Would he or wouldn't he? It was one of the uneasy questions occupying the minds of the Fianna Fail faithful who gathered at the RDS. In the end, the Kerry North TD, Mr Denis Foley, did turn up at the ardfheis.
His appearance, with his daughter, Norma, on Saturday afternoon was the first time during the proceedings when the positive mood of the Fianna Failers was disturbed.
Word of Mr Foley's arrival spread like wildfire and did not go down too well with some of the younger delegates anxious to cast off the scandals of the past. "He has a cheek after all he has put the party through," said a young delegate from the midlands.
Mr Dara Colleary (26), of the Ballina Comhairle Ceanntair and a member of the party's national executive, said there was deep disappointment at the revelations in the last year. "There is a determination that we have to draw a line in the concrete on this and we have to go forward and leave the scandals behind.
"At the moment, we are in the middle of a vacuum because we can't prejudge the tribunals. But when the tribunals finish, we have to act on their recommendations, especially in relation to disciplinary procedures."
Despite the shadows cast by the tribunals, Mr Colleary said there was a great buzz at the ardfheis. "It was the biggest Friday night gathering in a long time and there is a huge increase in the number of young delegates. That is important because it is the younger people who will be the party of the future."
Councillor John Hannon, from the Michael Moody Cumann in Tallaght, Co Dublin, said there had been concern in the last year at some of the revelations which had emerged. "But we have come through it with a determination that we never go down that road again. Denis Foley is here as a member of the party and he is entitled to that.
"The mood is very positive. The economy was never going better, unemployment is no longer a problem. The Taoiseach is showing great leadership. He has made a major contribution to the North and his input has won the trust of both the nationalists and unionists."
Ms Nora Moynihan, from the Tomas McCurtain Cumann in Cork North Central, said she did not remember a more upbeat ardfheis. "After all that has happened we are back stronger than ever. It is great."
The Lord Mayor of Clonmel, Alderman Tom Ambrose, said a few bad apples should not reflect on the entire party. "Ninety-nine per cent of grassroots are perfectly honest people and have had no hand, act or part in the deviations.
"Fianna Fail does not condone what Denis Foley did and there is a lot of anger in the party that given his position he allowed himself to be on the committee that investigated the DIRT scandal."
According to Mr Benny Reid, vice-chairman of the Longford Comhairle Ceanntair, there was a lot of talk over the weekend about standards and ethics. "There is no point in denying there is a lot of anger about what has been happening. But the party is coping very well and in particular Bertie Ahern is coping very well."
Despite the impasse on the North, delegates were supportive of the Taoiseach. According to Mr Reid there was a lot of disappointment at the twist the peace process had taken but there was nobody blaming Mr Ahern.
Ms Mary O'Shea, from the Durrow Cumman in Laois, said the new style ardfheis with workshops went down well with delegates. "We are leaving scandals behind us. We have more positive things to be getting on with."