It's not election year, but at the same time it is. In 12 months' time the people of Ireland will go to the polls, and until then they'll be seeing a lot of local politicians.

According to the most recent opinion polls, Fianna Fail are in trouble and are at most risk in Dublin. In a melt-down usually associated with the other side of Ireland's great political divide (that's Fine Gael, by the way, just in case, like most of us, you still haven't figured out what the divide is), the Soldiers of Destiny could lose up to nine of their Dail commanders.

One of those constituencies where the party is sure to feel the pressure is Dublin SouthWest. Despite returning two Fianna Fail TDs at the last election, there are suggestions that the voters might feel that next time one is enough.

Poll topping Sinn Fein TD Sean Crowe looks safe, and Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte would be hoping to advance his 2002 tally and hold onto his seat. That leaves two seats up for grabs, with Fine Gael's Brian Hayes knocking on the door of Fianna Fail's Charlie O'Connor and Conor Lenihan.

The Sunday Tribune joined O'Connor on a round of canvassing this week to see what feeling on the ground is like towards the government. In some respects O'Connor has never really forgiven the Tribune. He was only in the Dail two weeks when his likeness to former British Prime Minister John Major was highlighted in the paper's now redundant 'Separated at birth' column.

"It was bad enough that I was put in the column with him, " he says, "but I was actually made 'look-alike of the year' at the end of the year too."

But does he see the similarities between himself and the former Conservative Party leader? "I honestly don't think I look like him, " says O'Connor. "Someone explained it to me and I can see where it was coming from, but I don't see it myself."

Dublin South-West has a population of over 90,000 people, making it the third largest population centre in Ireland. It is a huge area, encompassing a wide mix of socio-economic areas. The canvassing begins in Kingswood, a short distance from Tallaght village. There are warm smiles and handshakes at the first door, although the house dog is not so sure about O'Connor, barking hysterically at the window.

"The dog is more of an Enda Kenny fan, " says the owner.

Smiles don't hide behind every door, although there are certainly no signs of hostility towards the government or it's backbench TD. "It's very rare that anyone would have a go at you when you knock on the door, " says O'Connor. "People might occasionally be dismissive but generally speaking they'll say hello and raise any local issues that concern them. I was savaged by a dog once though. That was probably the worst reception I ever got."

O'Connor was selected as a candidate for the next general election at a Fianna Fail convention in June 2005, roughly two years before the election was due to take place. "It used to be that you were selected at a convention a few weeks before the election but now you're running for election for two years before the vote takes place, " he says.

Tonight's canvas, however, is not part of the general election campaign but is part of O'Connor's routine patrol of the area. Saying "hello" to the constituents is something he likes to do two or three times a week. As well as keeping the profile high, it also keeps him in touch with local issues.

"It's true what they say . . . all politics is local, " he says. "I was once invited to a local meeting and I couldn't make it due to a Dail vote being on. The woman organising it said to me, 'Charlie, we didn't vote for you so as you'd be sitting in the Dail'."