The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, made his way down the main street in Ennis, Co Clare, yesterday to stand where his predecessor and the party founder, Eamon de Valera, had stood, and to give a short speech rousing the county's party faithful.
Arriving at the Tesco supermarket in a shower of rain, he made his way indoors where, amidst the welcome, he was accosted by a woman with a box of chocolates. Ms Monica Gallagher, however, had bought them for a fashion show in aid of a breast cancer fund. "We really need proper cancer facilities," she said.
On his first full day of election campaigning, Mr Ahern encountered further issues on his walkabout including concerns over the local hospital, the delay on the Ennis bypass project, criticism of his national stadium plan by a 5th year student and a plea for the carer's allowance to be increased. "I said it probably wouldn't keep you in cigars for a week," Ms Jesette O'Malley said.
She had taken him aside in Dunnes Stores to say she and her brother had spared the government about €75,000 by looking after their mother, who suffers from Alzheimer's Disease, for eight years. They had sought an invalid's bathroom in vain from the health board and the county council.
"He said to get on to him, that he will do something about it." While on the street, there was adulation, a purchase of periwinkles from a street vendor and plea from the proprietor of "The Odd Fella" bar to come in for a pint. "No time," he said as he pressed on, pressed the flesh and stood for photos with passers-by.
He said he was heartened to be out and about and meeting people. "You hear what people are thinking about. It's different than being in the office or in the Dáil. I must say it does my heart good." All the time, he was shadowed by Country & Western music from a Fianna Fáil jeep, a press corps tripping over itself and three schoolgirls who were asked if they could keep the rain away.
Mr Ahern finished his trip with an address to party members at a local hotel and a strong hint to west Clare that Kilrush would benefit from decentralisation. "Kilrush is the one that has been listed. I think if there had not been such a ballyhoo in the Dáil with everybody saying it had been politicised, I think it would have been built by now."