CLARE has acted as a stepping stone for some of the most powerful people in Irish politics. Monuments stand today in Ennis to Daniel O'Connell and Eamon de Valera who held his seat for 42 consecutive years from 1917. He was replaced by Dr Paddy Hillery, also to become a President.
These men cut their political teeth in Clare and neither O'Connell nor de Valera were Clare natives.
Just as the outsider was welcome then - a Kerry man and a US citizen who grew up in Co Limerick - the Clare voting public in modern Ireland has carried on the tradition of sending non natives to the Dail.
Media people were left scrambling in search of the curriculum vitae of a South African born Indian who won a seat for Labour at the last general election - Dr Who, the man who later became a household name, Dr Moosajee Bhamjee. He is a practising psychiatrist and the joke at the time of his election was that all his patients voted for him. The doctor was not totally unconnected to Clare - his wife came from Cooraclare.
Political pundits marvelled at his victory. Labour was flavour of the month then, but still observers were bewildered by the innovative voting of the Clare electorate. They shouldn't have been, as history demonstrates. Now the lights are going out on the brief public life of Dr Bhamjee. The pundits had forecast his defeat in the next general election, due to a possible swing against Labour this time and a drop in his personal vote.
His probable Labour successor is Ms Bridin Twist, the president of the Irish Countrywomen's Association. While coming from a popular Clare family and a strong candidate with an Ennis base, she would not be considered as being in a position to get the doctor's seat.
The grand daughter of the "long fellow", Sile de Valera, is firmly entrenched and a banker to hold her Fianna Fail seat.
Her colleague, teacher Tony Killeen, who won for the first time in 1992, is considered safe. Minister of State Donal Carey (FG), with his elevated status, is expected to win again. Two political veterans and former TDs, Senators Brendan Daly (FE) and Madeline Taylor Quinn (FG), are in the field as usual and are expected to be in contention for the remaining seat.
There is also primary school teacher and East Clare Progressive Democrat candidate, Ms Mary Mannion who lives in the Limerick East constituency. She polled 3,000 first preferences in her first outing last time, while a PD candidate also stood in Ennis. She is maintaining a high local media profile.
With a likely Labour loss, the final line up at this early stage could be Deputy de Valera (FF), Deputy Carey (FG), Deputy Killeen (FF) and the remaining seat resting between Senators Daly (FF) and Madeline Taylor Quinn.
Clare at the next election is also likely to set a new pattern again by having more women candidates than men. Along with the women already mentioned can be added the possible entry of a Shannon Independent, Ms Patricia McCarthy, a former Labour candidate, and Shannon based republican Ms Bridget Makowski.