The next general election is about a year away but already some candidates have declared their interest. Sean O’Riordan looks at the possible runners and riders.

We are all used to the bickering and points scoring which has become part and parcel of our political landscape but in one corner of Cork the politicians are all too often able to “draw” on support even from their political opponents.

Former taoiseach Brian Cowen and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin were among hundreds of mourners who gathered yesterday to pay tribute at the funeral of former minister Noel Davern, who died suddenly at the weekend.

The employment of former Dairygold CEO Jerry Henchy was wrongfully terminated for “spurious” reasons unrelated to how he did his job, after an orchestrated campaign involving Dairygold chairman Vincent Buckley and others, it has been claimed.

The boxing impresario Don King would have been suitably impressed with the hype generated at a Cork County Council meeting when standing orders were suspended to discuss the art of pugilism.

In the green corner weighing in at 13-and-a-half stone, the “Mitchelstown Mauler” seeks an opponent for a heavyweight political bout.

The figures show that while numerous former ministers enjoy huge pensions, some are volunteering money back to the State because of the condition of the public finances.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin has rejected claims by Éamon Ó Cuív that Sinn Féin would be their preferred choice as coalition partners in any future government.

Former Fianna Fáil TD Ned O’Keeffe was released without charge after being questioned by gardaí over suspected fraud offences.

Former Fianna Fáil TD Ned O’Keeffe was still being questioned last night after being arrested on suspicion of fraud.

In recent years, Ned O’Keeffe’s outspoken, colourful and sometimes erratic views provided much in the way of political light entertainment.

Former Fianna Fáil TD Ned O’Keeffe has been arrested today in connection with suspected fraud offences.

ENTERPRISE Minister Richard Bruton has denied that he refused to meet with officials of the Irish Farmers’ Association, as an estimated 8,000 farmers marched on his office in Dublin yesterday.

FOR the first time since 1927, Fianna Fáil will not have a TD representing the Cork East constituency.

Here are some of the quotes of the General Election 2011 results day:

NED O’KEEFFE states that in recent years there were too many intellectuals in the Cabinet and that none of them ever bought a bale of hay.

“Ahhhh, sure the dogs on the street know that the fella who smelt it, dealt it.”

Experts on the constitution needn’t worry themselves — there’ll be no violent overthrow or a military junta ruling the country anytime soon, according to the Defence Forces.

Double Crossed: IT’S not like Dick Roche to second guess a member of the public trying to have their say.

FIRST it was Tahrir Square in Egypt, but next time you see the army it could be in Market Square in Mitchelstown.

A MART should normally provide a comfort zone for a canvassing Fianna Fáil candidate from a rural constituency.

FOR Fianna Fáil, the Cork East constituency has been a happy hunting ground since the early 1980s where Ned O’Keeffe and Michael Ahern were always guaranteed to retain their seats.

“IT’S the economy, stupid.”

SPECULATION is mounting that Fianna Fáil is planning to run just one candidate in Cork East where the party currently holds two seats.

FARMERS are calling on the next government to stop the big supermarket chains from keeping prices to producers unfairly low.

ONE of Brian Cowen’s constituency colleagues has admitted Fianna Fáil will be in “fierce trouble” in Laois-Offaly if the Taoiseach doesn’t run in the general election.

FIANNA FÁIL is expected to elect a new leader, the party’s eighth, this afternoon but as the political merry-go-round careers through uncharted territories nothing can be taken for granted.

MICHEÁL MARTIN remains the front-runner to be the next Fianna Fáil leader, with the number of TDs publicly declaring they will support him in tomorrow’s vote now in excess of 20.

MICHEÁL MARTIN was first out of the blocks after the Fianna Fáil leadership became vacant — announcing his candidacy for the position and then watching as a steady stream of TDs declared support for him.

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen is on the cusp of defeating the Fianna Fáil rebellion after backbenchers lined up to show loyalty to their leader.

MICHEÁL MARTIN is seeking to use strong support from the Cork constituencies as the head of the wedge he hopes will topple Taoiseach Brian Cowen as leader of Fianna Fáil.

* FRIDAY, JANUARY 7: A new opinion poll, conducted by Red C for Paddy Power bookmakers, shows Fianna Fáil on just 14%, level with Sinn Féin and a whopping 21 points behind Fine Gael.

THE mob got as far as the door, but were afraid to call for a head.

FIANNA FÁIL went to war with itself last night as a minister accused rebels calling for the Taoiseach’s resignation of trying to save their own skins at the looming election.

PEOPLE living in a north Cork town are celebrating victory after successfully persuading the authorities to give them a direct access route to a planned €800 million motorway.

Fianna Fáil is facing “an absolute hammering” in the forthcoming General Election according to Cork East TD Ned O’Keeffe, as new poll numbers showed a plunge in support.

ONE of the country’s most outspoken politicians believes he will lose his Dáil seat and several of his Fianna Fáil colleagues will also fall victim to a public backlash against the party.

THE majority of the Dáil believes Taoiseach Brian Cowen should call a general election before the December budget.

BRIAN LENIHAN last night admitted Ireland would need an EU-IMF bailout after the Government spent the best part of a week firmly downplaying the possibility.

THE closure of Ireland’s last sugar factory in Mallow, Co Cork, with the loss of 240 jobs may not have been necessary, according to a report from the EU Court of Auditors.