LIMERICK Fianna Fáil deputy and former minister for defence Willie O’Dea took to national airwaves to defend the portrayal recently of his city as a “Kip” in RTE’s hit series Love/Hate.
In the series finale last Sunday, fictional character Nidge is seen talking to a Lithuanian prostitute that recently joined his brothel in Dublin’s inner city.
Asking where she had previously worked, Nidge responded that she must have been “glad to see the back of that kip” when she said Limerick.
This Tuesday, deputy O’Dea joined Matt Cooper on the last word to defend the image of his native city and citied the successful work of An Garda Siochana in tackling serious gangland crime in recent years.
“We have worked hard to change the image of the city from its past” said deputy O’Dea adding that “we have had our fair share of problems and trouble” but The former minister said that the city has changed now as “most of the gangs are leaderless and behind bars”.
When asked if he was being particularly “overly sensitive” about the Limerick reference during Sunday night’s show watched by over 1 million viewers, Deputy O’Dea responded that he was offended by it and that it had been said to him by more than just his fellow Treatysiders.
“It was even mentioned to me as I was in my way to the Dail here in Dublin from people outside of Limerick.
He said that they said the remark was “insulting”.
People are “aggrieved by the remark” he noted.
Deputy O’Dea added that script writers the media and anyone that comments on Limerick should all just “move on” from this.
“A journalist from the Herald phoned me for my reaction on Monday and I gave it. I didn’t go looking for this publicity. It’s my opinion. I was born in Limerick and all my relatives love there. I watched the show – all four seasons – and enjoyed it very much bar that hiccup. I just wished they stopped stigmatising certain areas including Limerick”, concluded Deputy O’Dea.
Afterwards, the former minister for defence played down a quip by the today FM last word presenter on the famous picture of Mr O’Dea pointing a gun at a camera man “Nidge-style” saying that “they could hardly miss me Matt there was so many of them. They got the opportunity and they took it.
