Campaigning for the Fine Gael leadership among the three candidates so far declared is expected to begin in earnest today.
The candidates - Mr Enda Kenny, who declared his candidature early yesterday morning, Mr Jim Mitchell and Mr Michael Noonan - were busy organising their campaigns yesterday. According to some party members, there was no overt campaigning.
People felt that out of respect for the former leader, Mr John Bruton, they should observe at least a day before going into full battle mode. Mr Bruton spent the day at home in Dunboyne, Co Meath, with his wife, Finola, and their children.
Fine Gael members were declaring themselves physically and emotionally exhausted after Wednesday's marathon meeting but were preparing themselves for a week of campaigning ahead of next Friday's vote.
Mr Michael Noonan has appointed Cork TD Mr Paul Bradford as his campaign manager. Mr Bradford, who came out publicly against Mr Bruton during the November leadership challenge, was approached by Mr Noonan on Wednesday night and accepted the job.
Others in the Noonan camp include fellow Limerick man Mr Michael Finucane, Mr Michael Creed, Senator John Connor, Mr Ulick Burke, Mr Jimmy Deenihan and Ms Olivia Mitchell.
Mr Noonan told The Irish Times yesterday that he was also confident of support among Dublin Fine Gael members. He did not see himself as primarily having support outside the capital. "I'm an urban TD, the issues I run with are urban issues. My constituency is largely urban."
Sligo/Leitrim TD Mr Gerry Reynolds accepted the job of being Mr Mitchell's campaign manager yesterday afternoon. A strategy meeting was subsequently held and afterwards Mr Reynolds said that the campaign proper would not begin until after the closure of nominations on Monday.
Mr Mitchell, he said, was anxious to ensure that the party had a choice in the leadership battle. "Jim at this stage is extremely anxious to run."
He said there was an agreed platform between himself and Mr Noonan. "They have already agreed the way they would like to see the party run, they have ideas on the front bench and the political party."
Asked what other party members were involved in the Mitchell campaign, Mr Reynolds named Senator Therese Ridge and said they were "talking to a number of other people".
Senator Paddy Burke from Castlebar said he was one of the main members of Mr Kenny's campaign team. Mr Kenny, who gave no interviews to the media yesterday, would be speaking publicly today, he explained.
Mr Burke said that Mr Kenny did not want party members to declare support for him in public. "He wants to unite the party, he doesn't want to split the party. He will be talking to people in a private capacity. He has got quite an amount of support and a number of people approached him prior to the vote, but he was loyal to the leader. He has spoken to quite a number of party colleagues but he won't divulge their names. He is not putting pressure on anyone to publicly support him."
His constituency colleague, Mr Michael Ring, said he thought Mr Kenny was a wonderful candidate for leadership of the party. "I think he would be a great leader of Fine Gael."