Brian Cowen's transfer to the Department of Foreign Affairs makes it (almost) three in a row for Cistercian College, Roscrea at Iveagh House - Dick Spring, David Andrews and now Cowen are all Roscrea men (the brief intervention of Ray Burke can be discounted!). Odd, for such a small school (hardly more than 200). Old boys also make up an unusually high proportion of Oireachtas members.
The Rule of St Benedict, which governs the Cistercian Order, is strong on hospitality, urging that it be given generously and to all, and that meals should include "an amount" of wine (not specified). This is obviously the reason Roscrea men fit in so well in sophisticated Iveagh House.