People in the midlands are already focusing on the next general election. Take, for instance, Kinnegad, which you may recall was bypassed in every sense of the word recently when it was excluded from the Town Renewal Scheme by Westmeath County Council.
Having lost all of the passing trade from traffic to Galway, the loss of urban renewal tax breaks seems to have been the straw.
According to a report in Westmeath Examiner, the Kinnegad and District Action Group is considering grooming an independent candidate to run in the next general election.
The candidate, said a statement from the group, would represent the people of east Westmeath and would cover Rochfortbridge, Milltownpass and across to Raharney and Killucan.
"We have already approached a number of people to run for election. We would be very confident that with the backing of the people of the areas mentioned we would get our man or woman elected," it said.
The statement criticised Fianna Fail, which controls the council, for failing to deliver to Kinnegad It said politicians did nothing for them and there was no point coming to the people of the area looking for votes at the next general election.
In Longford, they are already talking about who will replace former Taoiseach Mr Albert Reynolds, when he retires at the next election.
Last week a new candidate emerged to join the other two Fianna Fail hopefuls. He is John Fallon, from Newtowncashel, who is a manager with the Dublin based accountancy firm, Ryan Glennon.
He said last week he would challenge two local councillors, Peter Kelly, who was a close adviser to Mr Reynolds, and Denis Glennon, who have already signalled their willingness to seek the vacant seat.
There are also local rumours that Fianna Fail may consider imposing a high-profile media candidate into the area to take the seat, but so far there is no firm evidence this might happen.
Meanwhile in Tullamore, Senator Pat Gallagher, whose recent resignation from active politics left two seats vacant, has been replaced by party colleagues on the Town Commission and the County Council.
His county council seat went to Sean O'Brien, who is chairman of Tullamore UDC and Gallagher's Urban District Council seat was filled by Ann Starling.