The Progressive Democrats National Conference opens in Cork this evening, with social events scaled down as a mark of respect to the Pope.
In a change to custom, PD leader Mary Harney will not discuss politics in her opening night’s speech but instead will deal with the legacy of Pope John Paul II, whose funeral she attended in Rome this morning.
The main address of Ms Harney will be broadcast live on RTÉ One television at 8.30pm tomorrow evening.
The main debates at the conference are scheduled for tomorrow, with delegates discussing motions ranging from a call for the height of the Dublin Port Tunnel to be raised, to civil recognition of same-sex couples, to the abandonment of electronic voting.
The event comes past the half-way mark for this Government, and will see the PDs gathering to refocus for the battles ahead.
The party's electoral fortunes have not been great in the past year. It did not contest June's European elections, it was disappointed by the local election results, and made little headway in the Meath and Kildare North by-elections.
However, while pundits have written the party's political obituary many times before, this weekend sees the PDs celebrate 20 years in existence.
