Red faces as Minister applauds Kennedy 'win'

John O'Donoghue's face was as red as his favourite Munster rugby jersey today after it emerged he had not only congratulated Anthony Foley's heroes on their win but also our very own Eurovision hopeful Brian Kennedy.

A screen grab from the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism website

Kennedy gave a sterling rendition of his own composition, Every Song is a Cry for Loveand finished a respectable 10th in Saturday night's Eurovision Song Contest final.

It was Finnish monster metal band Lordi with their stadium-style anthem, Hard Rock Hallelujah,that took top spot.

But Minister O'Donoghue's website seemed to have gotten a little carried away, with the weekend that was in it.

As the Kerryman joined the Red Army in Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, the computer gremlins were back at base, busily sending congratulations from Mr O'Donoghue to Kennedy on his stunning victory.

The press statement was removed from the Department's website this afternoon.

The statement read: "John O'Donoghue, TD, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism congratulated Brian Kennedy on his success in the Eurovision Song Contest with his own composition " Every Song Is A Cry For Love".

"Minister O'Donoghue said: 'I wish to extend my congratulations to Brian on his marvelous [sic] win for Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest in Athens tonight. He gave a wonderful performance and in the process extended Ireland's record number of Eurovision wins to eight. Everyone should be very proud of this excellent achievement.'"

Fine Gael were quick to cast the first stone awarding Mr O'Donoghue "nul points" for the gaffe.

The party's Meath West Deputy, Damien English, said: "If Brian Kennedy's song was a cry for love then it certainly worked on Minister O'Donoghue having moved him so much that he awarded Ireland a record win.

"It seems there are all kinds of everything that the Minister doesn't know so perhaps he should also note that Biarritz lost the Rugby, West Ham lost the FA Cup Final, Arsenal lost the European Cup Final and Dublin lost the hurling."