The Cabinet would do well to keep hold of the summer's news agenda, writes Mark Hennessy
The Cabinet yesterday went to Avondale for its last meeting before a badly needed break, and the real opening of the 2007 election campaign.
Charles Stewart Parnell sat in his home in Avondale more than 100 years ago, looked out onto its beautiful gardens and watched his political fortunes ebb and die.
Having spent much of yesterday inside the house, the Cabinet members must hope they are not destined for a similar end now they are less than a year away from the voters' judgment.
Though Ministers were greeted by protesters demanding a Gaelscoil for nearby Rathdrum, local gardaí had clearly prepared for the worst, given the numbers around the house and hiding in the trees.
Some were even better hidden. The Garda's Public Order Unit was back in Rathdrum filling up the corridors of the small local station, just in case serious demonstrators emerged.
Despite recent opinion polls and political misfortunes, Ministers were in jovial mood, while those readying for the annual holidays were slightly giddy with anticipation.
Clearly ready for his annual jaunt to the Galway Races, John O'Donoghue asked reporters if they were going too: "No, we can't afford a ticket for the tent," quipped one back.
Arriving shortly after 10am, Michael McDowell alighted, telling all present that he was "happy", leaving his audience slightly mystified, if amused.
Hours later, he left with O'Donoghue, both laughing heartily, only to discover that they were going the wrong way and had to turn back to reach the ministerial motorcade.
The "spin" about Sunday's poll had been rehearsed by rote. The only poll that counts is the election, voters will not just vote for change's sake . . . the cliches uttered forth with abandon.
Cowen was best prepared, and he laid in with a passion: reciting the economic roll call of success under the stewardship of FF and the PDs. But will voters listen? Soon, the Government will begin work on the next 2007/2013 National Development Plan, followed by a major launch early next year, while A&E services must be noticeably improved.
Pointing to successes in cleaning up hospitals, Mary Harney cautiously said "sufficient progress" would have been made elsewhere to convince the public by the time the election comes around.
Though Ministers will continually remember past glories, all are too experienced to fool themselves into believing that the public will reward them for bread long since eaten.
In recent years, the Government has, in PR terms at least, slumbered for much of the summer only to get caught out - most notably by the "Rip-Off Republic" television series last summer.
This year, the Government must keep hold of the agenda during a period when "news" dries up and both the public and the press can become giddy and follow dangerous tangents.
Following his arrival by helicopter, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern pretended to have little knowledge of the most recent opinion poll, only to show subsequently that he could recite it at will.
He avoided the pleasure, such as it is, of the company of the press for the wrap-up press conference, leaving that task to Cowen and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern.
The high profile for Cowen was justified, because much will rest on his shoulders, given that he holds the key to the budget and is the most likely face of FF after Bertie Ahern.
Displaying knowledge of both song and history, he deprecatingly dubbed himself "Avondale's Bald Eagle" - a play on Dominic Behan's description of Parnell as "Fair Avondale's proud eagle".
Brian Cowen is too cute to be proud.