By Anne Lucey
FORMER Taoiseach Charles J Haughey yesterday appeared to deny reports that he had sold his Kinsealy estate for a sum of around £30 million. Asked if he intended to sell or to move to his Kerry island home of Inishvickillane, or if he wished to comment on the reported sale of his Dublin home, Mr Haughey said: "As they say in the Blaskets, 'na bac' (pay no heed to that)."

A close associate of the former Fianna Fáil leader also denied the reports. "He is not going to sell the house. Mr Haughey said this morning the house was not sold. That is my understanding," he said.

Mr Haughey was at the Dingle regatta, where he started the second race, the four-women naomhoga championship before one of the largest crowds in recent years, amid glorious sunshine.

However, the six crews were forced to wait until Mr Haughey interrupted his lunch at the Waterside restaurant with his family to perform the start.

Mr Haughey walked a gauntlet of handshakes and well-wishers and there was a round of applause.

In a departure from tradition, Mr Haughey did not start the regatta with a gunshot from a boat in the sea but by raising a red flag from the edge of the quay.

Dressed in his now traditional Dingle regatta attire of peaked blue cap and matching trousers with a distinctive blue shirt, he looked tanned and well, although he remarked to his friends on the quay: "Ah sure, I'm very feeble."

He was in good humour and agreed to raise the flag a second time, warning people: "This is only for photographic purposes."

Asked to perform the medal-giving ceremony after the regatta, he told MC Ted Creedon: "Ceart go leor."

Then out of the side of his mouth, he remarked "B'fheidir go mbeidh me ar meisce (perhaps I will be drunk)", before returning to the Waterside restaurant to a lunch hosted by his long time friend and owner of the restaurant, Michael O'Sullivan.

Mr Haughey has been holidaying on his island for the past month, travelling in and out of Dingle on his yacht, the Celtic Mist.

On Saturday, he enjoyed the French le Figaro Solitaire race as it departed for its longest leg to the bay of Gascony.

He was presented with a painting of his more regular gun-start by artist Diane Lavery while at the restaurant.