Planning blind alley comes to a dead end at house without a hall

TIME will tell whether the feelgood factor in Fianna Fáil ranks translates into a good performance in June’s local and European elections.

If the party takes a hit, as some commentators are predicting, it won't be for the want of smooth moves by the leadership. At last weekend's árd fheis we got swingeing attacks on Sinn Féin, tons of good news announcements and lots of feelgood stuff about the national flag and rural Ireland.

Some of the stuff is pure candyfloss like the recent decision of Minister Mary Coughlan to give babies born on February 29 a "once-off bounty payment of e100", or her announcement that e1 million will be available for community celebrations to mark the tenth anniversary of the UN Year of the Family.