Eager Enda talks up a breeze

BUFFETED by the Portlaoise breeze, the shabby red carpet leading to the entrance of the Heritage Hotel was a fitting welcome for Enda Kenny, the man who would be king.

Buoyed by an opinion poll surge, Fine Gael is desperate to present him as Enda the Contender, Fianna Fáil want to paint him as Enda the Tax and Spender, but on yesterday’s form it was more like an appearance from Enda the man with very few policies you’d remember.

In brilliant Indian summer sunshine, Mr Kenny and his education spokes- woman Olwyn Enright appeared before the media for an extended photo-opportunity looking like professional catalogue models who had wandered onto the wrong shoot.