BY HARRY WALSH
THOUSANDS of well wishers, family and friends will gather in the Diamond, Donegal Town this evening (Friday) to welcome home the new Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mary Coughlan.
Ms Coughlan (43), together with the new Finance Minister Brian Lenihan, was seen as the big winner in Taoiseach Brian Cowen's new cabinet which was announced on Wednesday evening.
Indeed, senior political analysts suggest that Ms Coughlan must now be seen as a realistic future contender for the party leadership.
The new Tanaiste carried out her first official duties yesterday morning when she represented the Government at the Order of Business in the Dáil.
Later in the day, the former Minister for Agriculture met with the French Agriculture Minister before completing a number of other engagements.
Speaking to the Donegal News yesterday, Thursday, a clearly elated Mary Coughlan was still coming to terms with the honour bestowed on her by her party leader, An Taoiseach, Brian Cowen.
"The last twenty-four hours seem a little surreal if truth be told. I got a call to meet the Taoiseach at 5.15pm on Wednesday evening. At that stage many of those closest to me would have thought I'd known what lay ahead for me but I didn't. I had no idea whatsoever and that's why I was so honoured, taken aback and humbled all at once," Ms Coughlan said.
The mother of two said it was an 'incredibly' proud day for herself, the Fianna Fáil party in Donegal and, particularly, in Donegal South West. The position of Tánaiste last crossed the Shannon when Ray McSharry held the post.
"I'm thrilled for the Fianna Fail grassroots in the North West and I'm deeply privileged on a personal level.
"I leave behind a capable successor in Agriculture in Minister Brendan Smith, a man whom I've worked closely with in that Department before and yes, I hold wonderful memories of my time in that Department in the course of which a great deal of progress was made on many fronts," she said.
In her new role, Ms Coughlan will represent the country whenever Mr Cowen is unavailable while she will also take the Order of Business in the Dáil from now on each Thursday morning.
As the new Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ms Coughlan will be charged with trying to stem the tide of job cuts across the country.
"My attention turns right away to the business of maintaining competitiveness in the Irish economy, creating employment opportunities as well as the conditions conducive to investment by working closely with the state agencies, my cabinet colleagues and my staff in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment," the new Tánaiste added.
When asked about her role in attracting new jobs to the county, Ms Coughlan said that he would be fighting for equal opportunities in the North West.
"There will be huge expectations with regards to jobs and I'll be doing my best for the people of the North West, particularly my own county," Ms Coughlan said.
A close colleague of Mr Cowen's, the new Tánaiste had seconded his nomination for Fianna Fail party leader last month.
This is Ms Coughlan's third Ministerial port-folio. She was appointed Social and Family Affairs Minister in 2002 before taking up the post as Minister for Agriculture in September 2004.
Her father Cathal Coughlan was a TD for Donegal South West from 1983-1986. Her uncle Clem Coughlan was also a TD in the area from 1980-1983. Like Brian Cowen, Ms Coughlan was thrust into politics at a very early age because of the death of her father.
The homecoming will be this evening (Friday), exact times to be confirmed but at this stage although it appears likely that the new Tanaiste will come home to Frosses via Bundoran, Ballyshannon, Ballintra and Donegal Town before ending up in the Milltown Bar in Inver.
"It's fair to assume that the homecoming will probably run away behind schedule and until the wee hours," one party source laughed.
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