No-one else has to die here —that’s the blunt message from two Americans with a tragic connection who have backed calls to close a lethal turn on a stretch of the N20 Cork to Limerick road.

With Minnesota Republican Michele Bachmann’s quick rise from state lawmaker to unofficial Tea Party ambassador in Washington, her brazen style has kept Republican leaders on edge and appealed to those searching for a fresh, unfettered voice. She relishes the spotlight and seldom cedes ground.