The aroma of freshly percolated coffee and the promise of a Greek singer yesterday permeated the presidential campaign.
The coffee was from the Irish Hospice's coffee morning in the National Gallery where two presidential candidates - Ms Mary Banotti, actually drinking mineral water, and Ms Adi Roche - were among the guests of another Mary, the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, who also greeted the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern.
The two candidates were percolating pretty well themselves among journalists and supporters, greeting all with an amount of energy that may well have simmered down a little by the end of the weeks of campaigning ahead.
Ms Banotti had already been to Nenagh and Limerick the previous day and yesterday was going to other coffee mornings. She was delighted to have got the nomination and was looking forward to the campaign trail.
Dana, who was not present, is obviously not about to present the only tuneful note in the campaign. Ms Banotti said she had received many calls from Europe.
"I've had a phone call from Nana Mouskouri, and she's coming over to campaign for me. I helped her when she was a new MEP and now she wants to help me."
Ms Banotti's daughter, Tania, is working on a project in Gaza - "She is living across the road from Yasser Arafat" - and will be returning to help her mother's campaign.
Ms Banotti said she loved campaigning and had had lots of experience. She considered her record spoke for itself. She had represented the people of Dublin nationally and internationally for the past 13 years.
Ms Roche, flanked by her husband, Mr Sean Dunne, and Ms Ali Hewson, wife of U2 star Bono, was no less enthusiastic.
"I want to bring fun and joy to this campaign as well. Many might think `joy' is a strange word to use but I don't want it to be a totally stressed-out campaign."
It would be broad-based and she would be an independent people's candidate. She placed great importance on the word "independent".
She had been impressed by the diverse backgrounds of people who had come to her, and they were bringing a lovely energy to the campaign.
Initially she planned to get back to her home in Cork where, she said, there was a huge groundswell of support with people "floating in and out" and sending messages.
She would use the word "dignity" about all the candidates. She had spoken to Ms Banotti and they were determined that they were not going to get embroiled in any mud-slinging. It would not be a confrontational campaign, she promised.
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, stressed that Fianna Fail's selection of Ms Mary McAleese was a decision of the party. "In spite of what some people may think, I didn't get involved. I'll do what I can in the campaign but my diary for the coming six weeks is pretty full because of the situation with the Northern talks."
It was taking up an awful lot of his time and there was a tremendous amount of papers to go through. It was a great opportunity but was time-consuming. He would be doing what he could for the presidential election.