The presidential election may be months away, but the electoral campaign will pick up pace next week.
Two significant events are set to take place.
On Tuesday, the deadline for interested Fine Gael candidates will close, and in all likelihood only Mairead McGuinness will be the sole nomination.
The party will then make an announcement confirming this but probably hold off on formal ratification for a while longer.
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Effectively though Mairead McGuinness' campaign will commence, and she will attend every possible summer gathering across the country.
This will be a form of canvassing which will operate at a slight remove from the full glare of the media.
Also, next week, Independent TD Catherine Connolly will declare as a candidate.
The Galway West TD has sufficient support to secure a nomination with the Social Democrats, PBP-Solidarity and several independent TDs and senators ready to give her their backing.
That will mean that two candidates will be in the field by the end of next week.
Sinn Féin will it seems choose a candidate from its own ranks but it is not expected to make this decision until August or possibly even September.
Fianna Fáil will begin thinking about this subject in earnest in late August but there are signals from the party leader that sitting this one out might once again be the best option.
Several members of his party profoundly disagree with this view.
Labour has to decide if it joins forces with others to get a candidate in the race.
Alternatively, it could let bygones be bygones and give a tacit nod of approval to Catherine Connolly, who broke ranks with the party in 2006.
Independent candidates can also secure a nomination if they get the support of four local authorities.
However, the political parties are less keen this time to allow their councillors to open this route to other candidates.
That could mean that just a small number of hopefuls will be fighting it out for one of the biggest and most prestigious State roles.
