A new Mayor of Clare will be elected by County Councillors today, in their first meeting since last month's election.
A power-sharing system amongst the main parties is set to continue, but talks to thrash out the final points of their deal will continue this morning.
As the largest party with 12 Councillors, Fianna Fáil is virtually assured that it's members will hold the mayoral chains for two of the five-year Council term.
The sticking point in the negotiations, though, is believed to be between Fine Gael and a Technical Group of Indepdendents and Sinn Féin Councillors who have eight seats each.
It's expected that there will be two Independent Mayors over the coming years, and that Fine Gael will hold the position once, beginning later today.
If that is the outcome of the negotiations, a party source has told Clare FM they will support Sixmilebridge Councillor John Crowe for the role, while no decision had been made on his Deputy as of last night.
Councillors Tom McNamara and Bill Chambers of Fianna Fáil, and Independents Michael Begley and James Breen are also being spoken of as likely Mayors over the coming years.
Today will also see the election of the chairs of Council's Strategic Policy Committees, and the heads of the four municipal authority areas in Ennis, Killaloe, Shannon and West Clare.
