SMOKES & DAGGERS

Inside the corridors of power...

LISTENING to a radio item about craft ciders this week, Smokes learned that The Cider Mill in Slane’s best-selling Cockagee cider takes its name from an old Irish apple variety, các a gé. That translates as ‘goose s**t’ – apparently denoting a greenish colour, along the lines of ‘duck-egg blue’. Arthur Young wrote in 1779: ‘This country is famous for cyder-orchards, the cakagee especially, which is incomparably fine.’ But duck eggs are one thing and goose s**t is quite another. This is one cider Smokes won’t be taking a gander at. YOUNG Daire O’Reilly, son of CavanMonaghan Fine Gael TD Joe, has undergone his formal right of passage. O’Reilly Sr tweeted this picture, along with the message: ‘Just brought my son Daire to Michael Collins’s grave. Who knows how it will inspire him later in life?’ The red shirt will have to go, though. GIVEN that he’s a PR guru and chief NAMA spokesman, you’d imagine Ray Gordon would have RTÉ’s number in his phone. But this week, on taking exception to something said on Prime Time, he chose to communicate in an odd and very public way, via Twitter. He tweeted for all to see: ‘@RTE_ PrimeTime Can you please ring Ray Gordon re correction required after tonight’s program?’ He later said it was to do with an ‘IMO issue’ but explained no further. REST in peace, Ray Treacy. He was playing for West Bromwich Albion when manager Johnny Giles splashed out big money for Laurie Cunningham, pictured. Giles introduced the new boy to the squad and when he got to Treacy, the Irishman thrust out his hand and declared with faux excitement: ‘Thrilled to meet you, Larry – I have all your records!’ It’s doubtful the future England and Real Madrid star had ever heard of Larry Cunningham, also pictured, or Lovely Leitrim until then, so no one can say Ray taught him nothing. JACK & Jill charity founder Jonathan Irwin has raised some hackles with his recent tweets, expressing his fear as an ‘English immigrant’ over the rise of Sinn Féin and comparing the party with both ‘Nazi’s’ (sic) and ‘Commies’. That brought a response from Broadsheet.ie. The headline? ‘Jackboot And Jill’!