Last year, it was reputed to have been the biggest sit-down meal in Ireland when 2,100 people gathered at City West Hotel, Saggart, Co Dublin for the annual Fianna Fβil get together: the Cairde Fβil. This year, the party returns to its usual haunt - Dublin's Burlington Hotel, where what is described as a "more intimate crowd of 1,500" will gather for drinking, speeches, dinner and dancing on Friday.
Bertie Ahern's all-consuming interest in sport means sports stars have pride of place at the top table. They include Garry Fahey, captain of the Galway football team, Nicky English, manager of the Tipperary hurlers and Una O'Dwyer, the vice-captain of the Tipperary camogie team. A soccer star is also being lined up. All FF Cabinet members and deputies will be there and the price, £45, is kept low to ensure it is for the rank-and-file rather than corporate fundraising. Tickets were sold out weeks ago.