Emotion sees Biffo turn into Sniffo (almost)

HE ROSE a taoiseach and sat down as Bertie the backbencher.

In the moments between, Bertie had swept through the vote tellers to confirm Brian Cowen as his successor, then the pair briefly paused at the top of the chamber’s steps and clasped hands — the baton had been passed, the future belonged to Brian.

The old taoiseach then asked Johnny Brady to budge-up and slipped quietly onto the edge of the second row from the back, the dignity of the moment only threatened by what seemed worryingly like an attempted high-five from Charlie O’Connor.