Former Taoiseach Charles Haughey yesterday brushed aside reports that he had sold his Kinsealy home to help pay his debts.
Mr Haughey was at Dingle Regatta where he started the second race, the four-women naomhoga championship, in front of one of the largest crowds in recent years and in glorious sunshine.
In a departure from tradition built up over 30 years, Mr Haughey did not start the regatta with a gunshot from a boat but by raising a red flag from the edge of the quay, apparently out of regard for his poor health.
Dressed in his by now traditional Dingle regatta attire of peaked blue cap and matching trousers with a distinctive blue shirt, he looked tanned and well, although he remarked to his friends on the quay, "Ah sure, I'm very feeble."
Asked if he intended to move to his Kerry island home of Inishvickillane, or if he wished to comment on the reported sale of his Dublin home, Mr Haughey replied: "As they [used] say in the Blaskets, `Na bac'" (don't bother me).
However, a local businesman who had been in Mr Haughey's company earlier in the day, said: "He is not going to sell the house. Mr Haughey said this morning the house was not sold. That is my understanding." At the regatta the six women crews were forced to wait for some minutes while Mr Haughey interrupted lunch at the Waterside restaurant with his family to start the race.
"Ta se ag teacht," Mr Ted Creedon, the MC, said.
Mr Haughey ran a gauntlet of handshakes and well-wishers to a round of applause.
He was in good humour and agreed to raise the flag a second time, informing people "this is only for photographic purposes".
Asked to return after the race to present medals, he replied: "Ceart go leor."
Then out of the side of his mouth, he remarked : "B'fheidir go mbeidh me ar meisce" (perhaps, I will be drunk), before returning to the Waterside to a lunch hosted by his long-time friend and owner of the restaurant, Mr Michael O'Sullivan.
Mr Haughey has been holidaying on his island for the past month, travelling in and out of Dingle on his yacht the Celtic Mist. On Saturday he enjoyed the French le Figaro Solitaire race as it departed on its longest leg to the Bay of Gascony.
He was presented with a painting of his traditional gun-start to the regatta by artist Diane Lavery at the restaurant.