In recent years, Ned O’Keeffe’s outspoken, colourful and sometimes erratic views provided much in the way of political light entertainment.

Sinead O’Connor is continuing her search for a new man - and has explained why anyone called Nigel or Brian is a no-no.

IRISH banks owe every citizen of this state big time and it’s time bank bosses started to think about reparations.

IS THERE anyone else who just wants to stand up and scream “stop” at the top of their voices? Anyone else who wants to walk into a room of politicians, bankers and trade unionists and tell them enough is enough — we won’t be taken for mugs anymore?

DEAR Enda,

THERE is talk of burning the bond holders while the bonus boys escape any pain.

AND so Biffo awakes — although more Sleeping Brutey than Beauty.

IT was the final, bitter, whiplash goodbye from the Two Brians.

BRIAN LENIHAN was last night derided by the opposition as a puppet whose strings were being pulled by the IMF.

The €6bn Budget comes from a puppet Government under the thumb of the International Monetary Fund and Europe, it was claimed tonight.

THE monarchy of Victoria was long.

NO, seriously, don’t panic – there’s enough cash stuffed under the bed to keep things going until April – we won’t have to start shutting down the hospitals and Garda stations until then at the earliest.

IT felt a bit like the end of the world, but in reality it was just the re-starting of the circus.

MOST commentators focus on the €25bn Anglo Irish black hole. Of course it’s bad, but it’s a one-off.

THE two Brians need to wake up fast. Recent news emerging about Anglo Irish Bank is analogous to the BP oil well in the Gulf of Mexico.

TREACHERY? Infamy? Infamy! They’ve all got it in for me!

THE 12 months of 2009 were probably the worst in living memory. Sure, there have been years, even decades, in the past when things were far worse, relatively speaking, but our expectations were different then and our acceptance of hardships far higher.

“OUR economic situation, while urgent and grave, is not unique. As we are integrated into global trade and production networks our recovery will be intrinsically linked to a recovery in global trading. Now is our time to fight to regain our place in the global economy.

LIKE a desperately cheery first mate of The Titanic, Brian Lenihan announced the ship was sinking – but slightly slower than expected.

WHO or what do Environment Minister John Gormley and Senator Dan Boyle think we are?

ANOTHER opportunity wasted — the elephant’s still sitting in the corner.

THE Taoiseach and Finance Minister swaggered into the Dáil chamber in the manner of the hit men from Reservoir Dogs.

WITH America and France rejoicing in their rock star presidents, Enda Kenny made an unlikely pitch to be Ireland’s boyband blueshirt.

THE driver of the sightseeing bus was conveying his collection of assorted tourists past the Mansion House — home of the first Dáil, he explained loudly so the two passengers on the open deck upstairs could hear — when suddenly he came across a sight not on his itinerary.

I HOPE our two Brians — Cowen and Lenihan — won’t share the same reputation as George W Bush.

DAY two of The Emergency began badly and got worse as it became clear Tánaiste Mary Coughlan would be our hostess for this edition of the risky business roller coaster ride.

THE summer silly season is coming to an abrupt end and over the coming days the nation will be returning to schools and workplaces to face into the challenges that the new work and academic year will bring.

SINCE cutbacks have become the new economic vocabulary, government ministers are for the first time in over a decade facing challenges of a very different nature.

Mayo coach Mickey Moran has been accused of being too emotionally involved — but he is never reluctant to admit he loves his players to death. Jim O’Sullivan reports.

To any budding young hurler or footballer the ultimate honour rests in All-Ireland intercounty medals, first at minor, then U21, finally at senior level.

DONEGAL have received a timely boost ahead of tomorrow’s All-Ireland qualifier against Wicklow in Aughrim.

IT’S one of the few remaining games left on the local club hurling scene but tomorrow’s Kilkenny SHC final replay between champions Young Irelands and O’Loughlin Gaels, is a perfect example of reserving the best wine ‘til last.

BENNY TIERNEY may have discarded the goalkeeper’s mini-rainbow jersey but he remains one of the game’s most colourful characters.

AS he says himself, Jimmy Smyth went from being a quiz question to a statistic on Sunday afternoon, when Armagh finally managed to lay their Croker demons to rest.