Alison O'Connor: The stakes are high in a by-election that could reshape national politics

'House!' A bank holiday bingo session attended by one of the candidates could hint at a key issue in Dublin Bay South

Sinn Féin candidate in the Dublin Bay South by-election, Senator Lynn Boylan, on the campaign trail in Ringsend last Saturday. On bank holiday Monday, Alison O'Connor tagged along with Ms Boylan on the canvass — and a bingo session — at one of Ireland's oldest social housing complexes. Picture: Damien Storan

IT really is a rather delicious electoral prospect — a by-election that has the potential to change the national political narrative. But also the first where there are so many more female than male candidates.

Campaigners, apparently, will be able to knock on doors — probably just one person at a time, standing at a social distance. So some of it will look all too familiar.