SINN FE IN is learning to take election victories in its stride. There was no champagne, rebel songs or clenched fist salutes when it secured a record result in Belfast yesterday, becoming the joint largest party on the council.
But there was loud cheering, hugs and handshakes as the republican entourage, including activists, swept down the grand marble staircase at the City Hall.
"Everybody sit down," shouted an excited Tom Hartley, waving his hands madly about in the air. "Is this a sit down protest?" the supporters inquired, but the days of militant protest seemed long gone. Republicans were in celebratory mood.
"Three cheers for Sinn Fein, Mr Hartley yelled. "Hip, hip, hooray!" they yelled back. A Women's Coalition candidate was standing nearby. "Look at the Women's Coalition right beside Sinn Fein. It's a pity they didn't trample her into the ground," said a disgruntled DUP supporter.
"Is that the way you treat women in your party?" snapped another member of the Women's Coalition. Mr Adams, meanwhile, waxed lyrical to reporters about the importance of women in politics, although only two of his party's 13 councillors in Belfast are female.
However, no one could deny Sinn Fein's impressive overall performance. It took two seats from the SDLP in Laganbank and Upper Falls. In West Belfast it obliterated the SDLP, securing eight out of 10 seats.
Mr Adams attributed his party's success to hard constituency work and highcalibre candidates. Responding to allegations that republicans had engaged in widespread votestealing, he called on other parties to "stop whingeing and accept the legitimacy and validity of our vote as we accept yours".
SDLP members admitted they were deeply disappointed that Sinn Fein now held almost twice as many seats on Belfast City Council as their party. "Sinn Fein's vote came out and ours didn't. They have a ruthless, nearmilitary election machine," said Councillor Alex Attwood.
He claimed that republicans had stolen more than 1,000 votes in West Belfast. Another SDLP source took a different view: "Organisationally, we weren't at the races compared to them and we are not securing the young vote at all."
The Ulster Democratic Party won its first seat in Belfast with Mr Frank McCoubrey elected in Court.
For the first time, the unionist parties have lost control of the council. They hold 25 seats, with Sinn Fein, the SDLP and Alliance totalling 26. A new mayor is due to be elected at next month's council meeting - a nationalist has never held the post.
Councillor Alex Maskey of Sinn Fein said his party would be aiming to hold the mayor or deputy mayor position at some stage over the next four years.
However, a UUP source said that while unionists would now be forced to accommodate the SDLP and Alliance, they would be working to exclude Sinn Fein.
But in the event of a new IRA ceasefire, the SDLP might not be able to go along with that scenario without political repercussions from a nationalist electorate, eager for Sinn Fein's inclusion.
While Sinn Fein councillors had high hopes, some of their supporters focused on more modest matters yesterday. Surveying the ornate pillars and marbled corridors of City Hall, a female republican muttered: "I wouldn't fancy cleaning this place!"