Doting women put a spring in Gerry’s step

GERRY ADAMS and his election hopefuls made it from Eyre Square through Shop Street to the Spanish Arch in 10 minutes flat. The Sinn Féin leader has set a frightening pace throughout the west’s capital.

It quickly became obvious why. Every few feet he was accosted by more doting women than a film actor. Mildly embarrassed, he smiled his way through their hugs and words of admiration before fleeing off down the pedestrianised streets again.

Asked why she liked him, one foreign-looking woman who managed to hold onto his hand for several minutes explained: "An Irishman told me all about him, being in jail and educating himself, and the IRA. I love him. I think he is great." After the quick tour of Galway city centre, the small group piled into taxis and headed to St Joseph's Community Centre in Shantala. Their driver for the day, Mike Mullins, was a local man who had problems with his English landlord over the building where his family had a butchers shop for three generations.