Nally cops it from the one without mercy

No amount of harrying from Pat Cox was going to shift him. Derek Nally needed food. "An empty sack can't stand," he pronounced, before lorrying into a big plate of sandwiches. "And a full sack can't bend", he added reflectively.

No slick campaigner he; just a blend of old country wisdom, good manners, decency and a self-deprecating sense of humour - traits that Grafton Street promenaders seemed to respond to instinctively.

"I just want to shake the hand of an honest man," said a young fellow with a vigorous handshake. "Good luck - you're an honest man," said another, with feeling. "Well done on Mary McAleese," whispered a woman, "it needed to be said."

After an encounter with a trio of teenage girls, he turned to his daughter, bemused: "They're talking about a concert or something. I must be showing my age. Did you ever hear of Robbie Williams?"

Australians took his picture; Ethiopians stopped to chat; Americans taped interviews. Ming Alexander (formerly the one-issue general election candidate known as Ming the Merciless) approached in hostile fashion, wanting to know what his opinion was on the legalisation of cannabis.

"I oppose it . . . It's damaging to health," said the candidate mildly.

Ming was incensed: "Well I've smoked it for eight years and I'm running the Dublin marathon on Monday. I've been arrested by your like," he said.

A minute later, Nally was sideswiped by yet another disaffected youth. "You're very anti-Sinn Fein and yet you were nominated by a Sinn Fein councillor in Kildare," he declared. A young English couple wanted to know what he stood for. "I'm the Martin Bell of Ireland," he said indulgently, adding rather unnecessarily, "but without the white suit."

Nor were there cufflinks or blue shirts either. He's damned if he'd give the satisfaction to Eoghan Harris. He has lost a stone though - "though it's a very expensive way to lose it", he adds ruefully.

The current state of Nally campaign finances is not pretty, by all accounts. Donations to date amount to £60,000, of which the largest single amount given was £2,000. They have a £50,000 overdraft and expect to spend around £150,000 in total.

Still, on the credit side, there seems to be no shortage of troops. As he left the Mansion House around midday, after speaking in support of the rights of people with mental handicap, some 30 vocal supporters - a cross-section of society, including two settled travellers from Wexford - complete with placards, were waiting to cheer their man all the way to the Youth Week Exhibition in Buswells Hotel.

By the time they reached the hotel, the numbers had swollen to 50. They sat patiently while the candidate toured the exhibition, clearly familiar with many of the exhibitors and their organisations.

"My wife knows all about Scouting Ireland," he said, flashing an affectionate grin at Joan, close by. "I didn't get my tea a whole lot of evenings because of Scouting Ireland."

Meanwhile, he released a statement concerning the decision of the DPP not to prosecute in the BTSB scandal. "Today of all days we are reminded that all is not well in the body politic. I truly believe that in times of need and crisis, we stand firm only if we stand on the bedrock of personal convictions of what is right and just and decent."

And amid the chaos and the exhaustion, Pat Cox MEP was attempting to produce some television footage for a party political broadcast. "Make sure to keep smiling - and keep the cosh in the pocket," he instructed, to loud guffaws.

But progress was hugely impeded on the walk down Grafton Street towards the offices of Victim Support; fans of all ages approached, hands out in the evening chill, wanting to chat.

Back at Victim Support, staff waited outside the street, ready to embrace their footsore hero. Balloons, cards and big No 1 Nally posters greeted him as he ascended the stairs.

Inside, a champagne cork popped. Home free.