The language of hugs, kisses and smiles replaced the language of politics in Rostrevor yesterday as its first citizen, Mrs Mary McAleese, returned home to uproarious applause. It was a short walk from her home, `Kairos' in Bridge Street, to St Bronagh's Catholic Church, but a special one as friends, family and neighbours surged around to greet and congratulate her.
She walked briskly, stopping occasionally to greet an elderly neighbour or a friend, but marching dauntlessly on against the onslaught of photographers and camera crews.
Journalists' questions about how it felt to be home were left unanswered. Mrs McAleese was interested only in the people of her home village, who had stood by her throughout a tough election campaign. Heralded by St Joseph's Pipe Band from Longstone, she was described as Ireland's angel by local priest Father Colm Wright.
Father Wright recalled a novena during which Mrs McAleese spoke on women hurt by abortion. He remembered her relating the story of the angel appearing to Our Lady telling her not to be afraid. The people of Ireland, he said, now had an angel watching over them and had no need to feel afraid.
Welcoming local clergy and visitors from other Christian churches, he said it was a tremendous privilege that the Presidentelect was one of his parishioners.
Across the road at the Church of Ireland church, the Rev Jim Simms said: "If Mary McAleese can take from the village of Rostrevor the kind of ecumenical goodwill that exists in this part of south Down into the rest of Ireland, then her time as President of Ireland will be richly blessed.
"I wish her, and my congregation wishes her, every blessing," he added.
As she left the church she took particular time to chat with friends of her deaf brother John, moving comfortably from speech to signs.
Rostrevor is normally a quiet, reserved little village. Yesterday local people jammed the buntingclad streets despite being exhausted after a weekend of celebrations. The walk home by the President-elect was interrupted by scores of men, women and children eager to shake her hand.
An elderly woman stood in the doorway of her home on the main street and watched the commotion with awe.
Mrs McAleese spotted her and immediately moved journalists, Special Branch agents and RUC officers out of the way to go and hug her.
Once through the gates of her Rostrevor home, she had an hour to take care of last-minute business there before organising the family's move to the Phoenix Park.
On Saturday night Mrs McAleese's father, Mr Paddy Leneghan, was in great form. His immense pride in his daughter's achievement could not be hidden.
Her brother John, while really happy for her victory, spoke of his sense of loss because his "dear sister" whom he loves very much would be moving away.
He is particularly close to her as she played with him as a child and he found her easy to talk to and lipread.
Villagers in Rostrevor also felt a pang of sadness as her official car sped out the gates of her home into Bridge Street and on to the road to Dublin. Mary McAleese had left but with promises to return.