Over-shadowed by the death of its former controversial TD, Liam Lawlor, the Fianna Fáil Ardfheis was bland.Having spent the last eight years in office, Fianna Fáil knows that it is in trouble. The opinion polls say so. An internal report on the party's organisation, compiled by the Minister for Finance, Mr Cowen, during the summer, confirms it.
But the largest political party in the State is still a formidable fighting force, focused on the retention of power, and this was displayed to good effect at its ardfheis in Killarney at the weekend.
The Taoiseach and party leader set the tone. Fianna Fáil is about competition and change, he insisted, as delegates considered the question of sending their good wishes to former Taoiseach, Charles Haughey, and became obsessed with the circumstances surrounding Mr Lawlor's death in Moscow.
The next great project, according to Mr Ahern, would involve reform of the public service. With a general election looming - it was the underlying theme of the ardfheis - delegates were assured that the process would not involve reductions in pay or a "race to the bottom" for the 350,000 State employees. It sounded like a win-win situation for both the public service unions and for Fianna Fáil. The cost was not addressed.
Mr Ahern listed the achievements under his leadership: low tax and debt burdens; higher living standards; strong economic growth and low unemployment levels. The record was impressive, but his delivery curiously flat. Growth patterns have returned to more moderate levels since the halcyon days of the Celtic Tiger. Prices have spiralled upwards. Resources have been wasted through ministerial incompetence. And the public is demanding better value for money.
Rather than address these rumblings of dissatisfaction, which have bolstered the fortunes of the opposition parties, Mr Ahern looked to the future and promised a 10-year transport plan within the coming weeks. Better health services would be provided. Care for the elderly would improve. And a world-class education system would be established. In this brave new Ireland, Fianna Fáil would be history-makers. Having convinced the IRA to dispose of its weapons, a new country had been born.
In an island at peace, Fianna Fáil would go head-to-head with Sinn Féin and reclaim its republican mantle. At the same time, the public was invited to consider the dangers posed to living standards by a coalition arrangement involving Fine Gael and the Labour Party. A succession of ministers predicted that, in the absence of established policies, taxes would rise. Public spending would accelerate. And the benefits gained during the years of the Celtic Tiger would be frittered away.
It was fairly predictable stuff. But the alternative government parties still have to put on a convincing show in the Dáil. And, as they hesitate, Fianna Fáil has embarked on internal party reform. Brian Cowen - the Taoiseach's would-be successor - is leading that process. Fianna Fáil may be down, but it is certainly not out yet.