'Bertie' celebrations mark Bev's Dail
success
11 June 1997
Report - Tom Gillespie
It was a bubbly champagne celebration as Beverley Cooper-Flynn marked her 31st birthday on Monday.
And the people of Mayo gave her the present of a lifetime -- a seat in Dail Eireann.
Just two days earlier she was deemed elected to Leinster House, fulfilling her ambition to follow in her father's political footsteps.
She joins Ballina's Tom Moffatt as the Fianna Fail representatives for the new Mayo constituency.
But after hectic night of celebration her birthday bash was a low-key affair.
She went on the town for a quiet meal with her family after which she met some friends for a few drinks.
"It was nothing hectic", she said. "We just took it nice and easy as the past two months have been crazy.
"I'm pretty tired so I just relaxed in the company of a few friends and enjoyed the night."
On Sunday night the champagne corks also popped as she and her followers toasted their success in winning a seat in the constituency.
Her father, EU Commissioner Padraig Flynn was on hand for the post election knees-up but was back in his Brussels office on Monday, unable to remain in his native Castlebar for his youngest daughter's birthday bash.
However, her husband John, mother Dorothy, sisters Sharon and Audrey were at home for the occasion.
Beverley is the first woman, since the foundation of the State to take a Dail seat in Mayo.
Asked if she was hopeful of a Ministerial position from Taoiseach-in-waiting Bertie Ahern she replied: "I am just so pleased to go into Dail Eireann. I will take it one step at a time and whatever happens in the future will obviously be welcome. But right now I am just delighted to be where I am."
