Gareth O'Callaghan: People are wondering if they will bother to vote at all

The biggest shock next week could be the number of politicians who lose their seats. Nor would it surprise me if the turnout was the lowest ever

Taoiseach Simon Harris shakes hands with Tánaiste Micheál Martin while canvassing voters in Killorglin, Co Kerry, ahead of Friday's election. 

On a damp dull Saturday morning in late January 1987, Charles Haughey stepped out from the passenger seat of his detective-driven Mercedes into a dense fog outside Langtons Hotel in Kilkenny.

He glanced around and waved to the large crowd of spectators who had waited for hours to get a glimpse of the Boss, and then engaged in some flesh-pressing.