Throughout the Carlow-Kilkenny byelection right now, there is a large shadow hanging over the race. So big it comes all the way from the Office of the EU Agriculture Commissioner in Brussels.

Officially, Friday’s Carlow/Kilkenny byelection is all about replacing former Fine Gael TD Phil Hogan, who was ‘promoted’ to Europe after the Irish Water debacle.

IN 1970, fresh out of St Colman’s boarding school, I attended UCC.

The Penguin Book of Irish Poetry