A few images from the Republic: Despite the great success of the Celtic Tiger economy some things never change: Birr a sleepy old town with stunning Georgian architecture used to boast a statue to the Duke of Cumberland -the victor of Culloden and therefore a good thing. After Irish independence-several years after-the locals carefully removed the statue from its pillar. It was too much trouble to put up a heroic Irishman in the Duke's place so contented themselves with a plaque to Robert Emmet instead.But if anyone can think of a suitable candidate to top the pillar let the people of Birr know. Mr Ian Paisley perhaps?

Also unchanging is the Irish election process. Every immovable object is plastered with photos of the candidates: Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, Sinn Fein, Buckley's Sausages, Labour party, New Democrats, Bring Back the Duke of Cumberland, etc
This is visual pollution of the highest order and imho some of the candidates might have been wiser to conceal their images from the wider public. One or two looked positvely shifty, another half witted and a lot of them getting by with considerable assistance from the hard stuff. One or two dolly birds painted to kill and a very attractive young lady whose agent had obviously asked her to put on a pair of spectacles to give herself some gravitas.

Better stick to the phamphlet and the facsimile letter. Or better still stay in your 4wd and let your daughter hand the stuff out.

PS Sorry about Robert Emmet appearing twice. This is an Irish made computer-in Limerick actually-and knows a kindred spirit when it sees one  ¶ 4:31 PM