Minister for Arts and Culture, Catherine Martin, is no newcomer to inaugurating art exhibitions, yet her husband’s opening on a Tuesday night was certainly unique. Politicians relocated from Leinster House to Merrion Square’s opposite end to glimpse the creative flair of Francis Noel Duffy, the Dublin South West’s Green MP. Attending the crowded event at the Irish Architectural Archive were Catherine’s Cabinet peers, Norma Foley, Eamon Ryan and Heather Humphreys, along with Minister of State Malcolm Noonan and the Attorney General, Rossa Fanning.
Francis is both an architect and a seasoned artist. He diversely displayed his artistry 30 years prior, but due to occupational commitments and raising a family, he had to put aside his graphite and canvas in the previous years. His pastime has been reinforced by his wife with Into the Light being the consequence.
“I am present today, not just as a Minister but also as a supportive wife,” she proclaimed. Speaking about his lighthouse paintings, she attributed them as a blend of architectural prowess and artistic aptitude. She acknowledged this exhibit as the inception after their children were born and she made mention of Turlough, Tadhg and Stella who were welcoming attendees as they appeared.
“My father was an artist, and I still have cherished memories of watching him miraculously transform a barren canvas into a masterpiece in my younger years. It’s heartwarming that our offspring were able to witness their father pursue this similar path,” she continued her speech. She also mentioned that her husband had used her late father’s brushes to colour the lighthouses; a gesture of deep sentimental value.
MP Duffy who has always been fascinated by cubism, addressed the crowd saying, “I am eager to discuss my learning voyage, which comprises understanding egg tempera, restoring gesso birch ply panels, the study of painting natural elements like clouds, wind, flora, fauna, the psychology of cubism and my passion for light and shade in portraiture. However, I understand that could be monotonous to hear, hence, I hope my work will communicate my journey instead.”
A year ago, his wife persuaded him to take up painting seriously once more, earning his gratitude. This venture, watched by their children, was a first as they have previously only seen their parents engage in local and national elections. His children have also only heard Catherine singing in the past. The Minister, however, hastily quelled any immediate excitement by saying “Not tonight!”.
In a change of pace, Ciarán Cannon, the Galway East TD for Fine Gael, who plans to retire from national politics soon, expanded his horizons into the world of broadcasting. He has started to host a laid-back weekly music programme on Loughrea Community Radio, titled the Grey Lake Cafe. The show promises to transport its listeners to a serene space through the power of music.
A new segment called ‘Music that Moves’ was added to the Thursday night show. Here, guests share their personal links and moments with music and select three tunes that hold dear significance for them. Paschal Donohoe, the Minister for Public Expenditure, was the first guest. A self-confessed music enthusiast, Donohoe believes music influences his personality significantly, extending beyond the realm of politics.
On the show, Ciarán bravely discloses that the first record he purchased was the Bee Gees’ greatest hits. Donohoe displayed a deep-seated fondness for music, pondering over its significance in his life. He revealed that during his adolescence, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin and Nirvana heavily impacted him.
Donohoe nostalgically recalled his teenage years, stating that the pinnacle of personal wealth was having the ability to purchase a book and an album in a single week after a summer of working alongside his father and saving meticulously. He refrained from spending his teenage earnings frivolously.
To him, the ecstasy of music is when the lyrics and melody intertwine in harmony. Even in cases when the meaning of the lyrics eludes him, he finds that the underlying emotion resonates deeply, imprinting a lasting consciousness that signifies a musical masterpiece to him.
He highlighted ‘Fisherman’s Blues’ by The Waterboys, and ‘When Love Comes to Town’ by BB King and U2, both from the year 1988, as two of his meaningful selections.
The Minister’s ultimate selection was in line with the current trends with Billie Eilish’s song, “What was I made for?”. The chairperson of the Ecofin group expressed their profound admiration for Billie Eilish. They commented that her performance at the Glastonbury festival back in 2022 was one of the most memorable they’ve experienced in recent years, coming from a budding modern artist on the brink of international stardom. This person seemed to consider Eilish as an extraordinary music talent.
Moving further from Tipperary, billboard advertisements have been cropping up nationwide, presenting an engaging assembly of candidates vying for a place in the upcoming European Parliament elections. This week, a large billboard made its appearance in the town of Longford in an extremely conspicuous spot on the side of a Main Street building. The billboard, which sits above a dog grooming spa, clearly announces “John Mullins for Europe”. The EU flag serves as the backdrop for John’s wide Fine Gael grin and well-styled hair.
Despite being far from home, John recognises that any aspiring MEP needs to be open to travel. Remarkably distant from his hometown of Castlemartyr in Cork, he now finds himself in Brussels. A member of the Longford Leader team, seemingly confused about the territory, reached out to Fine Gael main office. At their last check, Westmeath’s county town belonged to the Midlands North-West constituency.
“We anticipated that John Mullins’s campaign would cover a lot of ground, but we didn’t foresee it reaching Longford,” said a party spokesperson. They confirmed that Mullins’s campaign would continue in the Ireland South constituency, and that Longford residents should expect multiple posters of their hard-working MEP Maria Walsh from the following week.
In a surprising twist, Senator Garret Ahearn, who is the favoured candidate for many and was thought to be the likely choice, lost to Clonmel councillor Michael Murphy in the selection convention for Tipperary South on Monday. This came as a surprise to many, particularly considering Ahearn’s growing national media presence in recent months.
At Cashel’s Halla na Feilé, the delegates cast their decisive backing for veteran councillor Murphy, endorsing him with a substantial 246 to 214 votes. The odds appear stacked against Ahearn, a fellow Clonmel local, being added to the ballot for the new three-seat division due to the critical factors of gender and geography.
Following a triumphant night, the erstwhile mayor of Clonmel expressed his overwhelming emotions on Tipp FM’s marquee Fran Curry Show. He recounted the exhaustive yet intensive three-week campaign which had now drawn to an end.
Councillor Murphy attributed his electoral victory to his long-standing service on the county council, sturdy Fine Gael connections, and expansive family ties within the county. Throughout the interview, Murphy’s affable personality was highlighted as a strong point, somthing he agreed with, declaring his belief that people find him likeable and optimistic.
In the aftermath of what many have termed “a political earthquake in Tipperary”, Curry speculated a potential split within the FG organisation. Murphy however emphasized the unity of Fine Gael behind his candidacy.
A local cynic more flippantly suggested that it’s preferable to have ‘self-referential’ Michael Murphy than ‘self-adulating’ Garret Ahearn. Politics in South Tipp is undeniably a volatile battle.
Meanwhile, a stirring yet joyous service celebrated the life of ex-BBC political editor Stephen Grimason at the Drumbeg parish church, located south of Belfast. Grimason is famously known for exposing the Belfast Agreement on Good Friday in 1998, with a dramatic on-camera proclamation, holding the contract in his hand. His service was said to be a large gathering of peace process reporters reminiscing about those transformative days.
Rev Willie Nixon, who was quite laid-back, led the service, with the eulogy given by Stephen’s close friend and ex-Sky journalist, Gary Honeyford. Honeyford also served as the anchor for the non-religious portion of the event. Stephen carried his playful spirit until his final breath, drawing fond laughter from his friends and former co-workers as they reminisced. His son Chris delivered the most audacious and memorable line while speaking about the decision regarding his father’s ashes. Stephen’s sharp retort to his son’s query was to sprinkle a spoonful of them in Jim Allister’s morning cereal. The comment, referencing Stephen’s numerous disagreements with the cantankerous leader of the TUV, was a real crowd-pleaser.
The Irish deputy prime minister, who quitted the use of salt 3 decades back, remarked about his days as a bakery worker, witnessing bags of salt poured into baked goods, and that salt is a ubiquitous component in our diets. The same figure who inaugurated the smoking ban in Ireland, is now advocating for lowering salt content in food, suggesting this as a potential accomplishment for future governments.
In a recent episode of Prof. Luke O’Neill’s podcast, Micheál Martin discussed his passion for food and his reading around the topic. Martin enthusiastically questioned whether roasted or grilled tomatoes were among the healthiest foods we could eat, playfully suggesting that everyone eats more tomatoes. In response to the desire for healthier eating, O’Neill suggested the guideline that people should consume food that looks like food. The principle was warmly agreed upon.
Professor O’Neill verified that honey indeed strengthens the immune system, much to the pleasure of the Fianna Fáil leader. He expressed his personal endorsement of local honey, revealing that he purchases a jar of honey along with other items from the English Market in Cork every week.