There was a perceptible frisson in Dublin Castle when President-elect Catherine Connolly strode purposefully into St Patrick's Hall to be declared the winner.
Her family were in close quarters, but so too were politicians from the left-wing parties which had worked both cohesively and coherently for her.
The leaders of Sinn Féin, Labour, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit-Solidarity and Greens all agreed that this was "Catherine's day".
Yet they couldn't have been unaware of a political message which was being projected: a left-wing political collective had contributed significantly to a left-wing politician making it back to Áras an Uachtaráin.
Before the declaration was made, they stood in an arc in front of the stage as the cameras flashed: a visual representation of that success.
It was also a political pulse to the electorate that they might be able to do it again - replicate the cohesion in a General Election and put both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael out of office.
When speaking to the media, the Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald noted how this combined Opposition had come together in a cohesive way for the Connolly campaign.
The Labour leader Ivana Bacik talked about how they'd all been part of a unique movement for change.
The Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns put it succinctly: change doesn't stop here.
Paul Murphy of People Before Profit-Solidarity was already calling for a meeting to agree on a strategy for the Galway West by-election, which will be triggered by Ms Connolly's elevation.
But can they succeed?
Tánaiste Simon Harris was dismissive of the idea during an extensive media engagement this afternoon.
He pointed out how Fine Gael secured 36.1% of the vote in the 2011 General Election, but the party's candidate only garnered 6.4% in the Presidential Election later that year.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin was also highly sceptical of a connection.
They're not alone.
Several political analysts on RTÉs presidential election coverage said they can't see how parties of the left can cooperate during a General Election while, at the very same time, fight to secure as many seats for themselves as possible.
If the election pact was limited, say to a voting-pact on transfers, then it might be doable it was felt.
Reaching a deal on candidates, or territory in individual constituencies, would seem to be far more tricky.
But that's all someway down the line.
Tonight, the parties of the left have the wind behind them after the stunning success of their joint candidate.
Deputy Paul Murphy was asked on RTÉ's Six One News if there was a big party which everyone was attending tonight.
He replied that he didn't think so, as they were returning to their individual constituencies.
It seems they're working together but not quite partying together just yet.
