But standing beside the Taoiseach, Rory, who got off school early for the occasion, was uncertain.

His eyes glanced down at the large model sail boat on the table beside himself and Bertie Ahern. The lights flashed. Ahern patted the boy on the shoulder. "Good man, " he said. As the Taoiseach's day-long visit to Co Clare got going last Thursday, it quickly became clear that he was a master at organising a group picture. "How're you keeping?" he kept asking as he manoeuvered people into position.

"All in, " he checked. "Smile, " they responded. It seems everyone loves getting their photo taken with Bertie.

On Thursday morning a lone piper had met Ahern at the entrance to the marina in Kilrush. "Clear the way, I want him to stand in front of the plaque, " the man from the marina ordered. The inscription read, "This plaque was erected to commemorate the visit of An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. . ." He turned the sod on the development in March 1998.

Like many of the stops on Thursday's schedule in Co Clare, Ahern has been there before. He's the political equivalent of the legendary rock band on the greatest hits tour. "We're not finished yet, " a Shannon Development official boasted about the marina project. Ahern had a similar message for the Fianna Fail supporters in the welcoming party. "We'll beat this cocktail of opposition that will turn back the clock, " a local party member proclaimed. Ahern smiled broadly.

The accompanying media, however, wanted to talk about other matters.

"Tribunal examines payments to Taoiseach, " the Irish Times front-page headline said. The newspaper claimed three or four people had given Ahern between 50,000 and 100,000 in December 1993. The dramatic report featured in a pre-arranged phone interview with Clare FM. "The person who gave the leak has obviously seen the full file, there is no doubt about that, except for the figures. The figures are off the wall, " Ahern said.

The newspaper story had not come as a surprise to the Taoiseach, as he later told the Sunday Tribune. "I knew this was coming. I saw it was being hocked around a number of newspapers and, obviously, journalists were ringing around so I knew since Sunday that what I thought were confidential exchanges with the tribunal had been given to members of the media."

The reporters at Kilrush marina wanted to know more. "Taoiseach, is the story true, did you take money from businessmen for personal use?"

The Fianna Fail leader was composed at the start. But as the questions continued he got increasingly tetchy. He confirmed that the money was linked to his marital separation and legal fees. But after mentioning that information he became obviously annoyed.

"What I got personally in my life to be frank with you is none of your business. . ." he snapped. It was a sign of weakness picked up later in the day by the opposition parties in Leinster House.

Yet in Co Clare on Thursday nobody was getting too excited by tribunal revelations. At lunchtime as the Clare FM interview was being re-broadcast on RTE, Ahern was in Kilkee.

Theresa Donnellan, the new principal of St Joseph's Community College, told her visitor she wanted "decent sporting facilities." With the rain pounding off the roof of the school's assembly hall, the Taoiseach was in listening mode. It was the same at every stop on Thursday. With eight months to the general election, Ahern is on a constituency tour extraordinaire and he's conducting his very own focus group research.

Ahern spoke off the cuff to the students in Kilkee. "I always feel a little sorry for pupils with the homework they get, " he remarked. The students cheered. Twenty minutes later we arrived at Hickie's Pub in Kilkee. Siobhan Lardner's grandmother wanted a photo. Eleven-year-old Siobhan had met Ahern previously . . . in 1995 when she was four months old. Her grandmother produced the photograph of that occasion. Ahern signed the back of the picture and another snap was taken.

'Do all you can for the party' Shortly after two o'clock we stopped at Doonbeg Golf Club. The hotel complex gives off an air of affluence. The middle-aged golfers enjoying lunch looked bemused as Ahern was whisked through the dining room.

There were no voters in this group of American visitors decked out in their Ryder Cup jackets and jumpers. The hotel manager directed the Taoiseach towards the White Horse Spa. Suddenly we were in the gentleman's locker room. In their smart beige uniforms the hotel staff lined up along the locker-room wall. "Okay lads, we'll abandon the tour and stay here, " Ahern quipped. Then there was time for the quickest of quick cups of tea. Ahern ate a handful of grapes which, with the exception of a small sandwich at a later stop, was the only food he had all day.

At 2.50pm we stopped at the Tavern Pub in Quilty. Seven local school children played their tin whistles. Freshly cut flowers were in vases on several tables. Ahern worked the room filled mainly with Fianna Fail members.

When he wasn't in listening mode, Ahern used Thursday's visit to motivate his party organisation. "Keep up the work, folks, " Ahern had earlier told the Fianna Fail faithful in Kilkee.

"Do all you can for the party in the winter months and into the spring, " he now requested in Quilty.

His message is a variation of the 'A lot done, more to do' slogan from 2002.

Only this time it's, 'Things are good but don't risk it by letting the other crowd in.' He said the new hotel in Doonbeg was an example of local progress. "I checked the rates and I don't think I'll be coming back, " he joked.

At 3.10pm we arrived at another school. St Joseph's secondary college in Spanish Point was opened by the local bishop in 1959. A photograph of the opening ceremony hangs in the reception area. They can now put up a picture of the Taoiseach's whistlestop visit. "We were told no speeches by the protocol office, " the principal admitted.

In a few brief exchanges with the school teachers he got more feedback.

"I'm told you want more sports facilities. It's a valid point, " he said, adding, "Of course, if I had my way sport would bethe curriculum."

Twelve minutes later we departed the Spanish Point school. The programme for the day listed a "brief stop" at the Armada Hotel in the Co Clare town. As the motorcade pulled up, Jack Charlton was at the front door. The comedian Brendan Grace had a bear hug for Ahern. Grace's daughter Melanie had married Frank Gillespie earlier on Thursday. "Hello, superintendent, " Grace cheerfully shouted over to one of Ahern's security entourage.

There were photos with the bride and groom. Stephen Staunton was another wedding guest but the current Irish soccer manager seemed uninterested in the gate-crashing politician.

Kevin Moran had a warmer welcome for his fellow Dub. "Good to see you, " the former GAA and Manchester United star said across the firmest of handshakes.

Once again it turned out Ahern had visited the Armada Hotel previously.

The hotel owner produced the photo from that day. And it was held up for inclusion in Thursday's snap. The groom even left his bride's side to bid the Taoiseach farewell.

En route from Spanish Point there was a short stop at Biddy Early's brewery in Inagh. The visit was not on the official schedule but the locals had advance notice. A sign pinned to the front door read, "An Taoiseach Bertie will be visiting at 3.30pm tomorrow. All welcome." There were about 30 people there. It was really a Fianna Fail gathering. Ahern repeated his reminder about canvassing over the winters months.

By 4.30pm we arrived in Ennis.

"He's fairly moving, " a local garda remarked as Ahern shot down the main street. The Taoiseach had just "officially" opened the newly extended Carrig Dhonn shop in the town. A local Fianna Fail member persuaded Ahern to take a detour to a nearby barber shop. Ninety-two-year-old Nurse Duggan wanted to meet him. "I don't like any extremes, " the old woman said. "Keep it calm, " Ahern advised. A few photographs with the barber and we were on our way again.

During the afternoon it became obvious that the Fianna Fail media handlers were becoming distracted from the Clare visit. Calls from journalists about the tribunal story were increasingly accompanying their time.

"Can we get TV3 News on the machine in the car?" someone asked. After the main television news bulletins were over, the handlers huddled to discuss calls from newspaper reporters. They had a brief conversation with Ahern but other than that he showed no public sign of distraction from his itinerary in Co Clare.

He kept up the high pace throughout the rest of the day with visits to Sixmilebridge, Tulla, Scarrif, Raheen and Killaloe. There were good crowds and warm welcomes. And more gifts of framed photographs and paintings.

The boot of the state car was starting to fill.

Ahern's message was consistent.

To community groups, he promised that he was listening and appreciated their hard work. To the Fianna Fail faithful he had a reminder of the work needed for the electoral contest ahead.

"My public representatives are here to work with you, " he told a gathering in a GAA club in Killaloe. A local priest came away delighted to have had the opportunity to shake the Taoiseach's hand. "He's been at this all day, you know, " he told a woman in the crowd, "and he's also up to his eyes with some tribunal stuff." A group of local teenagers sang Bob Marley's 'Three Little Birds', which starts with the words, "Don't worry about a thing".

Ahern watched in stony silence. It may well have been the theme tune for the day.

'They want my job' By just after 8.30pm Ahern's state car was on the road back to Ennis. He was almost on schedule after a programme that had taken in 16 locations. Is this a good way to run the country, I asked, being out and about all day? "There's no place in the country where I haven't been. I like persistent campaigning, " he replied. "I'm always picking up issues."

He likes Michael McDowell . . . "very active, a bundle of energy" . . . and he has no problem with the new PD leader's ideas but "issues like stamp duty are for another day."

He agreed that health will be the big election issue but "every problem won't be solved before then." He felt "sorry" over Tony Blair's recent troubles but it hasn't changed his own decision that next year's election will be his last. And what then? "After 35 years in politics I'm going to visit all those friends of mine who are billionaires and see if I can work and earn a few quid." The words were uttered with serious sarcasm and were the first sign of tetchiness about the tribunal revelations.

At about 9pm we arrived at the Queens Hotel in Ennis. Over 300 Fianna Fail members had gathered to meet their party leader. Ahern listed the things the government has delivered for Co Clare. The new Ennis by-pass will open in early December.

"And by the way, that's on budget and five months ahead of time, " he declared.

The crowd cheered. "And that fact definitely won't make the headlines, " he added. They cheered even more.

It's still eight months to the general election, but the gathering in Ennis on Thursday night was as good as an election rally. Ahern's final words were directed at the opposition. "They want my job and they'll do anything to get it.

They'll leak anything, as you saw in the paper this morning. But I ain't going nowhere."

The cheers drowned out Ahern as he asked for a big effort to win three seats in Clare. The showbands used try to send their crowds home sweating.

Bertie Ahern just sends them home canvassing.