From on the canvass to under canvas, the post-election Soldiers of Destiny gathered in the famous Fianna Fáil "Tint" at the Galway Races yesterday evening and celebrated the start of the summer holidays.
Bertie was guest of honour. He's like a marathon runner in sight of the finishing line. Just one more day to put in today, and then he can drag himself off to Kerry and a family holiday with his girls and the twin lights of his life - baby grandsons Rocco and Jay.
It was a low-key Tuesday in the Tint. The Boss, and a brace of government Ministers, turned up for the €300 a plate fundraiser. Today, it'll cost the paying guests an extra hundred to dine with the political top brass. Despite the negative publicity this event attracts, the waiting list for cancellations started weeks ago.
Which brings us to Minister Séamus Brennan, who broke from the starting stalls at the weekend and declared he thought the value of this annual fundraiser is "overstated".
He was in town yesterday in his capacity as Minister for Sport to open a new stand at Terryland Park. His ears must have been burning. Dyed-in-the-wool FF racegoers poured scorn on his comments, from the Taoiseach through to former EU commissioner Ray MacSharry down to new deputy Martin Mansergh.
"I was involved in setting up this fundraiser 14 years ago," said a disgusted MacSharry. "It's been a great success for the party, and set the trend for similar corporate fundraisers at race courses around the country."
Martin Mansergh wasn't too happy with Séamus either. "Just look at what this meeting has done for the horse racing industry in Ireland," he pointed out. And then there was the Taoiseach. A little tired, we thought, and a little subdued. He thought he would be giving evidence last week at the Mahon tribunal. Cancelled a holiday in Portugal to be available, he sniffed, with a hard-done-by shrug.
Little Rocco and Jay return home today with their parents, and they will go straight to Kerry. Bertie, who normally stays for three days at the Tint, is only doing two days this year. "Not up to Thursday. Too packed." He'll join the family at Parknasilla tomorrow.
For the first time, his daughter Cecelia joined him. She was with her boyfriend David Keoghan and the young couple were cleaning up in the betting stakes.
After the third race, the Taoiseach went to the parade ring to present the prizes. David and Cecelia were celebrating a major win, having placed a €100 each way bet on the winner, My Valley, at 33/1. "I give up. I give up" said her Da. "Years coming here, and I've never had a winner like that. "I give up."
Another high-profile guest causing excitement in the tent was singer Ronan Keating, who was accompanied by his wife Yvonne.
But back to Séamus Brennan. What does the Taoiseach think of his Minister's view of their corporate operation in Galway? "If Séamus can put on a fundraiser in Dublin South, bringing in the same amount of money, let him at it. I'd like to see him do that," said Bertie.
Word is that Sunderland football manager and former Republic of Ireland soccer captain Roy Keane will grace them with a visit today. He is in town with his Premiership team, along with club chairman Niall Quinn. The duo paid a visit earlier yesterday to John Glynn's Clayton Hotel, which opened last September.
Ireland manager Steve Staunton also pitched up at the four-star venue - perhaps hoping to build some bridges with Roy.
Among the guests in the teeming foyer were property developer Sean Mulryan, Dublin-based builder Vincent Maguire, socialites Bill Cullen and Jackie Lavin, Wexford hotelier Brian Brennan, JP McManus and the Bailey brothers, long-time supporters of the aforementioned Tint.
Build it, and they will come, seems to be the watchword for race week. The management have put up two marquees in the grounds to cope with the racing crowd, with eight bars set up.
Former taoiseach Albert Reynolds held court in a corner. This year marks a 40-year unbroken run at the Galway Races for him. Bookies around Ireland will be weeping into their Bollinger at the news.
Albert was without his daughters this year - they took off to Spain with mother Kathleen to escape the weather.
As always, he was backing winners, but his horse, Sorry Al, only managed to come in third in the second race. "He was in front when his saddle slipped," he explained.
A bit like Bertie Ahern, as he heads into his third term.
New junior Minister Billy Kelleher was backing winners too, but he didn't care much whether he won or lost. Billy is celebrating the birth of his second child - daughter Isabelle was born on Friday night with "a lovely head of dark hair".
Mr Kelleher said wife Liza insisted he go off and enjoy at least one day in the Fianna Fáil Tint. "But I'll be back in time tomorrow for the visit of the district nurse," stressed Billy.
Former commissioner MacSharry was also at Ballybrit on the instructions of his wife Elaine, who is unwell at the moment. "We were here at the start, 14 years ago, and she insisted I keep the tradition going."
A notable absentee was Minister for Finance Brian Cowen. He took off to Portugal yesterday for a family holiday.
Meanwhile, the press corps had a brief frisson of excitement when word went around that the former Green mayor of Galway, Niall Ó Brolcháin, was schmoozing in the FF Tint. It turned out to be a case of crossed wires - he was outside protesting.