DESPITE BEING officially estranged from Labour’s parliamentary party after his stand on the closure of Mullingar barracks, Willie Penrose remains a popular figure with colleagues.
He’s even more in demand these days, having informed Labour politicians and staff that he can get them the autograph of boy band star Niall Horan.
One Direction made musical history this week by becoming the first British-based band to go to the top of the American charts with a debut album.
Young Niall comes from a strong Labour family and has canvassed for Penrose in recent elections. “He’s a lovely lad – very impish and a bit of a character,” Willie told us before the last election.
“He was a great one for keeping the spirits up during a long canvass; a gas lad who always has a twinkle in his eye.”
Niall is unlikely to be hitting the doorsteps anytime soon with Deputy Penrose, but once he keeps supplying the autographs, the mammies and daddies in Leinster House will be happy.
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