Bertie's army marches through Dublin

Like an invading, perspiring army, marching under the flag of microphone booms, the media scrum that surrounds Bertie Ahern descended on Henry St in Dublin this afternoon.

Bionic Bertie, swept down the street cutting through laden TV cameramen and radio reporters fixing a shopper in his gaze and giving them a warm handshake.

The media pack of 30 to 40 was larger than normal, hunting for morsels about the purchasing of Bertie's house. On top of this were assorted handlers, security staff and the vanguard of party staff handing out Fianna Fáil stickers saying "Team Bertie" to shoppers.

It was interesting to note that almost all of these stickers were removed once Bertie passed.

For almost 90 minutes Bertie kept up a relentless pace. He strode towards the door of the Meteor outlet on Henry street, shook hands and waved to staff and customers from the door and then strode on.

For the shoppers it was a cumulative Warhol moment: everyone who met Bertie was immediately surrounded by a flashing bulbs and TV cameras and a couple of seconds in the centre of the media gaze. For a couple of seconds, in the midst of the media glare Bertie focused his full attention on that person and then he was gone.

Given the size of the media pack, women with prams and older shoppers with wheeled shopping trolleys were at risk and more than one mother was heard cursing the whole ensemble as she struggled to navigate down the street.

Two middle-age women watched as the whole shebang tumbled down the sun-drenched street: "Who's da?" asked one. "Sure dat's Bertie. Ya couldn't miss Bertie," replied her companion.

"Best of luck to yis Bertie", shouted one middle-aged man. "Ahh thanks", replied Bertie, comfortable in his north Dublin constituency. "Up the Dubs", shouted another.

Deep in the melee were Fianna Fáil candidates Cyprian Brady and Mary Fitzpatrick, the former whispering regularly in Bertie's ear, the latter forcefully squeezing into photos.

The temperature rose on Moore St, as the sun bore down and a homeless man spotted Bertie, the cameras and his opportunity. "What did you every do for the homeless?" charged Pat Golden (33) as Bertie approached. The cameras clustered closer, dictaphones clicked on.

Bertie listened. He looked at Mr Golden and told him about the services in the area for homeless people. He listened some more and then he was gone. Mr Golden said he was not happy with the answer and said: "Bertie fobbed me off".

Mr Golden said he became homeless after a separation.

Bertie powered on. Past the Talk Cents shop on Moore St: "Talk sense Bertie, every little helps" quipped one shopper as he side-stepping the posse.

Perhaps it was just unfortunate coincidence but when one of the Fianna Fail hácks in the group decided to shout "Bertie you are doing a great job, will you give us another 5 years", he was standing beside a fish counter and the smell was, well, fishy.

Despite a couple of "up Enda" chants, usually at the disappearing assorted media and party handlers, there was no denying the warmth of the reaction. Bertie is a pro on the campaign trail and so are his crew.

"Michelle O'Neill, all 5" 5" of her had doggedly followed Bertie along Henry Street. Into Marks and Spencers, back on to Henry St trying to get a picture of him on her camera phone.

Delight at seeing him: "Oh, it's Bertie. Cool. This is the best day ever," quickly gave way to frustration as the picture proved elusive. "Why does he keep moving. Would he ever just stop for a minute while I get a picture," she asked her friend.

No matter how she tried she could not break into the inner circle around Bertie.

However, like Bertie she was persistent and pursued her quarry into the Jervis St shopping centre where she was spotted by one of Bertie's handlers. "Are you looking for a picture of Bertie?" he asked.

"Yes" replied Michelle.

A hand went up followed by the shout: "Taoiseach, Taoiseach, over here Taoiseach." Within seconds Bertie had his arm around Michelle, as her friend fumbled with the cameraphone and a barrage of new photographers took pictures. And then he was gone.

After the moment passed, the 19-year-old student from Kildare said she was going to vote Fianna Fáil because of Bertie, even through she didn't know who was the party candidate in her area.

And why did she like him: "Because he is a family man and successful."