IN THE world outlined by John Bruton last night, noble ideals had been passed down through generations of the nation's people, while positions of power and influence had been passed down through individual Fine Gael families.
The gathering of up to 1,000 ministers, deputies, senators, candidates, activists, supporters and others listened happily to Mr Bruton before they dined for Ireland in Dublin's Burlington Hotel. The congratulations were not reserved just for the present Government, but for the generations of Fine Gaelers who had steadfastly guarded these noble ideals.
The ideals included a commitment to democratic politics, a just society, good management, law and order, national pride and a spirit of service. The families included the Cosgraves, the FitzGeralds, the Collinses - through Michael Collins's grand niece, Mrs Nora Owen - and others.
Representatives of almost all the families of the first Cumann na nGael ministers were there to hear of the apparently seamless passing of the national flame through 75 years. There was Ms Itu Gray, daughter of the first Head of the Provisional Government, Arthur Griffith; Mrs Nora Owen and Ms Joan Bunworth, nieces of Michael Collins; the cathaoirleach of the Seanad, Mr Liam Cosgrave, grandson of William T. Cosgrave and son of former Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave; Ms Una O'Higgins O'Malley, daughter of Kevin O'Higgins; Ms Eilish McDowell, daughter of Eoin McNeill and, ahem, mother of Mr Michael McDowell TD; Dr Garret FitzGerald, son of Desmond and the father of Fine Gael's present director of elections, Mark; Ms Brigid Hogan O'Higgins, daughter of Patrick Hogan, Minister for Agriculture in the 1920s and Mr Seamus McGrath, son of Joe McGrath, the first Minister four Industry and Commerce.
This Government's achievements were listed, Fianna Fail and the PDs swiped at, ministers hailed and congratulated by all and sundry. The post speech menu was simply too lengthy to be listed in all its six course glory in a space as limited as this. It was, however, washed down with a Fleurie ("light and fruity, a joy to drink") and a Macon Villages ("flowery aroma and fruity taste, a perfect Chardonnay"). There was also no less than a Ramican (sic) of Chicken and a Macedoine of Fresh Vegetables involved.