Leo Varadkar is back where he likes it - in the headlines again after his fire and brimstone Fine Gaelism at the weekend’s Ard Fheis.
Well, apart from the Leo the Leak headlines of last year, but after the DPP directed no charges against him in the garda investigation, that’s all firmly in the past now as the Tanaiste prepared to become Taoiseach once again next month.
Of course Leo was playing to a home crowd, but they were distinctively roused and rowdy for Fine Gaelers, even more so than the Shinners, who came out all guns blazing at their own bash in the RDS a couple of weeks ago.
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And they were definitely a happier bunch than Fianna Fáil who were looking all too pale and stale at their shindig last month.
So let there be no doubt, Leo’s back - and he means business.
Varadkar’s Saturday nNight Live was a return to classic Fine Gael law and order hardline principles at the party’s annual conference, as Leo thundered: “We are sending a message to the criminal underworld.
“We will do whatever is necessary to protect our homes and our communities... and we will take the fight to you head on.”
I doubt the Kinahans are bricking it, but it played straight into the hands of Leo’s target market.
Another reason Leo hit the headlines with his address was because of his bromantic praise of Micheál Martin in the speech.
Leo gushed: “So, let’s acknowledge tonight that our Taoiseach Micheál Martin has been a good one.
“Through difficult circumstances, including the later stages of the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, he has been a voice for decency, kindness and for common sense.
“We thank him.”
The lads are getting on well the past while during the last days of Micheal’s reign before he has to hand over the crown to Leo, like some political Miss World.
This hack found himself standing beside Leo in the wings of the Athlone International Arena, (that’s the rather grand name for the TUS sports hall to the rest of us), on Saturday evening before he ran, literally, onto the stage for his sermon to the party faithful.
He was relaxed, we just nattered about the Irish rugby team for a bit, but the lad is fit, there’s no doubt about it, he could hold his own in a rugby lineout.
I think the renowned gym bunny is putting in extra hours before the Taoiseach changeover.
He obviously wants to look his best when he gets out meeting the world’s coolest young leaders again come Christmas and 2023.
I hear he’s full-on with the wellness vibe too.
Leo has been seen in this very hip ‘food and wellness space’ called Chestnut Bazaar in his new chic Portobello neighbourhood where he now lives, the coolest place in Europe some travel guide tells us.
Chestnut Bazaar has the works, pizza trucks, coffee and the obligatory crate seating.
It even has outdoor saunas that Leo has been rumoured to have sampled.
And all the while Micheál is grand about the switch it seems.
I heard him with Claire Byrne the last day and she asked him basically was he not a bit browned off with having to leave nid-term, due to the rotating taoiseach arrangement.
Going into pure Zen-Micheal mode, he said: “I’m philosophical about these things.”
The Fianna Fáil chief will have plenty of more time for philosophy when he hands over the Taoiseach’s crown to Leo on December 17th.
Banned By Putin
Groucho Marx once famously said that he would refuse to join any club that would have him as a member. Well that was certainly not the case in Leinster House over the weekend when everybody was scrambling to become a member of the latest exclusive club, the BBP. The term was coined by independent Senator Gerard Craughwell after he found out he had been elected to the exclusive group. BBP stands for Banned By Putin and it of course refers to that ever so hard to get into group of lucky politicians that were barred from travelling to Russia by Putin during the week. There were only 52 let into the clique and there was a rush to twitter on Friday morning from the bolshy TDs and Senators who had peed off Putin enough to make the grade to get out there and boast about it. Whatever qualms there were about wearing a Poppy badge around the Dáil last week, if anyone designs a BBP pin, I’m sure they’ll do a roaring trade on Kildare Street.
Dublin's Fair City
I’m not sure what Molly Malone would have made of the kerfuffle in the Dáil over her ‘streets broad and narrow’ on Thursday last. The Dublin TDs were having an afternoon of ranting over the state of our Capital city. There’s no doubt it looks like a bit of a kip at times, but as a blow-in, I’d argue it adds a bit of character to the place. Name any decent big city that doesn’t have a bit of grittiness to it that gives it some steel, a hard edge. Granted, a lot of them might be Disneyfied nowadays, but give me the mean streets of Times Square in New York in the 1970s, or the red light district area around the Moulin Rouge in Paris in days gone by…. Give me those streetscapes any day over the pharmacies, sweet shops, UK chains and phone stores that have taken over Grafton Street and O’Connell Street. So hail to the kebab shops, the sex toy stores (there’s only one left that I can think of) and dirty old men’s bars that still proudly strut their stuff on the backstreets of our Capital, Molly would be proud….
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“I don’t want your apologies. I don't want your tributes. I don't want your aide de camp at my funeral. I don't want your accolades or your broken promises. I want action.” Vicky Phelan’s touching words before her death from cancer last week.
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