There was palpable relief in Government circles yesterday when the Taoiseach's latest public appearance provoked no boos and nothing more serious than a bottle-throwing incident.
The bottle, containing Moët & Chandon champagne, sailed within several feet of Mr Ahern, as planned, before smashing against the side of its intended target, a new superferry that was docked behind him in Dublin Port. The thrower, the Taoiseach's daughter, Georgina, was warmly applauded for her action.
Under Scandinavian custom, Georgina Ahern thus became the "godmother" of the Stena Adventurer, the largest ferry yet to operate on the Irish Sea. As MC Pat Kenny said, this didn't mean that Mr Ahern was "the godfather". But either way, the RTÉ man's suggestion that the Taoiseach be welcomed in the "traditional . . . polite" manner was an offer the crowd couldn't refuse.
The 211-metre ship will carry up to 1,500 passengers between Dublin and Holyhead, offering everything from conference facilities to blackjack tables. But having been upstaged in its launch by his daughter, the Taoiseach was reduced to cutting the ribbon on the new two-tier ramp behind it, at Dublin Port's Berth 51.
Thus the new Berth 51 was launched by Bert (51), which at least made up in symmetry what it lacked in glamour.
The Taoiseach used yesterday's event to boast about progress made on the Dublin Port tunnel, and to berate the private sector for failing to deliver on its half of the deal, the eastern by-pass. With a touch of sarcasm, he even hoped he might see the by-pass "in my lifetime".
But Mr Ahern must have known that criticising private-sector inaction was as futile as shaving the hairs off gooseberries, so he didn't persist. Nor, wisely, did he join guests for the inaugural mini-cruise of the Stena Adventurer, risking headlines about a "Taoiseach all at sea".
Instead, he quit while he was ahead, with polite applause ringing in his ears. It has been a tough few weeks. But now that he has a ferry godmother in the family, things are looking up.