SMOKES & DAGGERS

A mischievous mix of (mostly) news

BLOOD is thicker than water. But in the case of comedian David McSavage, it seems he thinks his cousin, newly-elected Dublin Bay South Sinn Féin TD Chris Andrews, is even thicker than that. At a show in Dublin’s Olympia Theatre on Thursday, a reference to Sinn Féin provoked noises of support from some of the audience. The comic quickly retorted: ‘Sinn Féin hate you. Chris Andrews is my cousin. I know him personally. And he’s a f***ing eejit’. Ouch.

LEO may well be minded to reward a loyal party member with Ireland’s cushiest job, Virgin Media newsman Gavan Reilly pointed out during the week. A taoiseach’s nominee seat in the Seanad left vacant by Frank Feighan exists until early May but the upper house has already agreed not to sit again. Should Leo choose to anoint a lucky new senator, the post comes with a monthly salary of €5,676, and lifetime access to Leinster House with free parking thereafter. WHO says the Irish language is dead? Speaking after the election, the taoiseach’s partner Matt Barrett – raised speaking Irish at home in Cork by his teacher parents – told Nuacht RTÉ that he was teaching Leo some Irish. ‘A bit in the house and a bit when we’re abroad,’ he said, as Gaeilge of course. ‘When we’re talking about other people around, it’s like our secret language.’ RETURN of the Ged, aye: Louth Labour TD Ged Nash, pictured, was greeted by his knitted likeness from the ‘Knitting Fairy’ outside his Drogheda office after he regained his Dáil seat.