Bertie ducks jeers to market city charm

THE Taoiseach was expecting a triumphant tour of Cork city but instead he was left running for cover from heckling protesters.

He travelled south yesterday to rally his troops in the fight for seats in four of Cork’s constituencies.

His trip was supposed to climax with him climbing the steps at Reidy’s Pub where Eamon de Valera spoke to a crowded Patrick Street in 1932.

However, this was aborted because of concerns about Shell-to-Sea protesters who earlier accosted him in Wilton Shopping Centre.

Fearing a repeat performance and with members of Republican Sinn Féin lurking in a small crowd the speech and a war-council meeting with Cork city candidates was called off.

Instead his handlers opted for a impromptu walk about in the English Market.

Before he arrived a van appeared belonging to Independent candidate Stephen Saleh.

A megaphone blared out Nowhere to Run, Nowhere to Hide — a 1965 soul classic by Martha & the Vandellas.

Saleh had a huge poster on the side listing Bertie’s penalty points on education, health and inflation.

This was competing for attention with a similar van with a giant picture of a dissenter from within the party Noel O’Flynn.

Minutes before the Taoiseach gave a subdued speech to a small group of supporters on Patrick’s Street. He said last time he was electioneering in the city the big issue was the stalled School of Music which is now due to open next month.

He also said the Fianna Fáil/Progressive Democrat coalition had cut unemployment locally by 50%.

Earlier he told The Evening Echo newspaper a vote for Enda Kenny would threaten jobs and bring economic instability.

A spokesman for FG said it was a strange angle of attack given the spate of job losses in the Cork region in recent times.

“He should examine his own record on job creation in Cork. Both FG and Labour are committed to driving down the costs which are pushing companies abroad,” he said.

A city council survey recently estimated more than 2,400 manufacturing jobs had been lost during the lifetime of the Government although there was an almost identical increase in new professional and retail appointments.

The Taoiseach did not take questions on the jobs issue during his walkabout.

He preferred to press the flesh in the narrow market lanes especially when he encountered Jennifer Deane and Lisa Rawle, students at Scoil Mhuire.

They told him they weren’t old enough to vote, but were talking to their friend Karen Deasy on the mobile, and she was 18.

Never one to miss an opportunity, Bertie grabbed the phone and persuaded Ms Deasy to give FF some backing.