Michael Clifford: Hometown boy Malcolm Byrne believes his time has come in byelection

A party man through and through, Fianna Fáil’s Malcolm Byrne is very different than the man he seeks to replace, writes Michael Clifford.

Soft day in Gorey. A light curtain of rain is falling over the Wexford town, but it won’t dampen spirits as the Crimbo is hovering into view. ‘Deck the Halls With Boughs of Holly’ is tra-la-la-la-laing from speakers up and down the main street.