SMOKES & DAGGERS

A mischievous mix of (mostly) news

POOR Eoghan Murphy. Outside of his responsibility for water and housing, should Donald Trump launch a nuclear war, Murphy is in charge of nuclear emergencies. Give that man a pay rise! SIMON Delaney was at a Taste of Cavan event on Friday, where the actor and TV3 presenter seemed to enjoy himself tremendously. The highlight of the day was when Culture Minister Heather Humphreys posed for a picture with him in which they both appeared ready to chomp down on the one sausage, above. They say you shouldn’t work with children or animals. We’d extend that rule to add: ‘Or pose with sausages’. JOHN DEASY is not feeling the love when it comes to the views of the Department of Foreign Affairs about his status as Leo’s American envoy. Responding to queries, the department said Deasy’s travel and subsistence expenses ‘are expected to be modest’. One diplomat said: ‘It looks as if it will be a case of spam and steerage rather than Ferrero Rocher and First Class for Deasy.’ A WEB article that’s causing consternation appears on Country Squire magazine – a site designed, it seems, to infuriate those foolish enough to take the bait. In an article entitled ‘Get Stuffed, Eire’ writer Jim Browne, delivers an incendiary rant. RTE’s Phil-in Boucher Hayes targeted two of the advertisers with the site, only for one of them, Land Rover, to come back to say the Land Rover ad on the site was fake. They hadn’t sought or paid for it. We’ve all heard of fake news, but fake adverts? FRENCH President Emmanuel Macon’s wife Brigitte has some unusual responsibilities. A local source reveals: ‘She may not have the first lady title but she and the Chinese president’s wife are now official godmothers of the newly born giant panda at Beauval Zoo.’ Some pandas have all the luck.