The announcement:The "will he, won't he" game of election cat-and-mouse finally ended at about 8am yesterday when Taoiseach Bertie Ahern went to Áras an Uachtaráin to ask President McAleese to dissolve the 29th Dáil.
Mr Ahern's early-morning drive to the Áras ended an agonising and somewhat frustrating wait by TDs, party workers, the media and the electorate as to when the election campaign would officially start.
There had been an expectation that Mr Ahern would announce the dissolution of the Dáil last week for a May 17th or May 24th poll, and there were a lot of disappointed faces in Leinster House when business concluded at 5.15pm on Thursday without the election nod from the Taoiseach.
Frustrated deputies and Ministers returned to their constituencies fully expecting Mr Ahern would wait until after the weekend to call the election when the Dáil resumed on Tuesday.
President McAleese was due to leave the country at 9am yesterday for an official visit to the United States, but it was thought that in the absence of the President, the Presidential Commission comprising Ceann Comhairle Dr Rory O'Hanlon, Cathaoirleach of the Seanad Rory Kiely and Chief Justice John Murray would dissolve the Dáil in her absence.
The first indication that Mr Ahern was going to announce the election before the President left the country came when journalists from the main news organisations received a phone call from the Government press secretary, Mandy Johnston, at about 11pm on Saturday.
Ms Johnston asked for a designated contact who she said would be given two hours' notice sometime in the following 48 hours or so to meet her at Áras an Uachtaráin. It was clear to everyone it would be the following morning, before the departure of the President. At 6am yesterday the contacts from the various news organisations received a text or phone call from Ms Johnston asking them to meet her at Áras an Uachtaráin between 7am and 7.30am. Some journalists had gathered at 6am at the gates of the Áras as news spread of the impending visit by the Taoiseach.
Mr Ahern arrived at about 7.50am and left roughly 20 minutes later without taking questions. A short statement said the Dáil had been dissolved and the election for the 30th Dáil would be held on May 24th.
All the political parties mobilised their machines and before most people were out of bed election posters were dotting lamp posts in towns all over the country. Party media units also swung into action, with the main opposition party leaders holding press briefings yesterday.
Fianna Fáil's backroom team will be based in election headquarters at Treasury Buildings. Ms Johnston will be taking leave from her Government press secretary job to head the media operation. Party press director Olivia Buckley will be looking after the regions and local radio.
The Fine Gael media operation will be headed by party communications director Ciarán Conlon, who will be based at the party's election HQ at Leeson Street Bridge.
Tony Heffernan will head the Labour Party's press operation and the party plans to hold daily briefings at its election HQ on Lower Baggot Street.
The Green Party and the PDs will hold three or four press conference a week during the campaign. Gerry Mullins is looking after the Green Party media relations while deputy Government press secretary Mark Costigan and Mary Minihan are heading up the PDs press operation.