SMOKES & DAGGERS

A mischievous mix of (mostly) news

WE’VE heard of politicians kissing babies, but this is a new one: Wicklow’s newest Soldier of Destiny, Stephen Donnelly, used the national holiday for a subtle bit of canvassing. ‘Happy St. Patrick’s day y’all. Baby-changing facilities available in my office in Greystones,’ he told his Twitter followers. He shared a picture of signs directing desperate parents into his clutches.

THERE was speculation this week that Fine Gael was targeting a defection by Labour’s Alan Kelly in Tipperary. In fact, the true object of Fine Gael’s desire in Tipp is Michael Lowry – no, not THAT Michael, we mean the son of the country’s most notorious independent TD, left. To date, solicitations have been rather more delicate than Enda’s infamous performance at Phil Hogan’s 50th birthday party where he famously asked Lowry Sr if he had a membership application form in his pocket.

SMOKE’S is delighted to see our welltravelled Junior Minister John Halligan is on the road again for Patrick’s weekend and the week after. His packed schedule includes the vital task of ‘promoting a better understanding of Ireland’s position on Brexit’. We must assume our Brexit position is a hot topic in, er, Brazil.

SIMON COVENEY’S leadership campaign has an unlikely secret weapon: Barry Cowen. The FG minister and the FF frontbencher have been locking horns over water charges in recent weeks, and an FG insider tells Smokes that the fight has been good for ratings: ‘Barry has driven the Coveney catch-up. He’s our little lucky mascot.’

THE Gooch, left, completed his trophy cabinet with an All-Ireland Club Championship medal on Friday. But who expected on-loan Bournemouth and ex-Arsenal midfield Jack Wilshere to be so informed about GAA? He tweeted his congratulations to Colm Cooper, Eoin Brosnan and Dr Crokes. That Sky Sports deal must be bearing fruit…