Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was congratulated yesterday evening by well-wishers as he attended a crowded official function in Dublin city centre on the Liffey quays.
In his first public appearance outside the Dáil since his interview on RTÉ on Tuesday evening, Mr Ahern unveiled a statue to the Mayo-born founder of the Argentinian navy, Admiral William Brown, in the South Quays area.
The statue is to stand on a new street named after the admiral. A large crowd turned out to greet Mr Ahern at the function, which began on board the Naval ship LE Eithne docked on the South Quays.
Government Chief Whip Tom Kitt and Attorney General Rory Brady both attended the function.
Also there were Gay Byrne, the chairman of the Road Safety Authority; former Dublin City manager Frank Feeley; and a number of councillors from Dublin and Mayo. Mr Ahern was greeted by the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Lt Gen Jim Sreenan and Cmdr Frank Lynch, Flag Officer of the Naval Service. The band from the Eastern Command's Second Brigade played as he inspected a 50-man guard of honour from the Naval Service before boarding the LE Eithne.
There was tight security and members of the media were barred from boarding during the official speeches, due to what organisers said were safety limits on the numbers allowed on the ship.
During Mr Ahern's speech he referred to the fact that Admiral Brown was from Mayo, as was Cdr Mark Mellet, who captained the LE Eithne on a special trip to Argentina this year.
"I'm surrounded by Mayo-men today," Mr Ahern explained to the crowd, in an apparent reference to Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny and Labour Leader Pat Rabbitte, also from the same county.
Mr Ahern was surrounded by well-wishers after leaving the ship to unveil the statue.
A number approached him to say "congratulations" and shook his hand as he and his entourage made their way back to his car.