Constituency profile: Kildare South

In recent days, Martin Heydon’s Back to the Future- style video advert has caught the attention of voters not only here, but also nationally.

The cheesy yet genuinely funny ad, (wink from candidate to camera included) is so bad it is good and Heydon, all gimmicks aside, is a politician of real substance. He is well-liked by the electorate and has performed well since first entering the Dáil in 2011. He was a member of the so-called ‘Five-A-Side’ group of Fine Gael rebels who spoke out against party policy. He later distanced himself from the group before it was disbanded. All indications are he will top the poll and safely return to Leinster House. His running mate, Fiona McLoughlin Healy, is expecting to perform well and could even challenge for the last seat.

Fianna Fáil’s Dáil whip, Sean O Fearghail, who had to overcome a rather messy selection convention, is the party’s standard bearer in this election and should retain his seat.