters for the individual candidates start to appear on almost every lampost across the country – one County Clare village will be maintaining their ban – despite close links to one of the Aras hopefuls.
For the past 12 years Newmarket on Fergus has imposed a "no posters" rule for the local, general and european elections and locals say this year will be no different.
That’s depite the fact that Labour’ presidental hopeful Michael D. Higgins was raised in the village and still has close family ties there.
