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Aiden Gillen as Charles Haughey in RTÉ’s ‘Charlie’

Aidan Gillen (above) not only manages to look like Haughey, but he conveys his ruthlessness and charm effectively.Tom Vaughan-Lawlor does an equally good job as Haughey’s loyal servant and fixer PJ Mara, although the character is given more power and influence than he actually had at this stage in Haughey’s career. Lucy Cohu is excellent as Haughey’s mistress, Terry Keane, and Gavin O’Connor looks like Seán Doherty as well as nailing his character.

RTÉ television drama does Charles Haughey some service (Stephen Collins)

Mention, too, should be made of Peter O’Meara as a cravenly ingratiating Brian Lenihan, Frankie McCafferty as a slithery Des Traynor, Gavin O’Connor freakishly similar to Sean Doherty and Risteard Cooper giving a quietly arresting turn as civil servant Dermot Nally.
And Lucy Cohu hit exactly the right over-the-top vampish note as Haughey’s paramour Terry Keane, even if her Coq Hardi frolickings with her lover seemed to have strayed in from a ‘Carry On’ film.

‘Charlie’ more ribald comedy than serious political drama (John Boland, Independent.ie)

(RTÉ)

charlie

Rick writes:

Charlie unavailable to people outside Ireland? Anyone?

Screen Shot 2015-01-05 at 09.57.33Graphic showing average asking prices and year-on-year change in the last quarter of 2014

Laura Slattery, of the Irish Times, reports:

House prices dipped 1 per cent in the final three months of last year, according to the latest report by property website Daft.ie. This is the first time since mid-2013 that the average house price fell compared with the previous quarter…

However, the average asking price for a home nationwide is still 12.8 per cent higher at €193,000 than it was a year ago, Daft’s 2014 Year in Review House Price Report shows. This compares with a peak average asking price of €378,000 in 2007 before the property bubble burst.

House prices slip back 1% but still up on last year (Laura Slattery, Irish Times)

The Daft.ie House Price Report

Broadsheet.ie