Cullen flags the nationalist agenda as FF machine gears up for battle

Sinn Féin takes the first direct hit as Bertie’s troops launch their election war, writes Political Editor Harry McGee.

FIFTEEN minutes before Bertie Ahern arrived on stage at CityWest on Saturday night Environment Minister Martin Cullen managed to encapsulate what this Árd Fheis was all about.

Mr Cullen was one of a couple of warm-up acts who took to the stage to fire up the crowd for the leader's address. At one stage, he turned behind him and pointed to the tricolour, one of two flags on the stage.