John Gormley would be the loser according to the poll.

Keegan, with a 10% showing, is way ahead of his nearest party rival Jim O'Callaghan on 5%. Senator Mary White, who lost out at last week's selection convention, has been bemoaning the strength of "dynasties" in her party.

No doubt the Ryans and the Andrews clans had a wry smile as they stitched up the South-East result. There was some small comfort for the senator from one of her colleagues at the Fianna Fail parliamentary meeting last week who took to the floor to praise her efforts in "working like a White". No word on whether Mary O'Rourke was laughing.