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THERE ARE LOTS of serious things that happen in Leinster House and the political world, but there is also a lot of daft stuff that goes on on a weekly basis.
With that in mind it’s important to remember that when they’re not deciding and voting on important pieces of legislation or debating matters of State our politicians are up to all sorts, some of it good, some of it bad, some of it just kind of silly.
So here are our not-so-serious political awards for this year…
“You’re like Murphy’s cow with two dry tits, one blind tit and a sup of milk in the other tit.”
Never have there been so many mentions of ‘tit’ in one Dáil exchange than when Mattie McGrath and Pat Rabbitte locked horns (cow? bull? horns? geddit!?) over electricity pylons:
The former justice minister was back in fighting form for the Seanad referendum with his shouty voice, his pointy finger, and his massive, massive… Constitution:
Senator David Norris really should have known better:
Colm Keaveney went all the way from Labour to independence to Fianna Fáil, leaving Micheál Martin struggling to keep a straight face (see video below) and Rabbitte himself claiming that the Galway East TD might even join Hezbollah.
No one quite takes flight, in physical and vocal terms, like the People Before Profit TD:
Why say something in one minute, when you can say it in 10? Peter Mathews really doesn’t know how to keep to the clock:
We know how Charlie McConalogue feels. Here he is listening to Mathews in the Dáil:
Aengus Ó Snodaigh really did cause a storm with these remarks:
This was real toughie with Eoghan Murphy putting in a strong showing:
While his coalition backbench colleague Arthur Spring also has a fine looking thing:
Both, we understand, have now shed their beards but they can both share the award this year.
Glorious work from the Fine Gael TD Brendan Griffin during the month of November. Nothing else comes close:
He can’t manage his tax affairs very well, but Mick Wallace sure can rock a Torino shirt like no other deputy:
The Ceann Comhairle is now renowned for his displeasure at TDs’ behaviour during Dáil debates and particularly in and around Leaders’ Questions.
This outburst was particularly entertaining:
These two moments can’t be separated…
“I’m sorry – purely on a point of information, I’m totally confused.”
“The Taoiseach and your own party have urinated all over this house.”
Those shortsleeves on Michael Healy-Rae could do some serious damage:
The debate on the DNA Database Bill was exceptionally boring until this happened:
Pics: Photocall Ireland/Eoghan Murphy Twitter/Oireachtas TV. Gifs: Nicky Ryan/Oireachtas TV
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One of the truly great songwriters, one of lifes mystery’s is how he made 60, a true testament to the resilience of the human body.
Congrats Shane, deserves it
Legend !
@Gavin O’Brien: absolute legend,
Such a pity Dolores o Riordan didn’t get one also.
He looks in a bad way.
@@Kevinro1980:
What happened to him?
@@Kevinro1980: Dubliners song seven drunken nights comes to mind
@John Byrne: 40+ years of alcohol and drug abuse will do that to you. Unless you’re Keith Richards, in which case you walk away unscathed. I think Shane also broke his hip recently.
Would love to have been at this,absolutely love Shane McGowan, and to top it all off,Nick Cave was there too,would literally have fainted on the spot,Anyway congratulations Shane,legend.
Well deserved but, something tells me 2018 may claim him soon too
The greatest poet of my lifetime.
One of Ireland’s most talented artists
Immensely talented, no doubt about that, but he’s from England not Ireland.
@O Swetenham: born in England to irish parents, spent the first 6 and a half years of his life in Tipperary, considers himself Irish and has spent more of his life living in Ireland than England. That makes him irish in my opinion.
@Dermot Lane: Yeah you’re right. I’m being a wee bit pedantic I suppose.
The picture reminds me of one of those creepy Victorian post mortem photos where family members would pose for one last family photo with the dressed up corpse.
@TechProducts: he looks like a waxwork statue
Does anybody know if this was recorded and if so will it be made available for viewing?
@Brian Brogan: There was a some professional camera men there last night along with notices saying it was being recorded so hopefully it will become available.
Incredible night but I was annoyed to see some empty seats in front of us from no shows when there was a few hundred people queuing up outside hoping to get a ticket.
@Brian Brogan: Yes it was recorded.
Everyone loves him now.
Very well deserved. What a great night that must have been!
what a poet. Well deserved
who’s the guy dressed up as Johnny Depp?
@Johnhunky Dory: Oh… it IS Johnny Depp!!
@Johnhunky Dory: Bah humbug, I like Johnny Depp…
@Johnhunky Dory: don’t think he will offering to blast Shane out of a canon when he goes .
Thompson cost him a packet
When he was good he was very good, the music industry,it’s not for the faint hearted
have your say