From yesterday’s Irish Mail on Sunday
Yesterday.
The Irish Mail on Sunday reported on a letter sent by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to pop star Kylie Minogue last October ahead of a scheduled gig in Dublin.
The letter, on Office of the Taoiseach-noted paper, said:
‘Dear Kylie, Just wanted to drop you a short note in advance of the concert in Dublin. I am really looking forward to it. Am a huge fan! I understand you are staying in the Merrion Hotel which is just across the street from my office in Government Buildings. If you like, I’d love to welcome you to Ireland personally.’
Mr Varadkar’s department twice told IMOS journalist Craig Hughes, who sought and eventually obtained the document under Freedom of Information, that the document was exempt from FOI legislation, saying it was written by the Taoiseach in a “personal capacity”.
But, the newspaper reported, the Taoiseach eventually consented to the letter’s release.
Meanwhile…
The Taoiseach wrote a begging letter for a meet-and-greet with Kylie on official headed paper. In the middle of Brexit, housing crisis etc. The Taoiseach! 🤦🏻♂️ A nation’s toes will never uncurl… pic.twitter.com/ezbp9RozFT
— Oliver Callan (@olivercallan) March 31, 2019
FIGHT!
Pics: Oliver Callan and Extra.ie
A whole load of fuss over nothing, tbh.
that is the blushirt party line, bravo
blushirt party line might have a point for once, tbh.
Having no political leanings, I really wouldn’t know. I just think this is very much a non-story.
+1
agreed. I think it is kind of sweet! (and I’m not sure I have ever once voted Fine Gael)
newsflash… our taoiseach is a gay man
Not like Jason Donovan, no.
I initially dismissed this as an April Fool’s joke.
So did I
Cringiest Taoiseach ever. Doesn’t act like a grown-up at all.
Doesn’t have the hand writing of one either.
That is a doctor’s handwriting…. Big deal. It’s hardly a “begging” letter and so what?!?
Did he produce a receipt for the drinks he says he paid for at the afters of the concert?
That’s so Tru deau
Not at all embarrassing.
I don’t know that I have a problem with this.
so Leo’s real name is Leo V Taoiseach, should have seen that coming.
Storm in a teacup – no more cringey than the Number 10 ‘Love Actually’ gaff he kicked off his leadership with.
Wasn’t a great gig anyway.
This makes me like Leo a little bit more than I did
if this was a taoiseach i liked, i’d say no harm, leave him at it. but i hate him and everything he does so it makes it sickening and cringey.
And that dear doctor is why it is a nothing story.
This is more of a reflection on you than him x
Two words: Jacinda Ardern
One word: Annoying
This IS an Aprils Fools Day Joke.
+ 1
yeah, has to be
Nah, it was out yesterday.
non story? reckon ye’re right. cos to me this smells of PR stunt
Merkel is in town this Thursday
do ye think it’s for a city mini-break?
the last time she set foot here was 2008, Lisbon treaty
Varadker will be told to break it to us about the fact there WILL be a border. a proper one.
but aww like he’s such an endearing bloke writing his cute Jim’ll Fix It letters, wha?
That’s not true. She’s definitely been here since 2008. Why would you lie about that?
I did check & couldn’t find any evidence of that @edalicious
she’s coming to help him deliver the message & the point generally stands. this is distraction bs
Here she is at Trinity in March 2014:
https://www.facebook.com/trinitycollegedublin/posts/german-chancellor-angela-merkel-visited-trinity-college-today-accompanied-by-an-/828271160521319/
That was the third link down on a google search for “Angela Merkel Dublin”. You obviously didn’t try to check very hard.
eh, you’re being a wee bit pedantic there but fair enough. (was hardly serious official EU business now was it?)
anyway as I wrote my point generally stands. let’s see.
imagine leo spinning around in those gold hot pants
Never!
Only Kylie spinning around in hot pants will fit in my memory.
I’m just wondering why a photocopy of a hand written note was made. Where would it have been filed?
in the waistband of leo’s hotpants?
Walking in parade with controversial fighter out on bail,writing to and meeting with an acknowledged drug user,did she ever like give any away to friends….
Just as well she never fought for her country’s freedom or she’d be a terrotist in FG’s eyes,but only buying and using illegal drugs and contributing to the misery that causes makes her someone FG is desperate for a meeting with.
Yeah she sings a few songs,so what if she’s never been convicted but is her admitted illegal drug use,really in the ‘past’ like who’s isn’t :)
https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2002/0312/396156-minoguek/
“an acknowledged drug user” haha she admitted taking a few yokes 17 years ago (so more like 25 years ago that she actually took one) so she should be castigated out of any official Irish pageantry. The rod up your butt must have a rod up its butt.
Can you give your glasses a rub there or pop by specsavers,read the post he instigated the meeting with an acknowledged drug user,what was he looking for…
Your either the party off law and order or your not,can’t have it both ways.
The whole butt thing is just a little bad taste are you have a go at Leo’s sexual preference….
*eye roll*
Must be a good yoke that.
Also… +1
I would have thought that you would consider the consumption of drugs as an act of patriotism, Johnny, given how important they were as a source of revenue for our noble revolutionaries during the recent struggle on this island.
Oh Rob,the main beneficiaries are the Guards,the prison officers in the so called ‘war’ on drugs is a sham,it’s a total waste money,resources and human life.
There are a few SF election agents that didn’t do too badly out of it, either.
A recent trip to Amsterdam for more millennial Fintech training explained a lot about the decision-making process in industry.
Isn’t this the same buck who mentions his weed habit very two minutes?
Habit grandad it’s a lifestyle old man not a habit.
Yes, sonny. And you’re the first to have tried it. You child.
Whatever old man,the rubbish they smoked back in the day is incomparable to what we grow,try some it may do you bit good,it helps oul lads relax…
So what’s the difference between Kylie banging the odd yoke and you smoking a joint when the mood takes you?
I ignore begging whinny letters from heads of state-for one:)
You have pay for our weed we don’t do comps !
I like that you have no fear of coming across like a fool, johnny. You don’t have much choice either, but no fear. Good boy.
Blame it on the amazing weather,the lifestyle all that incredible Jungle Boys weed-what’s your excuse wet brain,dementia ?
Your free education,you get what you pay for huh old man.Read a book try the library if your OAP doesn’t stretch that far,after drinking most it.
Leo isn’t the head of state ;)
I’m more convinced Johnny is a 17 year old posting what he thinks a succesful adult should say by the day
And you’d never guess who I think you are Ro
Matt Damon?
Ok
I’ll admit ya made me laugh there Hawkeye
And I haven’t had many of those lately
So fair dues like
Jesus Jonny. Those puritanical yanks really rubbing off on you….
Walk around Dublin city center,or any town in Ireland,see for yourself the wasted life’s,the misery the despair all caused by this govts position on illegal drugs.
Parents can’t get life saving drugs (cbd/weed) because Leo and his party are vehemently opposed to it-for medical or rec.You can get medical marijuana now in NI-but not in South-why ?
Butt Leo has no problems asking for a meeting with an acknowledged drug user,hanging out in the green room and being at best a second rate,rubbish pop singers biggest fan.
Get a life Leo.
I don’t think you’re playing the ball here Johnny. Seems like your kicking a tree stump off to the side. Absolutely there are problems with drug policy (I would argue lack of treatment rather than legality is a bigger and more immediate issue) but using this meeting as a stick to beat Leo/FG on that particular policy seems petty and unhelpful.
+1
I hate this yank puritan culture.
+1
If genuine, looks rather silly.
it’s pretty cringe (as are lots of things leo does) but i have to also roll my eyes at that callan tweet outraged at him *writing a letter* while various types of crisis are ongoing in the country
Out of the country a few years and didn’t realise Callan had become a Daily Heil shrill. What a muppet.
It was the second letter where he begged Kylie to call him onto the stage to sing “I should be so lucky” that got him into bother I think.
Elton John at the 3Arena in June should be good. Perhaps he can Cher the love with the opposition too?
Firstly: Savage Header
Secondly: it is all kinda silly, I’d even say kinda charming
But – Thirdly, finally but most importantly:
It demonstrates the general lack of leadership, deportment and common sense of the leader of our Government
He has demonstrated that he will use his position as Taoiseach to exert Influence to service his own Personal Interests
Blatant Conflict of Interest
And he sought to deny the FOI request to try and brazen it out
Spin that one round
And people wonder why State Contracts are a shady as púc
If the leader of our current Government is taking advantage of his office to secure this – a photo op with a soap actress and pop star
Then where does it end
Because the office of An Taoiseach is supposed to be where that behaviour ends
So it’s not a storm in a tea cup
And IMO it’s the beginning of the end for Leo
And d’ya know what
All the new faces here and the re-surfacers popping up to defend it with their ara’ shur’ tis only Kylie…. Tis grand he’s gay blah blah
Know I’m right
Otherwise they’d have let to spin and keep that photo churning
What’s the font for lipstick?
What for?
“Blatant Conflict of Interest”
– how could it possibly be a conflict of interest – is Kylie bidding on a new broadband contract? What a load of old cobblers…
If she wrote to Leo Varadkar, personally
And offered him a free look at her hotpants for him and his girls
And a selfie + a retweet
And he thought
Oh that’s very nice of Dani’s Sister
So he went along to the gig
And when they were back stage she canvassed him on behalf of Granahan McCourt
Because like
She’s a shareholder
Then a conflict exists
And our poor eejit got suckered
But ya see
He used his position to get some free promo stuff
And maybe impress some pals
Pals that maybe he was hoping to extract a favour or two or three from
Maybe
That’s exerting influence by exploiting his position
That’s a conflict of interest
Because it’s not at arms lenght
Ok tis no Mary Harney crashing at the MacEvaddys for the summer
Or Tubs swanning around in a free car
But ya know what
I’m entitled to expect more effin’ cop on from him
How did Leo know, before her arrival for her concerts, Kylie was staying at the Merrion Hotel? Army intelligence? One of those briefings TDs get from the Garda Commissioner? Do staff at the Merrion Hotel need to (re)acquaint themselves with GDPR?
(and WHERE THE FUPP IS THE PeeWC REPORT ON THE NATIONAL CHILDRENS HOSPITAL)
It’s after 12, you can take this down now
^^^
ro’s classiest chat up line
Lads,lads cmon lads it’s my turn….
lol bb
More than a whiff of sweaty polyester team jerseys,cabbage and potatoes ,with the lads,lads of ya Ro,lads on tour wha….
Cmon the lads:)