Next Wednesday, May 16th, is the actual day on which FF was founded 75 years ago and although foot-and-mouth put paid to plans for elaborate celebrations, the day will not go unmarked. At noon the entire parliamentary party will proceed from Leinster House to the Oak Room in the Mansion House for an address by the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. He will talk about the state of the party, the nation, the referendums and next year's election. That evening there is a special forum in Senator Donie Cassidy's hotel off Dublin's Parnell Square which will be addressed by Charlie McCreevy, Eamon O Cuiv and Martin Mansergh. 75th anniversary celebrations will continue throughout the year, with each constituency being asked to hold special conferences and there is talk of an RTE two-part documentary on the history of the party.