‘Embraced by a new family’

WHAT a non-stop first week. Although, what few people knew was that I’d begin it with a bit of revenge.

The Fine Gael Press Office has spent five weeks doing their damndest to make sure I was never photographed in the vicinity of my electric scootery-type thing — my Segway. But I’m pretty hard to manage so Monday was my day for revenge. I turned up at my son’s school to talk to them about the election campaign full in the knowledge that an RTÉ cameraman would be there to see me arrive. Unbeknownst to the press office, I deliberately, and with malice of forethought, ensured that this man and his Segway should never be parted. I turned up to the jubilation of the kids that were more excited about my mode of transport than there were about my election victory. Revenge was sweet.

Tuesday was the big day. Friends, relatives and supporters had been invited to the Dáil for my first day. I had been advised what would happen but I had no real idea what was waiting for me. As I was strolling up Molesworth Street with Mary, Harry and Alison in tow, I could see quite a crowd on the plinth. The Fine Gael Parliamentary Party had turned out in force, along with supporters and friends. So had the media. It was a great event. The energy and enthusiasm of so many well-wishers was palpable. Enda Kenny was wonderful and his welcome profuse. I had said when I left RTÉ that it felt like I had left a family behind but, here on the plinth, the welcome I was being given made it clear to me that I was being embraced by a new family. It was a fantastic experience, I knew I would never be alone.