Dear Kylie
How starstruck fan Leo V Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) reached out to his pop idol in an off icial letter asking for introduction
WHEN is the Taoiseach not the Taoiseach? Apparently when he’s writing fan mail to his musical idols.
The Irish Mail on Sunday can finally publish details of a handwritten letter from Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to pop idol Kylie Minogue, after two attempts by his Department to prevent its release.
The short letter, dated October 3 from Mr Varadkar to Kylie – penned on official Office of the Taoiseach headed paper and signed ‘Leo V Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister)’ – the Taoiseach confessed to being a ‘huge fan’ and expressed his desire to welcome his idol to Ireland personally.
‘Dear Kylie, Just wanted to drop you a short note in advance of the concert in Dublin. I am really looking forward to it. Am a huge fan! I understand you are staying in the Merrion Hotel which is just across the street from my office in Government Buildings. If you like, I’d love to welcome you to Ireland personally.’
It is understood that Ms Minogue subsequently telephoned the Taoiseach to apologise for the cancellation of her October 7 gig due to a throat infection.
The letter has been treated like the third secret of Fatima by Department officials who twice sought to have the document exempt from Freedom of Information legislation, claiming it was written by Mr Varadkar in a ‘personal capacity’. They insisted ‘it does not relate to matters arising in the course of, or for, the purpose of the Taoiseach’s performance of his functions as the head of Government.’
This, despite the fact it was written on Office of the Taoiseach headed paper and signed off ‘Leo V Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister)’. Ultimately, Mr Varadkar consented to the letter being released, meaning an appeal to the Information Commissioner was not required.
Mr Varadkar, his partner Matt and a group of friends – including Tiernan Brady who recently failed to secure the Fianna Fáil nomination to contest the European elections – attended the rescheduled gig in December, where the Taoiseach was pictured with Kylie.
Mr Brady shared a picture with the accompanying caption: ‘Six gay teenagers meet the girl from Neighbours.’ Kylie initially found fame in the soap, Neighbours.
However, the night was not without controversy, with Mr Varadkar taking to Twitter to dispel a social media post about him receiving a free meal at the gig.
‘There was no meal, we only had drinks and I paid. I have the receipt to prove it too,’ he tweeted. Asked on the Late Late Show why he felt obliged to set the record straight, the Taoiseach said the allegation involved his friends and he couldn’t accept it.
The MoS appeal of the initial decision not to grant the release of the record was refused, and the letter was only released after the Taoiseach consented to its release.
This isn’t the first time the lines between the Taoiseach’s private and public life have been blurred. In September 2017, he was left red faced after being branded a t***er by LCD Soundsystem guitarist Al Doyle over his stance on abortion.
He had been invited to meet the band along with other TDs at the Olympia. This was in advance of him outlining his support for repealing the Eight Amendment.
The Taoiseach’s spokesperson did not respond to a request for a comment.
Treated like the Third Secret of Fatima