Telecom managed it. The company actually kept the winner of the £15 million Information Age prize secret until the official announcement in Dublin's Point Depot.

Those sitting at four tables representing the finalists - Castlebar, Ennis, Kilkenny and Killarney - were literally on the edge of their seats until the last moment.

A few Clare shouts were heard as the Banner county recorded its second big win of the month. With Ennis announced as victors the shoulders of those at the other tables visibly drooped. As one observer put it, it was a case of "Three Funerals and a Wedding".