"DE VALERA always. Even the cat was called `De Valera'." When Mrs Mary Blake (102) stepped out to vote in Dublin North Central yesterday, there was no doubting which party would get her first-preference vote.
Fianna Fail deputy Ivor Callely was there to greet her in Donnycarney. "Ah, he's always been very kind", said Mrs Blake's daughter-in-law, Mrs Maureen Butler.
Outside Donnycarney Church, another party veteran was canvassing. A relaxed C.J. Haughey was seeking support for Sean, his son.
It was a case of "find a centenarian, find a bride, throw a lifebelt to a floating voter" as candidates bit their nails over the restrictive provisions of the Electoral Act.
Few breaches of the 100-metre rule against advertising around polling stations had been reported by teatime. The only gripe one presiding officer had was with the 1990 Tobacco Regulations. After an 8 a.m. start for the first time, the man was praying for a break in the downpour - he was just dying to nip outside for a smoke.
For "vote early and often" one could have substituted "vote earlier and often", but there were mixed views about the benefits of the breakfast start.
At St Mark's School in Springfield, Tallaght, 66 members of the electorate had turned up to vote by 9 a.m. By 2.30 p.m., the Minister of State, Mr Pat Rabbitte, had banished the threatening rain.
"My bride!" the Democratic Left TD pronounced, as Ms Mary Murphy (25) pulled up - all satin, lace and flowers - in a limousine.
She was on her way to Dublin Airport Church for a very important date. Her groom to be, Mr Pat McDonald (24), might have been kept waiting with the heavy traffic but the "half-car" Minister had to get her vote.
Employed by South Dublin County Council, Ms Murphy said that she felt "like a film star" as she was accompanied into the polling station by a dozen members of her family. She was greeted by Mr Bob Elliott, the chief presiding officer.
By count-time, Ms Murphy will be sunning herself on a Spanish beach.
Back in the north city, a group of Redemptorist nuns - a contemplative order from the Monastery of St Alphonsus - chatted away as they were taken to vote in Glasnevin.
Across the Liffey, there had only been a 15 per cent turnout by late afternoon in James's Street. This was a new station, the presiding officer, Ms Lelia Breen, explained. She was hoping for a 6 p.m. surge from the Guinness Brewery flats.
In Dublin Central, reluctant voters who might have been deterred by intermittent rain found themselves being chauffeured to their polling station in a Nissan Maxima. The car was that of the Fianna Fail leader, Bertie Ahern. He had been taking part in a vote-management exercise to ensure that Senator Marian McGennis was in contention.
For the Dublin City Sheriff, Mr Brendan Walsh, the day had begun with an inspectors' meeting just after 7 a.m. He was up at the Phoenix Park National School to greet the President, Mrs Robinson, and her party just after 8 a.m. Much of the day passed in "crisis management". Then the night-time count of postal votes in the RDS had to be supervised.
The Department of the Environment and returning officers have made an extra attempt this year to move stations away from private houses and pubs - and to ensure that most islanders vote with the rest of the State.
One of the few remaining hostelries in use, John Sinnott's in Duncormick, Co Wexford, is the only available venue in that area, according to presiding officer, Mr Martin McDonald. "We've used it for the last 30 and so why not the next 30 years!"
