Day of judgment arrives for candidates

NOW, the truth. No more claims, no more counter-claims. No more squabbles. No more personality clashes. No more boundary disputes.

No more political neighbours-from-hell stories. No more polls. No more predictions about rises and demises.

At 7am today, a starting time that reflects a changed society, the country began the democratic process that will decide the shape of local and European representation in Ireland for the next five years. This process will also decide who is entitled to Irish citizenship as of constitutional right.