There is a very definite fight on for the last two seats of this four-seater constituency, with Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil not having everything their own way.

Farming issues

Land quality in Clare is very variable, with the Burren in north Clare, bogs in the west, and some pockets of good free-draining land across the county. Suckler farming is the dominant industry here, with a high number of part-time farmers, and some dairy and sheep farms. According to Teagasc, 9% of land in the county is under forestry.

Farmers in Clare, like those elsewhere, will want to know how incomes will be supported by the Government in the next five years.

Worryingly, pockets of bovine TB have cropped up in recent times, making the county a blackspot for the disease.

Rural issues

Clare has not benefited hugely from the recovery, though the tourism industry, specifically the Wild Atlantic Way, has bolstered the local economy. Like in many other counties in the west of Ireland, many feel that jobs are concentrated in the east.

Flooding is also a massive issue in the county. There are also issues with broadband and road infrastructure, as well as a lack of adequate health services.

Who will get elected?

Before 2011, Clare traditionally returned two Fianna Fáil and two Fine Gael TDs, with a few exceptions in recent years. There are four seats up for grabs here and 15 candidates.

Sitting TD Timmy Dooley (FF) will be returned comfortably, as will Pat Breen (FG). After that, it’s a dogfight for the last two seats.

It is widely believed that farmer Michael McNamara will lose out. The former barrister is a bit of a rebel within the Labour Party, recently losing the party whip. Remaining positive throughout adversity, he said during the Irish Farmers Journal’s live debate that he will be expecting a promotion in Labour if re-elected. Interestingly, his wife is a grand-daughter of former president Patrick Hillery.

Dr Michael Harty (Ind) is well-regarded and could win the third seat. He wants to address the GP crisis in rural Ireland and was put forward by the No Doctor, No Village campaign. Noeleen Moran (SF) is gaining ground in the county after narrowly missing out on a council seat in 2014. If she is elected, it will be first seat for the party in the county since 1922.

This leaves sitting TD Joe Carey (FG) under pressure. His base in Clarecastle is quite close to Pat Breen’s in Ennis. Meanwhile, their party colleague Mary Howard (FG) is running a very visible campaign across the county. However, it is unlikely she will be elected.

Ann Norton (Ind) is popular candidate in the county. The disability rights campaigner won Clare Person of the Year in 2013. The Greens are running Fergal Smith, who owns a community farm and is a former Irish surf champion.

Keep a close eye on Clare this weekend. Anything could happen.

The odds courtesy of Paddy Power odds

Pat Breen (Fine Gael) 1/50

Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail) 1/50

Michael Harty (Ind) 1/5

Noeleen Moran (Sinn Fein) 4/9

Joe Carey (Fine Gael) 11/10

Michael McNamara (Labour) 3/1

Michael McDonagh (Fianna Fail) 9/1

Clare Colleran Molloy (Fianna Fail) 12/1

Ann Norton (Ind) 14/1

Mary Howard (Fine Gael) 25/1