- Enda Kenny receives his seal of office from President Mary McAleese
Enda Kenny’s supporters welcomed him home to Mayo as the new Taoiseach on Saturday night.
The Taoiseach flew in from Belgium on a government jet for his homecoming.
They lit bonfires and floated two Chinese lanterns in the night sky in honour of the special occasion.
The new Taoiseach Kenny, his wife Fionnuala, daughter Aoibhinn, 18, and sons Ferdia, 16, and Naoise, 14, were delighted by the display as sparks soared into a darkening sky almost on their doorstep.
Mr Kenny told his neighbours that his family had no intention of leaving Castlebar,Mayo. “We’re staying put,” he said.
Then, referring to the 24-hour garda security which will be around his home from now onwards, Mr Kenny joked: “The members of the blue brigade on the road will see you are all well protected from now onwards -so get your driving licences and insurance.”
Mr Kenny spent yesterday with his family and went to visit his mother Eithne, 92, who is resident in a local nursing home.
Afterwards, Mr Kenny said his mother had been delighted to watch Wednesday’s Leinster House proceedings on television.
“Her mind is very intact,” he said. “She is fully with us in that sense.”
Mr Kenny, who will fly out to Washington for St Patrick’s Day celebrations later in the week, said he hoped American President Barack Obama would visit Ireland this year.
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