If you’ve ever wondered what the old men in those sepia photographs of rural early 20th century Ireland sounded like, you can now find out.

DEFENDING Willie O’Dea on Monday, Justice Minister Dermot Ahern said: “I suppose Fine Gael are returning to type. They’ve always tried to get the dirt on people. I think it is despicable, to be honest.” Of course, he undoubtedly meant it is despicable to make false accusations.

CRIMINAL activities, whether committed by common criminals or political ones, should be investigated by the gardaí.

RYAN Tubridy’s selection as next host of the Late Late Show did not come as a great surprise. He was always on the shortlist.

Of course, the events of either of those earlier decades have little to do with the present, but it worth remembering that the only other head of government to enter 10 years of continuous service is Bertie Ahern. By contrast, his 10 years as Taoiseach have been spectacularly staid.

IN the past week we had posthumous pronouncements from both Judge Seán O’Leary and the late US President Gerald Ford.

THIS week Bertie Ahern essentially admitted that he misled the Dáil in relation to contacts with the so-called Real IRA.

A death row prisoner is appealing against his sentence because he says his lawyer kept dozing off.