THE President, Mrs McAleese, entertained possibly the most exclusive club in the land to a reception at the Aras on Wednesday afternoon. The Irish Parliamentary Society, a grouping of former members of the Oireachtas and ex-MEPs, was founded a year ago by Nuala Fennell, Seamus Cullimore and Ted Nealon, who are acting as chairman, treasurer and secretary until the first AGM elects officers and draws up a constitution in January. It aims to keep retired members in touch with each other and monitor pension rights.
Fennell says the former colleagues only ever met at funerals and some even had difficulty entering Leinster House because a new generation of ushers didn't recognise them. Wednesday's party was a lively affair, including the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, with Celia Larkin, John Bruton and staff from Leinster House led by Comdt Eamon O'Donohoe, the House Superintendant. But one of the society's members knew the Aras better even than the hostess. Dr Paddy Hillery lived there for 14 years. Other members of the society include Charlie Haughey, who wasn't there, and Garret FitzGerald, who was.