Just before eight o'clock last evening, a helicopter took to the air above the grand demesne that is Carton House, and, as Padraig Harrington surveyed the land below, the horrible irony wouldn't have been lost on him that the wind had calmed, the rain had gone and those players completing or embarking on their first rounds of the Irish Open had finally found a window in the weather front that had overwhelmed the Montgomerie Course for virtually the entire day.

To be sure, Harrington, who had shot a one-under-par 71 that was so much better than the actual score given the conditions he had endured, could be satisfied with his work. Yet, the inclination of a professional is to be a pessimist rather than an optimist.

"You always reckon the other side of the draw is the better one, that it's always sunnier, that the grass is always greener. All that sort of stuff," said the Dubliner, knowing full well his day's work had been a good one nonetheless.

This was certainly not a day for "whingeing Poms", as US Open champion Michael Campbell had described those golfers who abhor any inclement weather.

This was horrible, with, first, winds gusting to 50kph leading to oscillating and moving balls on the elevated greens that forced a six-hour suspension in play, and, then, driving rain greeting those poor souls on the resumption.

It was a day for the battle-hardened, not for whiners or moaners.

On a day that asked really hard questions of those in pursuit of the €366,660 top prize, Harrington - "I've only experienced worst conditions on tour at the (British) Open in Muirfield (in 2002), those conditions will never be matched . . . they were life-threatening." - remained resolute, even as the scoring average of 76.5 proved to be four shots tougher than the first round of last year.

Ian Pyman, who was third reserve on Monday but got a place in the field due to defections, made the most of his opportunity to shoot a two-under-par 70, which gave him the clubhouse lead.

However, affirming the point that the players late in the evening had benefited from easier conditions, Pyman was joined on two-under by David Higgins (through seven holes) and Andrew Marshall (through five holes), while Ignacio Garrido had three birdies in six holes to assume the on-course lead on three-under-par.

Only three players - Pyman, on two-under, and Harrington and Ian Poulter, on one-under - of the first half of the draw managed to break par.

Poulter, an Arsenal supporter, who had flown to Paris on Wednesday for the Champions League final, showed great fortitude in more ways than one. With only a couple of hours sleep, the Londoner experienced the vagaries of the wind on the 17th hole, his eighth, when, as he studied an eight-foot birdie putt, the ball was taken away by a gust of wind, finished off the green and he had a sandwedge in his hands for his next shot.

It was a bizarre day.

"It's the old saying, 'you can't win a tournament on Thursday, but you sure can lose it'," Harrington added.

"On a Thursday and Friday, you know if you get the bad side of the draw it can knock you out of contention."

The first round will resuming at 7.30am this morning, with the 78 players who had failed to finish turning around to begin their second rounds. Those who completed their first rounds yesterday will start their second between 4pm and 6pm - weather permitting.