SMOKES & DAGGERS

A mischievous mix of (mostly) news

Aspiring housing minister Eoin Ó Broin will have plenty to discuss with his former Blackrock College classmates when they have their 30-year class reunion next month. The Rock boys, many of whom have risen to the upper echelons of Ireland’s public and business class, are mulling whether to play nine holes at Foxrock Golf Club or just go for a nice walk, followed by drinks and dinner at Stradbrook Rugby Club. Should be a good night. But will Deputy O’Broin be there – and will he be showing off a new seal of office?

Leinster House had been quiet since the election was called, with the two colourful Healy-Rae deputies absent from the building. It was hard not to notice that the lads were back on Wednesday as all that could be heard in the cafe in Leinster House 2000 (the modern wing) was the Kerry death notices on local radio blaring at full volume from Danny’s phone. You can’t move for sporting legends in the Real Capital, it seems. Sinn Féin TD Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire shared a picture of himself with former Cork City manager and Gaelic player Dave Barry, who has now changed career, saying: ‘In Cork if you get a leak in the office and you call a plumber, they send a fella who scored against Bayern Munich in the UEFA cup and won two All-Irelands.’

New Independent Limerick TD Richard O’Donoghue, pictured, made a Batman-esque entrance on his first day in Leinster House, driving through the gates in a 1950s Plymouth that was used in JFK’s motorcade when he visited Ireland. Which begs the question, how long has O’Donoghue been planning this entrance?

Whatever about fiscal policy, at least we now know which of the main party leaders knows how to bust a move. Mary Lou showed off her dancefloor skills by doing the

Macarena with the kids at Irishtown Community Centre.

Good to see Leo’s ministers in limbo are acclimatising to the new situation. One delighted source told Smokes: ‘This is even better than confidence and supply. No questions, no Dáil, we could be here for months pottering around the place doing nothing and getting paid. It’s la dolce vita.’

Some have been tempted to compare the Labour leadership election to two bald men fighting over a comb. In fairness, at least contenders Aodhán and Alan are reasonably well endowed in the follicle department.