TAOISEACH Brian Cowen arrived in Crossmaglen on Thursday night to a smattering of applause from the Fianna Fail faithful.
A dozen or so party activists and supporters mingled with the press outside the Cross Square Hotel, before breaking into applause as the Taoiseach stepped from his car, flanked by Ministers Dermot Ahern and Eamon O’Cuiv and a number of TD’s from border constituencies.
The event had been organised to mark the official opening of the Fianna Fail office in the town.
The move now means Fianna Fail have an official presence in counties Armagh, Down and Fermanagh, as well as a number of Cummans in Queens and the University of Ulster.
The event, at least outside of the hotel, was a low key affair, with Mr Cowen posing briefly for photographs, before heading inside.
The Taoiseach spared a few minutes for the press who had been awaiting his historic arrival.
It was the first time a Taoiseach has been to Crossmaglen, but he was remaining tight lipped about the party’s future in the north.
“We’re here to build a base” he said. “To build rapport with people, to talk to supporters and build relationships with them.
“Elections aren’t an issue for the party at the moment, that’s an issue for the future.”
Inside, the Taoiseach spoke to over 100 guests about the need to reach out to unionism and how engaging in what he called ‘real politics’ could unite Catholic, Protestant and dissenter.
Local Fianna Fail activist Martin McAllister was more open about the party’s goals in the north.
“The purpose of any political party is to fight elections” he said. “It's definitely a question of when, not if, right now we are building a support base, and that isn't going to happen overnight.”
Local reaction to the Taoiseach’s visit to south Armagh has been fairly muted.
Sinn Fein MP Conor Murphy said the arrival of Fianna Fail into politics here would not effect their operation.
“While I welcome the fact that Fianna Fail are taking steps to arrange themselves in the North of the country, I would question their tardiness in doing so,” he said.
“Regardless of the actions of any other political party Sinn Féin will continue to ensure our delivery for our constituents.“
The SDLP’s Dominic Bradley said: “The SDLP’s position regarding it’s relationship with parties in the south has been put on record on numerous occasions.”
Ulster Unionist representative Danny Kennedy said he didn’t believe Fianna Fail had a role to play in northern politics, however, he added: “The emergence of a third nationalist party could be good for unionism.”