SMOKES & DAGGERS

A mischievous mix of (mostly) news

FIANNA Fáil’s Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee shared a moment which shows politics is for the young and old. She revealed that her daughter Kitty’s fiveyear-old friend had reported a water outage in the locality to her.

FEATHERS have been ruffled in the perfect world of Fine Gael by plans to allow not just the usual TDs and senators but mere general election candidates to attend the party think-in. One source said archly: ‘We don’t know what the problem is. Most of the new candidates are gender-quota women and don’t pose a threat to anyone.’

IRELAND’S greatest outhalf (emeritus), Ronan O’Gara, tweeted a picture of an envelope he received in his house in France. It was addressed simply: ‘Mr Ronan O’Gara, Ireland No.10, Cork.’

BRENDAN BEHAN’S line – about the first item on the agenda of any Irish republican organisation being the split – came to mind this week when we saw Sinn Féin leaders Mary Lou McDonald (of Dublin) and Michelle O’Neill (of Tyrone) bedecked in their respective counties’ GAA jerseys. This split will only be for the 70 minutes, we understand.

WELL done to RTÉ sports news presenter Paul O’Flynn, pictured, who proved he’s no couch potato by winning the annual Liffey Swim. It’s not clear if he had a camera strapped to his back but with all the cutbacks going on in Montrose at the moment, if he didn’t, he will next year.