Twenty-nine years to the day since he was elected to the Dáil, the Fine Gael leader, Mr Enda Kenny, confidently addressed the youth branch of his party in his home county of Mayo on Saturday, reports Michael O'Regan in Ballina.
The 300 delegates gave him a rousing reception, still basking in the after-glow of the party's success in the June European and local elections. Past leaders and party activists were recalled in a video before Mr Kenny's speech, with Michael Collins securing a cheer to rival the party leader's.
The words of James Dillon - "united we stand, divided we fall" - were recalled.
Delegates spoke of Mr Kenny's leadership as their predecessors had hailed the achievements of Dr Garret FitzGerald in the 1970s and 80s. Underlining the mood of celebration, Mr Phil Hogan, TD recalled the party's success in winning two European Parliament seats in the East constituency. He urged delegates to continue to work and secure election to Government.
A number of motions were discussed and a call for the distribution of free contraceptives to secondary schools and universities to curb the spread of sexually- transmitted diseases was agreed.
Mr Barry Walsh, a native of Mitchelstown, Co Cork, who is studying law at the University of Limerick, said the party had undergone a dramatic transformation from a year ago.
"The level of participation has about trebled. The elections had a huge impact on the party. We are not shouting and roaring all the time, but we are active on the ground. Enda Kenny has been in every college in every town in the country.
"He was in UCC recently, and 180 people turned up to a meeting. When Dr FitzGerald spoke in the college in 1979, he did not attract that kind of attendance."
Mr Kenny challenged delegates to lead a debate about finding a new republican model.
"I want Young Fine Gael to ask the question: can we move the term 'republic' away from the bomb and the bullet and link it to community? Can we move towards a civil republic?"
He claimed that Fianna Fáil was prepared to dump the Progressive Democrats in favour of "a newer, sexier model, Sinn Féin".
Mr William Lavelle told delegates that Young Fine Gael was Europe's fastest-growing youth political organisation.