Uplifting power of the arts:POLITICIANS OF every stripe are having a torrid time of it at the moment, with those on the Government side taking the brunt of the public's anger.
Fianna Fáil’s TDs and Senators are looking rather pinched and stressed these days, and who can blame them? On Wednesday evening, they gathered for the regular meeting of their backbench forum, the Lemass Group. The format is the same each week: a group or company is invited in to address TDs and Senators and answer questions.
This week, the war-weary Soldiers of Destiny trooped in to hear a presentation from the National Campaign for the Arts, fully expecting to get an ear bashing from the assembled warblers and thespians, followed by a plea for money. People harangue them all the time now. They are used to getting kicked.
Deputies Chris Andrews and Thomas Byrne organised the session and there was a large turnout to hear Paddy Moloney of the Chieftains, actors Eamon Morrissey and Marie Mullen along with Marcella Corcoran from Birr Arts Centre, theatre producer Donal Shiels and Theatre Forum’s Tania Banotti.
"They gave a really positive presentation," Dublin South East TD Andrews tells us. "They were so passionate and upbeat about the arts; it was uplifting at a time when everyone is down in the dumps. It was almost a relief to go to a meeting and not be shouted at." As the event drew to a close after almost two hours, Mary O'Rourke prevailed upon Paddy Moloney to give them a tune. He duly obliged, whipping out a tin whistle from his inside pocket and launching into a double-jig called Banish Misfortune.The mood lifted.
Eamon Morrissey told a few yarns and had them rolling in the aisles.
"Play The Rising of the Moon," demanded O'Rourke, and as Paddy played, she belted out the ballad at the top of her voice. This is Mary's party piece, and she happily murdered it with magnificent aplomb.
Then the whole place joined in and they had a short but joyous sing-song. It was like releasing the valve on a pressure cooker. The embattled FFers sang their hearts out. There was no drink involved.
“We should have a national Paddy Moloney and Eamon Morrissey day,” a delighted Andrews told us afterwards. “It was great.” Mary O’Rourke was similarly impressed. “D’you know, it was the nicest two hours I ever spent in Leinster House.” Then they all returned to reality.
Too twee for Mammy
Our female TDs and Senators held a meeting this week to discuss the fraught issue of women in politics and how their numbers in parliament can be increased. The event was organised by Minister of State for Equality Mary White and Labour Senator Ivana Bacik, who produced a report last year on women’s participation in politics. The meeting was addressed by Susan McKay of the National Women’s Council.
However, the introduction of gender quotas to the candidate selection process continues to divide the Leinster House women. It was argued by those in favour of them that the word “quota” is not helpful.
Four of the politicians present formed a cross-party alliance opposing any move to introduce quotas – Fianna Fáil’s Mary O’Rourke, Independent Maureen O’Sullivan and Labour’s Joanna Tuffy and Róisín Shortall.
“It’s all too twee,” said O’Rourke. She’s a busy woman, is the deputy for Longford/Westmeath. She will be speaking on Monday night at the launch of Dr Patrick Geoghegan’s latest book about Daniel O’Connell. It takes place in the shadow of the O’Connell monument at the Glasnevin Museum in Glasnevin Cemetery.
Mary isn’t performing the actual launch, that duty falls to the ubiquitous Michael McDowell.
She will be doing the "introduction". One presumes she is introducing Liberator: The life and death of Daniel O'Connell 1830-1847and not the former tánaiste and PD leader. Although it would be interesting to hear what she might have to say on that score.
Ref could be on Joe’s side in this fight
There’s a big heavyweight bout on in Blanchardstown this Tuesday night when Joe “the Lispoole Lion” Higgins takes on Leo “Raging Bullock” Varadkar in a no-holds-barred debate on the economy.
The question is “What is the solution to the crisis?” Expect a crunching clash of ideology in the Crowne Plaza Hotel when two of the big beasts in Dublin West trade punchlines. In the big fight countdown, we see that MEP Higgins has a piece on his website comparing Varadkar to Margaret Thatcher and has helpfully added a photo-shopped picture of Leo’s face on Maggie’s body.
The debate starts at 8pm and will be chaired by Ruth Coppinger, Joe’s Socialist Party colleague. Is this not giving unfair advantage to the MEP?
“Oh no, Ruth will be very fair and evenhanded,” a party spokesman tells us. “And anyway, Leo will probably pack the place with Blueshirts.” The emergency services are on standby.
There may be blood.
Next week at the Dublin West fight-club, Brian “Boom Boom” Lenihan takes on Joan “the Brawler” Burton. Not. They’re too busy bursting each other in the Dáil.
Meanwhile, the leader of the Socialist Party is in Co Cavan this weekend for his party conference. It’s taking place in the plush confines of the Cavan Crystal Hotel, but that’s all right for the comrades because it has been Namafied.
But the burning question is: do any of them know how to play the chandeliers?
Lenihan heads for the hills
Is it time to head for the hills? We don’t wish to alarm anybody, but the Minister for Finance thinks so. An acquaintance was tramping around Wicklow last Sunday – it was a beautiful afternoon – when he passed a group of men hiking up Seefin mountain. Brian Lenihan was in the middle of them, belting along at fair lick.
Good for him.
And if he made it to the top, he will have seen an impressive megalithic cairn. It is still possible to enter it, although the roof has collapsed at the centre.
Rather like the economy.
Meanwhile, our fresh-air fiend was rambling near Enniskerry a couple of Saturdays ago when he met former minister for finance Ruairí Quinn, out walking on Maulin mountain.
Is there a survivalist cell in Kildare Street? Do they know something we don’t? Might start laying in some tinned food, just to be on the safe side.
A refurb for Anglo HQ, surely not?
A reader e-mails: “Does anyone care that the offices at Anglo Irish Bank on St Stephen’s Green have just undergone a major refurbishment project? New plush carpets, new leather chairs, beautiful new reception. Don’t let the boarded-up entrance at the front deceive you, this bank has just refurbished its office on the back of the taxpayer for the second time in five years.
“I’m in a profitable company and we haven’t had this revamp!” Could this be true?
Introducing the Minister for Sport . . .
Whatever happened to Martin Cullen? The former minister for sport retired from politics for health reasons in March – he has a chronic back ailment.
Cullen is living in the US at the moment, where he is receiving treatment for his condition. But every cloud has a silver lining, and for Martin, who is a huge gridiron fan, it means he can attend a lot of American football matches.
He was at a dinner before last month’s Navy v Notre Dame college game at the New Meadowlands stadium in New Jersey. All the big noises from the Fighting Irish and the US naval academy were there, and Martin was introduced to the room as the Irish minister for sport. He got a big round of applause.
Afterwards, he joked about taking his job back from Mary Hanafin and explained he stayed quiet about his current status as he didn’t want to embarrass the speaker.
The former deputy for Waterford, who is in the States for six months, is availing of the opportunity to see as many matches as possible. He is also a big baseball fan. When he was minister, he travelled over to New York in April 2009 for the first game in the new Yankee Stadium between the Yankees and the Cleveland Indians.
But once a politician, always a politician. He was quick to point out to our informant that he travelled at his own expense.
Martin (thank God for the ministerial pension) seems well got in the world of American sport. He attended another reception in Meadowlands before the Notre Dame match, and was out on the pitch sideline when the teams were warming up.
It’s easy to see why, if they think he is still a minister.
Royal toes dip into Irish waters
The Irish Embassy in London is enjoying a rich harvest of top-flight British visitors at the moment as Ireland and Britain carefully lay the groundwork, inch-by-inch, for next year’s planned visit to Ireland by Queen Elizabeth.
Prime minister David Cameron dropped into Grosvenor Place last week and on Tuesday Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall met with several hundred British-based Irish community leaders and a heavy sprinkling of the famous, including Terry Wogan and Bob Geldof.
Diplomatically and socially, the evening was something of a triumph for Ambassador Bobby McDonagh, with his royal guest clearly enjoying the company and conversation.
“I must say that we have been so incredibly touched that you should have thought of inviting us to come and put a toe into Irish waters here, lapping gently at the walls of Buckingham Palace.
“If I had known all those years ago that the Embassy was here I would have been throwing stones to attract attention. Anyway, it is a great treat,” said the prince, who was presented with a piece of Louise Kennedy designed Tipperary crystal.
He continued: “We owe so much here in this country to so many talented people from Ireland – many of whom are here this evening – who contribute a huge amount to the whole cultural scene, to business, to singing, dance, you name it, even of course, to Terry Wogan.”
The aforementioned Sir Terry, who was MC for the night, was in his element as he introduced musical entertainment from the London Lassies, Commitments star Angeline Ball and Owen Gilhooly.
Paying a particular tribute to Wogan, the prince joked: “As far as my darling wife is concerned, he has been her life-saver for years on the wireless. I have never heard the end of it since he retired. It hasn’t been the same without him – I mean it!”
The broadcaster had no doubt that Ireland would overcome its current woes: “People are a little depressed by the appalling economic situation but these are a people who have been through privation, starvation, oppression, discrimination, emigration and they still come up smiling and singing.”
For his part, the prince said: “We should never forget that our acquaintance has been long, and we can turn that knowing into something new and creative. We need no longer be victims of our difficult history with each other. Without glossing over the pain and suffering of the past, we can integrate our history and memory in order to reap their subtle harvest of possibility.
“Imagination, after all, is the mother of possibility, so I hope that we can endeavour to become subjects of our history and not its prisoners.”
He had particularly kind words for Irish community organisations in Britain caring for elderly Irish: “I had no idea how many different Irish associations, societies and groups there are all around this country . . . I can only admire enormously what you all try to do for a growing number of people who very often find it very difficult.”
Then he lapsed into the local lingo: “It is always such fun meeting Irish people because you do have a great craic and I know that we would have an even greater craic if I stayed a bit longer . . . it’s been a real treat to meet you.”
Preparations are well under way for next year’s planned visit by the queen. We understand Buckingham Palace has a very clear idea of what she wants to do during her trip – the first by a British monarch to Dublin since King George V crossed the pond in 1911. Last Tuesday’s hooley in the Embassy was just another part of the meticulous preparation.
Where in the wild northwest?
Overheard outside Leinster House on Thursday after Chief Whip John Curran had briefed the media on the non-controversial aspects of his party’s parliamentary party meeting.
It was pelting with rain.
“Anybody got oilskins and an umbrella?” he asked hacks sheltering under the portico.
“You’ll need more than that when you get up to Donegal for the byelection canvass,” remarked one of them.
John tipped her on the arm and whispered: “First we have to find out where Donegal is.”
Banishing misfortune, for a moment; count them out of quotas; Dublin West showdown; Lenihan’s uphill task; Cullen’s pursuits; Grosvenor gathering; way up there
Slay bells ring for Santa
Quiche. Scrambled. Cheese omelette. Frittata.
So many possibilities when cooking with eggs and cheese. How to incorporate shoes might prove problematic, though.
Minister for Health Mary Harney was at the wrong end of the missile-throwers again yesterday, although fortunately she was safely inside in her car this time when the objects were launched.
She was not so lucky when splattered with red paint at a function in Dublin recently.
It has been widely reported that the small number of people who hurled the eggs, cheese and shoes at Mary Harney were protesting over the downgrading of services at Nenagh General Hospital. The Minister was on her way to open a new endoscopy unit in the hospital when she came under fire.
However, we beg to differ. We have strong evidence to believe that the agitators at the gates were rioting tots, incensed by the news that Mary Harney has cancelled Christmas.
If you don’t believe us, we publish pictorial evidence today. (Unless some genius got busy on the computer and produced a clever image for dissemination on the interweb. We don’t approve of that sort of thing.)
Poor Santa. Dead. How could you, Mary?
He who laughs last. . . Kenny fails to see funny side
Isn't this a wonderful picture of Fine Gael's finest? It was taken by Irish Timesphotographer Matt Kavanagh at the launch last Sunday of the party's policy document Reinventing Government.
Just what could finance spokesman Michael Noonan possibly have said to enterprise and economic planning spokesman Richard Bruton?
We imagine it went something like this: “Listen Richard, you’re gonna love this one: I’ve only gone and convinced Kenny to go on the one o’clock news and talk to Richard Crowley about our complicated new plan to reform the public service! Am I good or what?”
“Oh Baldy, you’re a terrible man.
“Ha ha! He’ll be eaten alive. I love it!”
Meanwhile, the terrible truth is beginning to dawn on Enda . . . He was ate without salt by Crowley.