Irish Premier visits the PROC

18th May 2007

Irish Premier Arrives in the PROC
Alan Ger

About 4pm a crowd gathered mysteriously outside the old Cork City FC shop on Patrick Street. The prime minister of the Republic of Ireland was apparently making a barely scheduled visit to the heart of the People's Republic.

Bertie (just to the left of Michael Martin) greets local party supporters while Noel O'Flynn's truck does Pana

Not too unlike George W. Bush's visit to the Iraqi capital Baghdad last year, the security was tight and Bertie was surrounded by a modest crowd mainly consisting of camera crews and people wearing roundy green "I'm backing Bertie" stickers as he stepped out of a car and onto the hallowed ground. Handshakes were brief leaving no time for the concerns of punters to be aired - this is a man under pressure.

In facta...speed walking up Pana flanked by Dennehy, Martin and McGrath while Noelie keeps his distance

By his side were all the Fianna Fáil candidates including Noel O'Flynn (definitely not a racist) notably staying some yards away to Bertie's left while the Irish premier shook hands with curious locals.

Making a brief speech outside the now dilapidated former CCFC shop from which hung the posters of his chosen candidates, Bertie reminded Corkonians about 2002 demands for a School of Music. "It'll be open in a few weeks", he added.

Bertie makes a stop outside Eoin O'Callaghan's building where all his TDs pics were on show. Honesty is the best policy.

There were no time for questions though. In last night's debate with Enda Kenny he said he never got as much as a "glass of water from [property developer] Eoin O'Callaghan". No time to stop off for refreshments with the owner of the building behind him then.

A passing gentlemen, with fresh dust on his work boots enquired as to what all the commotion was about:

"Burtie Ahurn? In Cork? I'll giving him a fuckin' box!", he announced before making his way up Pana - much to the relief of the nervous party faithful near the fringes.

As Bertie sped up towards Murrays, flanked by the faithful, a few hairy men (dressed in what was surely meant to be fancy dress) held aloft a banner reading "Bertie Pumps for Shell" - a reference to the issues in Mayo with the petroleum giant. The ringleader chanting the sign's slogan urged his cohorts to join his chanting but both looked slightly embarrassed in front of the television crews and remained silent...much to his irritation.

Bertie u-turns having lamped Stephen Saleh's truck in the background, and heads for the market

Although a rank outsider for a seat in North Central, young independent candidate Stephen Saleh pulled off a major coup when his truck pulled up opposite the Fianna Fáil crowd as they crossed Patrick Street to head for the English Market awkwardly keeping their heads down as their leader passed within inches of Saleh's giant "Not Good Enough Bertie" canvas and booming public address system.

You can run but you can't hide!

(Thanks to Charlie McCarthy for the photos - dowtcha kid)