Men’s shed movement would have rich pickings at Fianna Fáil ard fheis

Fianna Fail isn’t sorry for your trouble any more. The party has discarded the sackcloth and ashes. It has paid its debt to society, done its time, fallen from a great height, but is now dusting down to face a challenge for survival. All has changed, but not as utterly as the members might like to think.

The feeling abroad at the party’s 77th Ard Fheis in Dublin’s Citywest Hotel was one of quiet confidence that the road back to where they believe they belong is opening up.

Five years after the great fall of ’11, a crowd estimated at a little south of 2,000 assembled at the complex to look forward to the coming election. Unlike the old days, their dreams were wrapped in hope rather than expectation.