"This party ain't over yet." That was the resounding message from delegates at the Fine Gael Ardfheis. Sick of being told their party is in serious trouble, they came to Dublin this weekend determined to prove otherwise, writes Alison O'Connor, Political Reporter
Poor opinion poll showings and negative publicity were a thing of the past in Citywest, where there was a genuine buzz and determination among the 4,000 Fine Gaelers who had gathered.
Limerick West delegate Sean Broderick said he had been coming to ardfheiseanna for years and years. "The buzz is as great as ever it was. It's greater now than it was 40 years ago. The one thing that has impressed me is the enthusiasm of everyone I met. Fine Gael haven't been doing all that well up to this but from here on in we will. This weekend will send out a different message - that Fine Gael is a vibrant party."
Delegates generally believed that Michael Noonan had not got the breaks he deserved since becoming leader but felt that his bad luck simply had to turn. They knew the importance of Saturday night's speech as a turning point for him and the party.
"Hopefully things will change for him after this weekend and he will be seen for his true worth." Twenty-year-old Cian Kiely from Galway West, one of the many members of Young Fine Gael in attendance, has been attending ardfheiseanna, for as long as he can remember. "I was brought here first in a buggy."
"For the last few weeks there has been a bad buzz, this weekend was badly needed. Fine Gael is always under-estimated in the polls but I think we have a very good chance."
He has known Michael Noonan personally for a long time and believes he's a great politician. "He couldn't have gotten a worse start. One to one he's great. He's a great rapport with the party faithful. There is no dissension. He is growing into the role of leader."
Judith Coffey joined Fine Gael recently after returning to Cork from living in London. "It's very exciting to be here and to be a part of it. The atmosphere is really buzzing and charged." Delegates seemed to like the change of location, away from the traditional RDS venue. Unlike the Fianna Fáil Ardfheis last year in Citywest, a number of the Fine Gael delegates arrived by helicopter, the noise of the arrivals and departures making it difficult to hear some of the sessions.
The most rousing speech award definitely went to Mayo TD Mr Michael Ring, who told delegates that they should "stop moaning and get out there to take on Fianna Fáil, the PDs, the Independents and the media". Almost shouting himself hoarse he told them to "take them on in the marts, the pubs and the churches. Get out there and do your job." The delegates loved it and were on their feet applauding as he modestly revealed he would be a Minister of State for Health in the next government. The only pity was that he was speaking to a relatively small audience.
In contrast, the hall was jam-packed for the leader's speech, with hardly enough room to stand. Before he came on stage a video showed "Michael Noonan, the man" chatting about his family, what was important to him in life and what he wanted to achieve as a politician.
He was fluent, confident and most important of all, himself. While the subsequent video inserts broke up the speech and meant a loss of momentum, it was acknowledged to be a much-needed, very good performance.
The buzz from the delegates as they left the hall indicated that they felt their hopes going into this ardfheis had indeed been vindicated.