The court session was brief. The consultation with lawyers a little longer. And the time with family and friends emotional.
The north Mayo men were returning to prison after a fortnight already spent in custody but spirits were high.
Micheál Ó Seighin said that "for the sake of the prison officers who've been very good to us we don't want to give any statement except this; that we've been looked after unbelievably well within the rules of the prison".
What was the food like? "It's delicious. I'll be demanding much better care when I go home."
How's your health?
"Perfect," he said. "As a cousin of my wife's said - who's a doctor - 'at least he had his bypass before he came in so he isn't going to get a heart attack'."
And how was he getting on with the other prisoners?
"Great. They have a tremendous, very accurate sense of right and wrong that is slightly missing in more exalted society."
Another of the five men, Vincent McGrath, was also full of praise for the prison staff and fellow inmates.
"We're all keeping well; we're well looked after. There's good rapport, good staff."
Asked if he had met any "notorious" prisoners, Mr Ó Seighin replied: "Only ourselves."
In the flurry of a busy High Court corridor, the five men had a brief consultation with their legal team as family, friends and media congregated waiting for a word.
Prison officers stood a little distance from the melee, patiently waiting. It is understood that while in prison the protesters have been shielded somewhat from most of the other prisoners and get significant visiting rights.
But they are also part of the prison regime, as another of the five pointed out.
"We're being well treated," said Philip McGrath. "But we're doing the same thing; same routine; prison clothes."
Asked how long they thought they'd be in prison, Mr McGrath said "there's a big decision to be made". Asked his view of Minister Noel Dempsey's proposed new safety review, he said: "It's a step, but there's a long way to go."
Mr Ó Seighin's view was that "there's only one issue and that is that normal international standards be applied to the distance from our houses".
Would the men be giving the court any undertaking?
Mr Ó Seighin said: "Oh no, we can't. We're not in any hurry." He was happy to stay on in jail until the full hearing of the case. "We wouldn't have come in if we didn't."
Then there were final kisses for tearful family members and applause as the five boarded the prison mini-bus.
