Welcome to democracy Fianna Fáil style - parliament dissolved in the early hours of a Sunday morning, election boundaries manipulated to suit the Government and larger parties, the electoral register still in disarray and a steadfast refusal to have polling day on a weekend, making voting accessible to all of the electorate. Establishment media pundits tell us that this will be the most expensive, most hotly contested election ever and the pollsters' figures change by the week on who is winning the media beauty contest. The only forgotten element to all of this is the actual voter. Sinn Féin alone of the parties has not entered the auction politics of false promises and is instead actually working on the ground, and with 41 candidates in 40 constituencies, the party is fielding its largest election team ever. Over the next three weeks An Phoblacht's Robbie Smyth will profile each constituency beginning this week with those Connacht/Ulster and North Leinster. Free article

A native of Cabinteely and Blackrock, Eoin Ó Broin (35) is Director of European Affairs for Sinn Féin and editor of the acclaimed magazine, Left Republican Review. Free article

Cristín McCauley is the Sinn Féin General Election candidate for Kildare North. Originally from Lurgan, County Armagh she is a trained youth worker and headed programs such as 'self awareness, young women's groups' and after school clubs. Cristín contested the Kildare local government elections in 2004. Free article

At 33, Councillor John Brady is the youngest candidate in the Wicklow constituency which includes parts of east County Carlow. He is a carpenter by trade. Free article

Cothrom an lae seo 5 Bealtaine 1981, fuair Roibeard Ó Seachnasaigh bas, chomh maith le Proinsias Ó hAodha, Peatsaí Ó hEadhra, Réamann Mac Raois, Seosamh Mac Dónaill, Máirtín Ó hUrsain, Caoimhín Ó Loingsigh, Ciarán Ó Dochartaigh, Tomás Mac Giolla Bhuí agus Mícheál Ó Duibhinn - ní bheidh a leithéid aris ann. Ba scríbhneoir iontach é Bobby agus bhí sé ábalta daoine eile a spreagadh chomh maith. Seo ceann dá phíosaí a chum sé sna 70í agus tá sé foilsithe anseo focal ar fhocal: Free article

Raymond McCord in Starsbourg, Why EU policies on climate change will fail, UEN covers itself in glory - twice and Major gap in EU human rights report Free article

The Loughgall Martyrs Free article

Bheul, tá a fhios agam go bhfuil sibh i modh toghcháin faoi láthair agus níl soicind agaibh ach fách leis an mbail a bhí orainn a shamhlú duit féin as a aithle sin. Cad é ba mhaith libh a dhéanamh sa samhradh? Cad é faoi cursaí Gaeilge agus imeachtaí cultúrtha do dhaoine fásta sa Gaeltacht? Agus beidh muid ar nós dá mbeadh muid uilig líofa i Sinn Féin. Sin ár n-aisling. Free article

I have always had a soft spot for Waterford hurling, partly based on reading and hearing about them from the 50s and 60s. According to my father and uncles, their trademark was fast ground hurling and the ability to run up large numbers of goals. Times have changed and nowadays ground hurling is little favoured by any team over the age of 10, and Waterford in recent years have sometimes rued missed goal chances in crucial games. Free article

Now that the 26 County general election has finally been called, the gloves are off and the media are falling over themselves to show their true colours. No story is too low or too dirty for those who control the media, and there are many journalists who are quite happy - because of their own prejudices or because of their lust for money - to do their bosses' dirty work. Free article