Wit, gravitas, Rabbitte had it all in speech

LIKE best-man speeches at weddings, party leaders’ addresses are always guaranteed a standing ovation, irrespective of how dry and soul-destroyingly cliched they are or how much the stabs at humour have bellyflopped.

In truth, there are very few who have the knack of delivering witty, all-encompassing, and gripping leaders' speeches capable of stopping them in the aisles.

In Ireland, there is really only one. Pat Rabbitte's address to the Labour Party conference this weekend wasn't perfect towards the end it began to taper off a bit but it wasn't far off it. His powerful half-hour performance showcased all of the Labour leader's speech-making talents and strengths of fluency and delivery.