Unexpected guests flee FG meeting

Fine Gael: He may be bottom of the opinion polls and struggling to rally his depleted party before the Dáil resumes, but the Fine Gael leader, Mr Enda Kenny, already has the Taoiseach on the run.

Mr Ahern had to make a hasty retreat from the Great Southern Hotel in Killarney, where he had stopped for dinner, when he realised almost 50 Fine Gael TDs and senators were in the middle of their parliamentary party meeting.

Like rabbits caught in dazzling headlights, the Taoiseach and State officials made a rapid retreat out of the hotel driveway as cameramen and journalists looked on open-mouthed.

"When he saw Charlie Bird out on the lawn, he must have known something was up," said one bemused onlooker.

"Two State cars zoomed out of the driveway. I'm sure the Taoiseach turned his head to avoid being seen, but it was too late."

With his leadership credentials boosted by Mr Ahern's retreat, Mr Kenny's party members were last night patting him on the back. They even compared him to Muhammad Ali, who scared a few people out of the ring in his time.

Some are even wondering if he can repeat the feat today when the Taoiseach goes to the Listowel Races, now that Enda "I-am-the-greatest" Kenny is also planning to attend.

But, in reality, this is just shadow-boxing. The real business begins later this month when the Dáil resumes.

Mr Kenny is off to climb Kilimanjaro next week, apparently as part of a fundraising expedition. Although some wonder whether it is part of an elaborate pre-season training programme to ensure he is in peak physical condition to take on the Taoiseach across the floor of Leinster House.