Bertie blunder names and shames O’Malley at home
At a gala function in Limerick, the Taoiseach kept referring to “my ministerial colleague Tom O’Malley” instead of correctly dropping the name of locally-based junior minister for health Tim O’Malley.
The Taoiseach’s gaffe drew sniggers from 200 bow-tied guests at the hotel, as Mr O’Malley listened red-faced from the podium, at an event that was supposed to kick-start his re-election campaign.
Mr Ahern led tributes as the city honoured BBC broadcaster Terry Wogan with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Wogan, accompanied by his wife Helen, said: “What Limerick man would not be honoured to receive such an award from a proud and historic city?
“I spent the first 15 years of my life here — Limerick made me.”
The popular TV and radio chat show host, who has the highest radio audience across Europe, of eight million listeners, said he discovered a great love for rugby in his native city.
“Limerick never left me,” he said. “I follow all the rugby teams and I am very proud when I see Munster doing incredibly well.”
The Taoiseach said: “Terry is a wonderful ambassador for Limerick and for Ireland and has provided hours of entertainment over the years to millions of people on both sides of the Irish Sea.”
Although Wogan left Limerick as a teenager, he maintained strong links with the city. Many of his former school friends attended the gala dinner in the Clarion Hotel, including Gordon Holmes, Jim Sexton and Bill Leahy.
