And we're off...

If it seems like only a few weeks since we've had an election here in Donegal, well it's because...it's only a few weeks since we've had an election.

But the bye-election in Donegal South West before Christmas and the General Election to come following the dissolution of the Dáil on Tuesday - are two different ball games.

For a start, both constituencies will get to go the polls this time around and before a vote has been cast at all by the masses, the fun and games have begun in both constituencies with some public in-party squabbling.

In the South West, the Labour Party have re-iterated their support for Frank McBrearty as their candidate following claims last week by Thomas Pringle that he had been approached by Labour - and offered a Seanad seat if he would run.

That led to all sorts of claims and counter-claims over the week, but the local Labour Party were due to meet on Wednesday night to clear the air and get their head back in the game before the election race kicks off again.

There has been no news as yet from that meeting, but no doubt over the coming days something will emerge.

Meanwhile there are all sorts of fun and games in the Fianna Fáil camp Donegal North East. With the selection convention due to take place this Sunday night, an 'unofficial' convention held in Inishowen on Thursday night has selected councillor Charlie McConalogue as the peninsula's preferred candidate.

That convention was not attended by Senator Cecilia Keaveney who, it would appear, will no longer be a Fianna Fáil politician for long following the events of the past week.

But what will happen if party HQ - decide to run a single candidate? According to reports in Friday's Donegal News, Councillor McConalogue has the backing of Letterkenny FF supporters, suggesting a the rift between Niall Blaney and Fianna Fáil supporters in Donegal North East outside the Milford area.

If the party HQ choose Deputy Blaney as a single candidate - could he rely on FF support in Inishowen or would councillor McConalogue run as an independent?

Fine Gael's candidate in Donegal North East - Deputy Joe McHugh - is also based in the Milford Electoral Area - and while he has been selected by the party as their single candidate, reports on inishowennews.com recently suggested that Fine Gael members in the peninsula are also unhappy with this strategy and would like to see councillor John Ryan added to the ticket.

Sinn Féin have had no such controversies, Pearse Doherty following his romping success in the bye election will run again in South West, while the party will be very hopeful that Padraig Mac Lochlainn will take a second seat for them in the North East.

Throw into the mix suggestions that Brian O'Domhnaill could possibly pip Mary Coughlan in Donegal South West, the independent concerns of Thomas Pringle (SW), Betty Homes (NE), Ryan Stewart (NE) and Anne Sweeney (SW) and Jimmy Harte's switch to Labour in Donegal North-East and this has the makings of one very interesting general election in Donegal this time around.