Two of these gents with exceptional manners were manning the main entrance to the Society complex, just down the road from Bobby Sands Avenue, formerly known as Merrion Road.

"Are you an international guest?" one enquired. Apparently, everybody but international guests had to use the old tradesman entrance at the side of the complex.

Goddamn capitalist lackeys.

As it turns out, this year's shindig did attract a few top bods from beyond these shores. The Cuban ambassador popped in, as did, ominously, a gent by the name of Ronnie Kasrils, who is the South African Minister for Intelligence. Was he looking for tips, or offering them?

Inside, as things got under way, Rita O'Hare was running around urging diners to dine up and fill the seats in the main hall. Rita has been running, or more accurately, on the run, for a number of years now, a little technical matter left over from the old days.

The past was also plastered across the walls of the hall.

Each year beckons an anniversary in the history of the struggle, and this time it's 20 years since Loughgall, the Armagh village where the SAS lay in wait for an IRA assassination unit, and killed eight volunteers. There is no mention anywhere of Anthony Hughes, the innocent passer-by who was shot to death that day, but innocent dead are of no use to any party.

The Manchester Martyrs also put in an appearance at the RDS, through the Allan, Larkin O'Brien Cumann from Kilkenny, which had a motion for the "return of the Manchester Martyrs." Not the bodies thereof, mind, but the actual martyrs themselves.

The Shinners' pals were dab hands at taking life not so long ago, but resurrecting it?

There's a challenge. They'd better shake a leg or Bertie will get there before them.

To be fair to the Shinners, they are selective about engaging in fashionable auction politics. No tax cuts here.

Unlike another party which would like to shoot the poor, this mob are all for eating the rich. They favour hiking a few choice taxes, which is very noble when you don't have a realistic chance of governing.

But if they have peaked in the south, then at least they are still straddling the summit north of the border. And the prospect of power within grasp kept spirits up over the weekend.

The speaking fare was only slightly more boring than the usual stuff at these party political outings. The motion to rename Merrion Road after Bobby Sands went down a treat. Delegate John Crowley from Armagh told the assembled: "If it's good enough for Tehran, it should be good enough for Dublin."

Anyone for a burka?

There was a rousing welcome for recuperating Caoimhgh�n � Caol�in, which helped sustain the delegates through his speech, ensuring that quite a few stayed conscious until the very end. And on it went, until Gerry Adams stepped up to the podium to sprinkle his charisma on adoring delegates.

By then, the whole place was rocking. Even our friends on security were breaking out in smiles. If things go according to plan over the next 12 months, they'll be back at the RDS with more than a spring in their step. If not, they could always consider the private security business, which might add value to the party brand. Going forward.