This is a portrait of a cabinet-maker in anything but typical pose. While half the nation holds its breath on whether Garth Brooks and his van with all the gear will make it to Croke Park, the politically minded, other half is gripped with anticipation on the make-up of the Burton / Kenny cobbled cabinet.
We’re told we can expect the long awaited results at any time between 10-30am this morning to 1pm in the afternoon.
The politically minded in Kerry are looking back at Jimmy Deenihan’s staunch defence of Enda Kenny during a move against his leadership prior to his huge election success a few years ago.
Will that friendship and loyalty be rewarded by Mr. Kenny or will Deenihan and his office of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht be sacrificed on the blood strewn political altar. People here around pointed to the fact that both men cycled together in last Saturday’s Ring of Kerry charity event. On that basis the politically innocent are pinning their hopes on the retention of Jimmy Deenihan in office and on the front bench. It must also be noted that Deenihan took an awful lot of flack over the past few years on his home patch.
Even in his fiercely loyal, home town of Listowel his office was picketed weekly on Saturday mornings by those campaigning for the retention of their traditional turf-cutting rights on local bogs.
If any harm should befall Deenihan today it will be seen as the greatest u-turn on a political friendship since the Charlie Haughey / Brien Lenihan fall-out of the early 1990s.
The photograph of his pre-Taoiseach days of Enda Kenny was taken while campaigning in Castleisland on a walk-about. He was greeting workers in the former old-world, O’Connor’s Bar at No. 29 Lower Main Street. The building was being prepared for its present-day occupants, Woman’s World Beauty Salon at the time. Mr. Kenny picked up the wheel-barrow and expertly guided it out the back door of the premises just for fun and photographers.
With a deft touch he hoisted it on its frame, turned it around and wheeled it in again. I just thought it was appropriate while we’re holding our breath for the unveiling of his cabinet-making skills this morning.
