Presidential candidate Prof Mary McAleese received four standing ovations as she began her election campaign in a Dublin hotel last night. She was a candidate of substance, PD Minister of State Ms Liz O'Donnell told the assembled gathering of 800 Fianna Fail and PD members and supporters from outside the political spectrum.
The junior minister had been a McAleese student at Trinity College. "I was one of the bleary-eyed students at her 9 a.m. criminal law lectures in 1977," she said.
There was standing room only as the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, rallied supporters on what he called this vital night.
Dublin was central to the campaign, he said, and Mary McAleese was a "quality candidate . . . the best candidate by a mile in the field".
Prof McAleese looked fresh for an evening at the presidential races, in an elegant fawn trouser suit and chocolate brown boots. Standing beneath her new election poster, she made no apologies for using words such as "love", "embrace" and "hope" during her campaign.
Ireland needed these words, she said. She thanked her supporters, among whom was her brother, Felim.
"In Ireland there are no strangers, only friends who have not yet met," she said.
Earlier she had been reacquainted with an old school friend from St Dominic's Secondary School in Belfast.
Ms Rainey had brought her two children, Hugh (17) and Kate (15) who wore sweatshirts which declared "Vote Mary McAleese".
Also there to show support for the Fianna Fail/PD candidate were the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, the Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, the Minister for the Marine, Mr Woods, Mr Niall Andrews MEP, Mr Sean Haughey TD, Mr Conor Lenihan TD and Ms Mary Hanafin TD.