AS THE Kingdom divided; what's the difference between north and south Kerry who they call the motivator, facilitator and catalyst?
It all goes back to the general election of 1987 when the Tanaiste scraped home by a majority less than the number of digits on one hand - four votes to be exact.
That sort of result can have a salutary effect - and it did. The knowing ones around the political scene in Kerry take the view that Mr Spring's close run left him determined to ensure that there would not be a repeat, and that the affairs of state, whatever they were, would never again leave him with profile problems in his own constituency.
This weekend, as the EU foreign ministers gather in the Tanaiste's home town of Tralee the last thing that could be said of him is that his constituents have been neglected. They have been positively indulged.
"He does not suffer fools gladly," says a spokesman for the Tralee Chamber of Commerce, adding: "But if the proposal has merit, his backing is a blessing. He is the most serious, the most outstanding politician we have ever produced in Kerry."
Blessings indeed. All around Tralee there are signs of the hand of Mr Spring. The capital of the Kingdom is booming. There is an air of confidence.
It is only right and proper, people believe, that the political might of Europe should relocate to Kerry, particularly this part of Kerry, this weekend.
The Mount Brandon Hotel, the foreign ministers will find, is no French chateau on acres of parkland.
With this year's crop of young women hardly clear of the 5th floor after the Rose of Tralee Festival, the hotel is assuming the more unfamiliar role of hosting Europe's top politicians.
Why not Dromoland Castle or Ad are Manor? Because they are not in Tralee, is the answer.
Blocked off streets, a massive security cordon, and a spring clean for the town, at the end of summer, are all manifestations of the Tanaiste's ability to get things done.
"I disagree," says Senator Dan Kiely. "Where are the jobs? Show me the factories he has brought into Tralee. Show me just one. His name might be associated with a lot of tourism projects; but they were in the pipeline anyway. He just happened to be in the right place at the right time."
Sour grapes? "Pure politics," said Mr Der O'Sullivan, a past president of the Chamber of Commerce.
"That four votes episode was nothing really. He answered the call of the nation and paid the price at local level. But there's no fear of him now. How many politicians can walk into Bill Clinton's office or sit down with Arafat? He's probably one of the most powerful men in all of Europe and the fact that he is local to us is a great blessing," he added.
So, what has he done for Tralee? "He made Tralee General Hospital happen," said Mr O'Sullivan.
"That was a Fianna Fail project," retorted Senator Kiely.
"The Blennerville Windmill Project was another of his initiatives," Mr O'Sullivan went on.
"Was it? That was done during a Fianna Fail coalition. He might have been part of it; but he can't claim all the credit," Mr Kiely said.
"He was the catalyst behind the redevelopment of Tralee's town centre, and the Lee Valley Development Project just outside the gown. He facilitated the Jeanie Johnston Salmon Ship Development Project too. Our failing is not being able to come up with enough good projects for him to back. When the idea is good enough, he's the man to see. He's the motivator, facilitator and catalyst. He's the one who has created the climate, the confidence," Mr O'Sullivan said.
"Do you know that just three years ago, there were 54 empty shop units in Tralee - now there's nothing available," said Mr Denis O'Leary, another past president of the chamber.
"There might be a buzz in Tralee; but what's happening in rural North Kerry - what has he done for the hinterland?" asked Mr Kiely.
"There were nine weddings in Tarbert recently and everyone of those couples is moving away from North Kerry. Shops are closing, the villages are dying. It's not just about lofting money at tourist projects - let's hear the announcement about a factory and real jobs for the people.
"In many of the schemes, with which he likes to be associated, the fat cats are simply getting fatter."
South Kerry Fianna Fail TD, Mr John O'Donoghue, was also less than inclined to canonise the Tanaiste. "He's neglected the southern part of the county. We've got nothing, while Tralee has got everything. He's supposed to be the Tanaiste for the people down here too," he added.
