DID you see the photo in last week’s edition of this fine paper of all the movers and shakers lined out on the one side of the table like something out of The Last Supper?
Ministers, senators, TDs, and councillors alike were all in their finery at a special reception at the Council’s headquarters on Merchants Quay for the signing of the Adare Bypass Design and Construction Contract.
There were so many well-heeled wee cherubs that it could have been an absolute fire hazard if the plug to the hot chocolate fondue fountain were to overload. Heavens to Jennifer Carroll MacNeill!
I hope the Fire Chief gave the all clear for such a shindig, which was hosted by Mayor John Moran, in the presence of Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien.
Don’t get me wrong, just like me man Russ Abbot, I love a party with a happy atmosphere. But so many bigwigs in one place at the one time will always give me the jitters. For many people it’s spiders or clowns, but put me in a room with 20 delighted politicians and I quickly get goosebumps.
They could have fielded an eleven-a-side football match with politicians versus the lads and lassies from Leinster House in the corridors of City Hall there was so many of them.
In fairness, we all know Mayor Moran throws a good party. His neighbours up on The Crescent will testify to that one.
Was it the Treaty of Versailles they were after signing? Not far off, with the long-awaited Adare Bypass.
And who is going to (by)pass an opportunity to get their mugshot alongside such a milestone moment as the contract signing for the vital Adare Bypass.
We’ve all seen Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting. I often gazed at it and wondered if Judas just turned around and said: “Lads, all behind the table for a quick selfie before we break bread!”
Mayor Moran was clearly put in a similar position last week with his apostles jostling for position, with one eye on the photographer and the other on the creamy scones all proud as punch with the promise of the scheduled completion of this vital infrastructure ahead of Ryder Cup 2027.
Now, with the government investing approximately €150million to deliver the bypass, you couldn’t deprive our Dáil deputys a photo opportunity.
However, it was the flitting swarm of councillors that took up every available square inch of the photo in question that gave me a real giggle. Local representatives are as elusive as the Scarlet Pimpernel when things go awry. But mention a free lunch, a junket to Savannah, Georgia, or a good news public relations exercise, and they are all over it.
There’s no doubt that the Adare Bypass project will be completed in time for the Ryder Cup, and not before time either. But sweet Micheál, Simon, and Paschal, do you think we could line up another photo shoot if it isn’t?
