Poor Eoghan’s latest vote of no confidence
EMBATTLED Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy and jewellery designer Chloe Townsend have called time on their relationship, the Irish Mail on Sunday can exclusively reveal.
The couple, who debuted their relationship at the summer nuptials of actress Jenny Dixon and her husband, Fine Gael TD Tom Neville, parted ways a month ago.
But the couple ended on amicable terms as Fine Gael TD Murphy and stunning designer Chloe – who is the younger sister of actor Stuart Townsend – are understood to be ‘still on good terms’ as their relationship ‘simply fizzled out’.
‘There’s no bad blood. They both decided to end it, there was no drama, it just fizzled out,’ said a source.
Mr Murphy, 37, has come under enormous pressure in recent weeks over his handling of the housing crisis.
This week he narrowly survived a confidence motion in a Dáil vote, such is the mounting anger over his failure to adequately tackle Ireland’s worsening housing crisis.
But while his work life has been chaotic, his personal life was looking bright as he was dating Howth native Chloe.
The pair looked smitten as they went public with their romance this summer as they arrived arm-in-arm to the wedding of Fair City actress Dixon and her TD beau Neville.
Chloe, 31, beamed for the cameras as she made her way to Corpus Christi Church in Drumcondra wearing a black laser-cut knee-length Temperley dress. The glamorous couple were originally set up on a date by the newlyweds whose wedding they were attending.
‘Jenny told Chloe she knew a guy who she thought she would click with, and herself and Tom arranged a date between them,’ a source said.
The couple were among a number of high-profile guests from the world of politics and celebrity. Among those from the political arena were Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and his partner Matt Barrett, Mr Murphy, TD Kate O’Connell and Culture Minister Josepha Madigan.
Jenny’s contingent added the glam factor with model Roz Lipsett and her PR sister Avila in attendance as well as Fair City actors Bryan Murray, George McMahon, Dave O’Sullivan and Una Crawford O’Brien.
But just a few months later, Mr Murphy and Ms Townsend decided to part ways amicably. When the MoS contacted them this week, both did not comment.
Chic designer Chloe was pictured just weeks after the Dublin ceremony sporting a far different look to her wedding attire. In August, she sizzled in style as she attended the famous Burning Man Festival in the Nevada Desert, which is known for the revealing outfits worn by attendees.
She rocked the festival look with braided hair and biker boots, and was joined by her brother Dylan Townsend who lives Stateside, as does their highprofile actor brother Stuart.