On Wednesday, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny called a general election for Friday 26 February. Between now and then, the Irish Farmers Journal will profile the key farming and rural issues in each of the relevant constituencies. First up is the new Donegal constituency.

There are five current TDs hoping to get five seats. Fine Gael’s Dinny McGinley will not be contesting the face. With a couple of current TDs expected to be returned and the return of Pat “The Cope” Gallagher, expect the Donegal constituencies to be one of the “groups of death” in this general election.

The rural issues

Unemployment is the big one. Donegal has seen its fair share of unemployment and emigration since the economic downturn. Jobs to bring the unemployed back to the north west as well as how to improve connectivity, be it transport or broadband, will also play a role. Then there are housing issues and public health facilities which are constantly in the spotlight.

The farming issues

Donegal’s farming issues are as diverse as its landscape. Incomes is the big ticket item though. Tillage, sheep, beef and dairy farmers had a tough 2015 and are in for an equally difficult 2016. Continued supports to keep farming and farm families viable is a central theme.

Who will get elected?

Sinn Féin's three-person ticket will likely throw back the two current TDs, Pearse Doherty and Padraig Mac Laochlainn, with Gary Doherty not having enough transfers to get through. Junior minister for the Gaeltacht Joe McHugh (Fine Gael) has put his learning Irish difficulties behind him and also looks set to retake his seat, with little prospect of a second seat for the current government.

Former MEP Pat “The Cope” Gallagher declared early and despite only narrowly missing out on a seat in the last European elections is looking in good shape as is his part colleague Charlie McConalogue. Current Independent TD Thomas Pringle has a job on his hands to hold on to his seat.

Odds courtesy of Paddy Power.

Pearse Doherty (Sinn Fein) 1/100

Thomas Pringle (Ind) 6/4

Frank McBrearty Jnr (Ind) 40/1

Padraig Mac Lochlainn (Sinn Fein) 1/25

Dessie Shiels (Ind) 6/1

Ian McGarvey (Ind) 50/1

Joe McHugh (Fine Gael) 1/18

Gary Doherty (Sinn Fein) 10/1

Tim Jackson (Ind) 50/1

Charlie McConalogue (Fianna Fail) 1/10

Paddy Harte Jr. (Fine Gael) 14/1