Ross Connolly, grandson of the 1916 rebel, James Connolly, was the teller at the election to install the Labour Party's new leader yesterday. The electorate was neat, just 64 voters. But, to be sure all were present, they conducted a roll-call.
Everyone knew the gist of Ruairi Quinn's and Brendan Howlin's philosophies and dreams for the Labour Party; but, out of courtesy, they were both allowed the indulgence of setting out their stalls yet again before the voters.
As it happened, it was geography, not philosophy, which played the strongest hand in their fate.
Labour has a proportional representation electoral system but, with two horses in the race, it was a case of first past the post. Everyone in the party rooms, across Kildare Street from Leinster House, expected a close finale, so it was with some surprise that Ruairi Quinn achieved his lifelong ambition with such ease in the end.
The comfortable 10-vote margin was due to the fact that he not only took more or less all the Dublin votes - he also ate into the rural pie.
Ross Connolly explained the voting system and called up each member of the Parliamentary Labour Party, so the tedious business of speeches from nominators and seconders was, mercifully, avoided.
Then the names of the members of the Parliamentary Labour Party and the General Council were called. They took their pink ballot papers and voted privately at the back of the room. Nobody, least of all Dick Spring, allowed their ballot papers to be seen, but Labour Youth, Labour Women and the trade unions were sweeping in behind the former Finance Minister.
The result was known in the time it took Emmet Stagg to smoke another cigarette. Quinn: 37 votes; Howlin: 27. If he felt disappointment, the Wexford man showed none. He was magnanimous in defeat, while Mr Quinn was serene in victory.
But the business was not complete. The election of Ruairi Quinn had created the vacancy of deputy leader. According to the new chairman of the party, Mr John O'Brien, legal advice suggested they could go ahead and fill that post.
"Really?" asked one doubtful voter.
However, if unanimity was absent on whether they should proceed right away, there was total agreement that Brendan Howlin should have the job.
Dick Spring was hurrying off to the airport to catch a flight to Brussels, where he is engaged in the Cypriot problem, but he had time to nominate Mr Howlin; Emmet Stagg, one of the first TDs to openly declare support for Mr Howlin's candidacy, seconded.
Standing ovations followed, of course, and the Labour Party was united in its collective enthusiasm for the future. Later, there would be time for revelry and a drop of champagne in the Leinster House bar, but first it was time for clenched fists and a move to the basement of the National Gallery for the triumphant post-election press conference.