The FF group in Europe of nearly 20 - including the seven MEPs, staff and associates - gathered in a restaurant in Strasbourg on Tuesday night to bid farewell to the man who has minded them for the last three years. Martin Mackin takes over as general secretary of FF at the end of the month and as such will be the new boss of the Mount Street headquarters. He is already gearing the party up for the by-elections.
Gerry Collins played host for the evening and there were many speeches. But since it was the first time the group met since the announcement, most of the chat centred on Mark Killilea's decision to vacate his Connaught/Ulster seat at the next election and on who will succeed him. Names mentioned included Terry Leyden, Michael Kitt, Noel Treacy and possibly John Donnelly, outgoing President of the IFA, all from the south of the constituency, naturally, as Pat the Cope holds the north. The Euro elections are 18 months away but, for a politician, that's around the corner.