Sum Leader offers up rich pickings

POWER and money mingle with ease in Galway. Where else would you see the Taoiseach having a laugh with billionaires like Michael Smurfit and JP McManus?

There he was, bubbly Bertie flanked by Tourism Minister John O'Donoghue enjoying a brief chat with JP and Mike after the second race.

The electorate might be less inclined to exchange pleasantries with Bertie these days, but men with some of the deepest pockets in Europe have no problem with it at all.