Happy couple bask in glow of Millstreet

THEY made for a happy and smiling couple in the heat of the afternoon sun.

Bob Dylan might not have made it to Millstreet but the town which once hosted the Eurovision Song Contest had a colourful double act in Bertie Ahern and Mary Harney yesterday.

They met for 20 minutes in a room at the rear of the Sportsman's Bar to review the election campaign, and later talked to journalists and intrigued locals in front of the Central Hardware Stores, surrounded by the greenery of potted plants. The location had been chosen by the spin doctors because the sightlines were good. So was the chemistry between Mr Ahern and Ms Harney.

They spoke every night to compare notes about the campaign, said Mr Ahern with a smile. Ms Harney beamed.

Mr Ahern spoke more in sorrow than in anger about the Taoiseach's criticism of him. "God bless him. I hope he does not get too distracted," said Mr Ahern.

Ms Harney regretted the name-calling and scare-mongering, adding that Mr Ahern had an extraordinary record as a Minister in several departments. Mr Ahern smiled shyly. There would be further meetings before polling day, Mr Ahern said, as they parted with Ms Harney mobbed by Fianna Fail supporters.

Mr Ahern then moved on to Cork city, via Kanturk, to deliver a state-of-the-nation-style address at a major party rally attended by about 600 people, including Fianna Fail's Cork candidates.

The event combined a mixture of lyricism and tough talking by Mr Ahern. He recalled his childhood summers when he came to the county to stay with his relatives. And he quoted from Christy Kenneally's story of his Cork childhood. "Cork is a place, a state of mind, a lifelong passion for those born within the boundaries of its embrace."

This rang true for all Cork people, "and also for those of us who are second-generation Corkonians."

Before leaving the embrace of the one-time stronghold of Mr Jack Lynch, he declared: "Keep it up. God knows what they will be saying this night week. But I'll still be around."

Earlier, the Fianna Fail leader visited south Kerry, where according to a poll in the Kerryman newspaper, the party could lose one of its two seats. But he remained upbeat.

"My campaign managers are confident that we will hold the two," he said.

There was a time when Jackie Healy Rae would have been on hand to welcome Mr Ahern in his booming voice to Killarney. But the only trace of Mr Healy Rae, running as an Independent this time, was to be found in a broad-shouldered photograph staring from his election posters. "I notice" said Mr Ahern ruefully, "that Jackie is certainly winning the Independent candidate race for photographs in the national newspapers."

Mr Ahern went on a walkabout through the town, followed eagerly by the party's two candidates, Mr John O'Donoghue, the outgoing TD, and Mr Brian O'Leary, and a group of dedicated party workers. "This is great craic," said one woman, "we should have elections more often."

Late last night, Mr Ahern was back in his Dublin Central constituency for a meeting about the health services. In the end, all politics is local.