NEVER mind the perfectly manicured gardens, the pretty little canape's and the elegant sun drenched interiors. What everyone really wants to get a good look at when they visit the American ambassador's residence in the Phoenix Park are those family snaps on the grand piano. Jack and Bobby, Ethel and Ted, Rose and Jackie... they'd certainly fetch a few bob at auction.
The trick is how to do it without knocking them all down domino style before the Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith and her niece Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, the Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, sweep into the room?
Luckily, on the night Kathleen was due to address the National Women's Council of Ireland, which is dedicated to getting more women into the Dail next time around, Townsend was delayed in Limerick so everyone had plenty of time for a quick peek and a decent chat. Bobby Kennedy's daughter, the highest elected, next generation Kennedy, then gave an intelligent speech on women and power, which you can bet struck a chord with politicians such as Mary Flaherty (who is moving house to Dartry shortly), Liz O'Donnell, Frances Fitzgerald, Helen Keogh and Senators Mary Henry and Ann Ormonde. Hopefully, NWCI members from all over the country were also moved, nay even empowered, by the speech (not to mention the hard work of the chairwoman, Noreen Byrne) and will give a seat a shot come the general election.