"We have a fight on our hands in the next few weeks and we are relishing it." That was the rallying call from Tánaiste Joan Burton to delegates this morning, writes Conor McMorrow of RTÉ's political staff.
Most political data - opinion polls and election results - from the last few years point to multiple Labour party seat losses in Election 2016.
But the Labour’s women’s exhibition stall in the Mullingar Park Hotel reminded us the party has defied the odds in previous fights.
"Instead of rocking the cradle, rocking the system," read the headline on a pamphlet. It reminded us that Ireland’s first female president, Mary Robinson, was elected against all odds in 1990 on the back of a Labour party nomination.
Another pamphlet said, "Women belong in the house, Leinster House" and reminded us that "Under Labour, gender quotas for women candidates have been introduced".
One senior party figure pointed out that Labour has historically got an average of 10% support in general elections. "If we can get 10% we will not have as bad an election as some are predicting."
Tonight’s Red C/Sunday Business Post poll result - putting Labour at 10% - came as a relief in Mullingar.
Party apparatchiks were saying yesterday that the aim was to hit double digits in the polls by the end of January and add to that. 10% on January 30 ticks that box. A double digit poll result is also psychologically important for Labour.
"We got 20 seats with 10% of the vote in 2007 so if we can add on a few more points in this campaign this will boost our seat count," said one of the party backroom team.
It should be noted that there will be 158 seats - eight less than the current Dáil - this time around. So 10% may not yield quite as many seats in this election.
Alex White, the Minister for Communications, warned those predicting disaster for Labour, "You can’t analyse the election before it happens. The survival of the Labour party is not in question".
Likewise the Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin pledged that the number of seats Labour wins will "confound critics".
Like the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael conferences over the past two weekends, Labour’s event looked towards the Easter 1916 centenary. James Connolly featured heavily in the party’s 1916 commemoration exhibition.
There were reminders of the more recent past in Mullingar. Former Tánaiste and party leader Eamon Gilmore seems to have fully embraced his new life as the EU envoy to the Colombian peace process.
If some TDs are emotional leaving the Dáil next week, Mr Gilmore will not be one of them. Full of energy, he’s already moved on.
There was a standing ovation and huge welcome in the conference hall for recently retired Senator Jimmy Harte. The popular Donegal man has retired on health grounds.
Education minister Jan O’Sullivan reminded delegates of another battle ahead - the party’s pledge to repeal the Eight Amendment.
Wicklow TD Anne Ferris said she could wallpaper one of the rooms in her house with the amount of hate mail she has received because of her stance on the abortion issue.
The Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly accused the opposition of "populist rhetoric" and added "when you stand for everything you stand for nothing".
Tánaiste Joan Burton claimed the opposition has no "substantive policies…Fianna Fáil nearly bankrupted the country - and they're totally bankrupt of ideas".
Reminding delegates of Gerry Adams’ comments about Thomas 'Slab' Murphy she said, "Sinn Féin are more concerned about protecting their "good republican friends than actually building a good republic".
Not unlike Fine Gael, Labour is promising recovery and warns the electorate not to put the recovery at risk. "Standing up for Ireland's Future" is the party slogan for the election.
Much has been made of how the fictional floating voter 'Ashbourne Annie' will vote in this election. Minister Howlin said she will back Labour.
In a clear move to win votes, the Tánaiste tonight announced plans "to establish a 'Save to Buy' scheme to give first-time buyers a helping hand".
She also pledged to annually increase the pension by at least €5 a week.
Tonight sees the curtain draw on pre-election party conference season.
It’s now over to Taoiseach Enda Kenny to ring the bell and start that Election fight that the Tánaiste is "relishing".
