Elated Rostrevor never doubted McAleese

Jubiliant Rostrevor residents were not surprised that Mary McAleese romped home to presidential victory

Jubiliant Rostrevor residents were not surprised that Mary McAleese romped home to presidential victory. Celebration bunting has festooned the Co Down village for days.

Yesterday began normally by all accounts, with rumours that the future President's father, Mr Paddy Leneghan, was on an errand to get gas for his son-inlaw Martin's dentistry practice.

Last night, however, there was no need for laughing gas at the Old Killowen Inn where Mr Leneghan pulls the odd pint behind the bar. High spirits, jovial music and hearty craic, distilled in Rostrevor's finest champagne, toasted Mary McAleese's victory celebrations.

Her victory was a foregone conclusion for most locals, who rarely bothered to inquire how the voting was faring throughout the day. As far as Rostrevor was concerned there was no need to ask if Mary had won. The proud, smiling faces just about eclipsed the incredible beauty of the Mourne Mountains backdrop to Mrs McAleese's home town.

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One elderly man having a pint in the Corner House Bar which her father once owned, summed it all up with a sigh. "Imagine, the President of Ireland used to serve me behind this bar," he said.

Mrs McAleese's next door neighbour, Dr Liam Farrell, who was chairman of the Rostrevor Mary McAleese Support Group, had a double celebration last night. He is unlikely to forget his 40th birthday. He told The Irish Times the election of Mary McAleese disproves "the lie that there is a huge anti-Northern bias".

"All across the Republic there is an affection for the North. The people here are all very, very proud of her."

As the party in the Old Killowen Inn reached full swing last night, folk singer Tommy Sands sang a song he wrote, Mary on the Misty Mourne Shore, which he has rededicated to his neighbour.

A founder of the Fiddlers Green Folk Festival in Rostrevor, Tommy had no qualms in asking Mary to host a "music of healing" day during recent festivals which brought politicians from both sides of the divide in the North together to discuss music and politics.

"She was chairing interparty talks in the North long before the current peace talks," he said. "She is a very clever woman. Though she and David Trimble may have had their differences she could talk to him on the same level better than anyone from Cork or Mayo."

The chairman of the Rostrevor branch of the SDLP, Mr Brian Mulligan, was one of the first Northern politicians to congratulate the Presidentelect last night.

Speaking at her celebration party, he said: "The people of Ireland are very lucky to have such a girl with experience in both Northern and Southern traditions.

"I am glad that two weeks ago when the leaks scandal came out, and they tried to affiliate her to another party, my branch went on record to clear the air.

"The people of Ireland by voting for Mary McAleese have vindicated what I said and cast a shadow over the insinuations made by John Bruton and John Alderdice".

Local man Mr Brian McAnulty said he was delighted at her victory. "She was the best candidate from the start. She made it despite the best efforts of Dublin 4 and the chattering classes."

One elderly punter concluded: "If you thought Mary Robinson was a hard act to follow, whoever follows Mary McAleese will have serious problems".