T HE TWO Longford lads

were coming out of the

loo making last-minute
adjustments to their zips.
"Bejaysus, we haven't seen a leader
like him since the Long Fellow. He
doesn't carry even a single ounce of
excess baggage."
I'd love to know what the same Long
Fellow would have thought of his party's
annual knees-up at the Burlington last
Thursday night. The comely lads and lasses
have come a long way from the crossroads.
Power suits pony tails and pretty earrings
. . . and I'm talking about some of the men
. . . while glitter gowns with serious
decolletage formed the uniform for many
Mna na hFireann.
They say when it comes
to the leadership of Fianna
> urn m
Fail, watch out for the one
with the fanciest footwork.
Albert proved yet again that
he has all the moves, not
only on the international and
national scene, — with Kath-
leen in his arms, she looked
brilliant in a smart, black
The Albert
cocktail suit, he was the
mover on the dance floor
too.
But Taoiseach. look out
for young Minister Brian
Cowan. To the strains of
Help Me Make It Through
ball . . . Luicre man, press and infor-
mation officcr to Albert for
years and years and now-
protection from the chill
draughts from the emer-
gency exit — surrounded by
The Night and Ride. Sally retired. was whooping it up irresistible men, we had the
Ride. Brian displayed divine with the rest of the FFcrs. best crack for a long time.
dexterity on rl»e dance floor And another retiree. Paddy Though we were probably
and undoubtedly knows that Culcagh, the former senior a quarter of a mile away
politics is as much about usher in the Dail, turned out from the stage. Shay Hen-
rock 'n roll as anything else. for Albert too. nessy still felt he had to do
What ever else one might Of course a Cairde Fail his school marm hushing
say, Fianna Failers have wouldn't be the same without number, informing us that
old-timers like Donie
always known how to let
their hair down and enjoy
Angela Phelan Cassidy. Donie was full of
our table was situated in an
echo chamber which rever-
themselves, and the 1,200 went to the football about the upcoming berated all over the room.
who forked out £35 a skull 'Garreth Brooks' concert.
What would David Doyle
on Thursday night were no Cairde Fianna Such reverence. Even those
of us who don't know him have to say about that, hav-
exception.
But new image maker for
Fail party to too well call him Garth, ing spent millions on new
state of the art acoustics for
Donie.
the party, chain smoking spot some fancy Among the biz bods at
his conference centre?
Mary Kerrigan, looked less Back for more of the
than happ> at her first ever footwork the party were beef baron
Pascal Phelan, hotelier Sean Burlo's beef mountain this
Cairde Fail. Can the respon- week were Noel C. Duggan,
sibility to make over the McEniff. property developer
Londford, won the trip for Bernard McNamara, airline his wife Maureen and Sam
party cause such angst ? No. two to Barbados. and Caroline Stephenson. As
Mary wasn't happy that a operator PJ McGoldrick,
Brian Lenihan was in Smurfits supremo Paddy I said last week between now
photographer was among the and Christmas you could
cardai. "People don't like to great form. One of the leg- Wright. . . and on it goes.
endary figures of Fianna turn into a right old cow if
be photographed at a private you attend all the Black Tie
party." Fail, Brian is all set for the
summer trip to the States dinners at that hotel. Luck-
Triple tut Mary, the with Jack's Army. And ily for me they always have
crowd always love their pic- wasn't Brian a big soccer fan my favourite vegetarian
ture with their favourite . . . he was an international lasagne available.
Minister in the paper. And himself, you know, when it While everyone felt, and
good luck to them. wasn't even remotely fash- rightly so, that Fianna Fail
There were no fewer than ionable. had thrown another great
three generations of the Also looking forward to party, one couldn't but miss
Reynolds family at the Bur- the W orld Cup is my old pal two of the giants who helped
lington on Thursday night. Eamon 'Doc' Dohertv. The build the real party. The two
In addition to Albert and Doc was accompanied by his Peters, Hanley and Owens
Kathleen, daughters Lconie, From Kilkenny, DJ who died during the year,
wife Patricia who looked Carey w as on top of the
F.mer and Andrea were all great in a cyclamen pink and were truly great men in the
dressed to kill, while son world. Last night he was very best sense, and every -
navy suit. He was up in awarded the supreme acco-
Philip and his wife Anne Windsor Park for the vital one was delighted that Jessy
brought their new baby lade in the wort* of hurting, Haniey turned up myth her
qualifier, where he was a when he received the Hurl-
Stephanie. This young lady guest of Sir Jack Herman. family for the evening.
waited out the action in a er's Hurler of the Year
I have often wondered Award. As for the other giant,
suite upstairs. 'Where's Charlier has now
how senior civil servants Seated in our cosy corner
There was huge applause manage to remain apolitical of the massive ballroom — become a kind of Where's
and shouts of "fix" when . . . of course there are one needed a map and com- W aldo contest.
Paddy Connellan. one of the many who don't. But Bart pass to find the table, and I didn't see a Haughey
Rey nolds' best friends from Cronin, the genial Sliabh the fur was vital to afford anywhere in the hall.