It was clear yesterday Eamon Gilmore would not go back with news the wedding was off
NOW THAT their union is out in the open, they don’t have to meet in secret any more.
But Enda and Eamon escaped briefly yesterday to enjoy a twilight assignation beside the municipal bandstand, for old times’ sake. To celebrate their new status, photographers were invited along to do a few snaps.
Positively aglow, the happy couple declared they won’t waste time with a honeymoon because they intend to get “straight into it”. And in the gathering gloom, a council attendant did everything he could to facilitate an immediate consummation by locking the freshly spliced duo into Herbert Park.
In the interests of decency (the air had turned very chilly), they decided to hold out until this morning, when they’ll go at it hot and heavy. “There are urgent issues coming down the track at us,” said Eamon.
On this, they were both agreed.
Then, as a token of their bona fides, they twirled a bewildered toddler in the air for the cameras before making for the gates. We could have sworn we heard strains of Elgar as they proceeded down the path and up another in search of an unlocked entrance.
While they can’t sign the register to make things official until Wednesday, the pair are now well and truly politically hitched – Taoiseach Kenny and Tánaiste Gilmore.
Last evening’s photocall may have been hastily arranged, but there was nothing rushed about the coming together of the Fine Gael and Labour families. Their pre-nup was under preparation for a long time and it was presented to both parties for their blessing yesterday afternoon.
In the case of Fine Gael, Enda Kenny had to seek the endorsement of his parliamentary party. This was never in any doubt, although their meeting at the Shelbourne Hotel ran way over time, giving rise to speculation that there may have been some expressions of dissent.
But the reason for the delay was much more benign: all the deputies wanted to say their piece – and they belted on for hours.
Labour, on the other hand, held a special delegate meeting in advance of putting the newly minted programme for a national government to a vote. There was a possibility of fireworks, with speakers lined up for and against going into coalition with Fine Gael.
Over a thousand party members packed into UCD’s O’Reilly Hall, the scale of the turnout proving the adage that success has many fathers.
The only TD to speak against throwing in their lot with Fine Gael was Tommy Broughan – the rest of the platform group appeared fully behind the decision. The sight of 37 deputies onstage gladdened the hearts of all supporters – it’s Labour’s biggest ever Dáil representation – and they cheered their men and women to the rafters when they were introduced to the crowd at the start of proceedings.
It soon became clear from the majority of speakers and from the mood in the hall that Eamon Gilmore would not be returning to Enda Kenny with news that the wedding was off.
He was at pains to stress that Labour will face difficult times in government. There would be tough decisions to make.
He felt sure there will be times when they will have to face protests, and when they will go to conferences “through a forest of placards”.
Throughout the debate, speakers in favour of the deal mentioned their recent experiences on the doorsteps during the election campaign. Time and again, they spoke of people breaking down in tears as they talked about the difficulties they had with day-to-day living.
Gilmore said Labour had to go into government “for the people who came on the doorsteps to us and cried”. Speakers against the proposal urged patience. Coalition with Fine Gael would ruin the party.
“We should go it alone in opposition and sweep to power next time around. We can sweep to power in 2016,” said one of them, to applause.
The party leader’s response was short and to the point: “The families who are in trouble with their mortgages can’t wait until 2016.”
Tommy Broughan made a powerful argument. As he did his John Wayne walk to the podium, the audience leaned forward in anticipation.
By going into government, Labour would be swapping a “Cowen, Lenihan, Honohan” straitjacket for a “Kenny, Noonan, Honohan” straitjacket, he argued.
The new fiscal policy will be nothing more than what went before, with “a few Fine Gael tassels and bells here and there”.
Any lengthy dalliance with Fine Gael would be a “hopeless” and “tragic” error – it would ruin the party and the country and “the dream of left-wing government will remain just a dream”.
Joan Burton urged delegates to accept the plan. “Power postponed is not an option that the Irish people are likely to warm to.” Union leader Jack O’Connor offered qualified support.
The many calls to “step up to the plate” were an indication of what way the vote might go. It was taken on a show of hands.
There was no need to count the number of cards waved in the air in favour of going into government.
“Carried, by an overwhelming majority” said the party chairman, to cheers and a standing ovation.
It was never really expected to go the other way. Fine Gael must have felt confident as notification went out of the photocall with Enda and Eamon in Herbert Park while deputy Gilmore was still on his feet addressing the troops in UCD.
As soon as the blessing was dispensed by the delegates, the Labour leader hotfooted it to Herbert Park, where Enda was waiting by the bandstand. They shook hands and walked in front of the cameras, watched by Sunday strollers and a fascinated cocker spaniel.
They tried to look nonchalant, making pleasant conversation. Enda mentioned the five-point plan and everybody laughed. He stabbed the air now and then and gave Eamon a playful punch in the chest.
Then, as ever, a random tot was produced and the Fine Gael leader grabbed him. The Labour leader, now that he is part of a couple, joined in, clinging on to the little chap’s hand.
Then Enda looked around and couldn’t see the child’s mother. “Where’s Mammy? Where’s Mammy,” he cried anxiously, before mother appeared to reclaim her baby.
The two men appear to get on well together. At least, that’s what they said when asked, adding that they have “a good working relationship”.
They were happy out yesterday, anyway. It’s a start.
A rocky road lies ahead.
It will be a war cabinet, says Eamon Gilmore.
Unfortunately for him and his Taoiseach-elect, there is no war chest to go along with it.
