1997: FF 40.02%; FG 27.90%; Lab 10.50%; PDs 5.32%; GP 3.12%; SF 8.11%; Others 5.04%.Outgoing TDs: Dermot Ahern, Seamus Kirk (FF), Brendan McGahon (FG), Michael Bell (Lab).
Sinn Féin's Arthur Morgan could win here, especially if the Drogheda support base of Labour's Michael Bell weakens. Up to now, Drogheda has never had two TDs, so the gains of Fine Gael's Fergus O'Dowd are likely to be at Bell's expense. The transfers of Fianna Fáil's Dermot Ahern should elect Seamus Kirk - but FF's third candidate, Frank Maher, needs a miracle. Traditional loyalities in south Louth are unlikely to hold steady in what is now part of the capital's commuter belt.