"THERE'S NO George Lees in Donegal South West", was a Fianna Fáil source's take on the forthcoming by-election to fill Pat 'The Cope' Gallagher's Dáil seat following his election as an MEP last June.

Despite increased pressure from the opposition, particularly from Sinn Féin, the government has yet to decide a date for the by-election.

The Fianna Fáil source claimed it may take place in May or June but added: "The mood up to now was to get it over with. But now there is a feeling that maybe it is winnable if the party's recovery in the polls continues, so it might be pushed towards September."

The opposition parties are already well-prepared for the by-election with Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty and Labour's Frank McBrearty Jnr already declared, and Fine Gael holding its selection convention on 15 February.

A local commentator said: "Everyone except Fianna Fáil is calling for the by-election and you almost feel there is an election in the air, even though it has not yet been called."

Fianna Fáil senator Brian ó Domhnaill is expected to get the party nomination, despite local rumours in recent days that Pat 'the Cope' Gallagher might return to contest his old seat and allow his substitute take his MEP seat. He has scotched these rumours and there has already been speculation surrounding Gallagher's wife Anne stepping into the breach.

The names of former Fianna Fáil senator Enda Bonner and sitting councillor David Alcorn have also been mentioned and cannot be ruled out as there is an uneasy relationship between Gallagher and ó Domhnaill.

Elsewhere, Fine Gael councillors Martin Harley, Brendan Travers, Barry O'Neill, and Terence Slowey are all in contention for the party nomination.

Party insiders expect a "two-way fight between O'Neill and Harley" with O'Neill, a sports presenter on 2FM from Ballyshannon, expected get the nod from the party.

There was some speculation that former Donegal footballer Martin McHugh would run for Fine Gael but party sources have dismissed it as "idle speculation".

Fine Gael's director of elections, Joe McHugh said: "Realistically we are the underdogs but… we are going to give this one hell of a shot and bring this one to the wire."

McBrearty Jnr has performed well as a councillor since his election last June and he is expected to poll well in the eastern part of the constituency. It would be a massive feat for him to take a seat here.

Tom Conaghan, a GAA figure and independent councillor from Donegal town, is also in the running. Thomas Pringle, a former Sinn Féin councillor, has declared as an independent candidate, so this could damage Doherty's chances.

Sinn Féin has been most vocal in calling for an election date, but recent election results would suggest that predictions of a Doherty victory may not prove accurate. Fianna Fáil got 12,202 votes in the local elections last June with ó Domhnaill's brother Séamus garnering a further 2,000 as an independent. Fine Gael got 10,400 while Sinn Féin totaled just 5,559 and Labour 3,746. It is between Doherty, and possibly ó Domhnaill and O'Neill, if they are nominated, as to who will take this seat in the Tánaiste's backyard.

Paddy Power odds: Sinn Féin 4/5, Fine Gael 6/4, Fianna Fáil 3/1, Labour 50/1. Others on request.