But we're screwed anyway, since I don't see anyway to avoid an even more ideologically conventional FG government, at best moderated by Labour - at the cost of what sliver is left of Labour's soul - to be followed by a majority Fianna Fail government in about 18 months when everyone has forgotten about the mess they got us in. You think markets have short memories? Try voters.

This is classic however:

Whilst troubled Labour leader Eamon Gilmore secures a similar vote in Dun Laoghaire, the low first preference vote secured by Ivana Bacik means it is low-profile FG candidates Sean Barrett and Mary Mitchell O'Connor, rather than the Labour dream team, who are poised to win two seats in the constituency.

Meanwhile, Fine Gael, courtesy of Enda Kenny's stunning de Valera-style 25,000-strong vote, is now odds-on to win four out of the five seats in Mayo.

A number of other political heavyweights who are poised to rack up huge personal votes include Eamon Gilmore, Simon Coveney and Fergus O'Dowd, who on today's figures will top the poll in Louth with more than 16,000 first preferences.

Eamon Gilmore the troubled Labour leader and political heavyweight whose personal vote will rival that of Saint Enda's. They don't even expect their readers to remember two sentences ago - probably expect them to be too distracted by the scantily clad young women on page 3.

I fucking hate the Sunday Independent. Have for years.