Brian ended up indulging in his usual game of pass the buck

IT was the birthday party from hell, poor little Brian looked glum as the boys from the rival gangs in the Dáil playground queued up to taunt him on what should have been his big day.

“I mark the first anniversary of the Taoiseach’s elevation to office,” Eamon Gilmore begun through pursed lips before waspishly adding: “I hope there will not be a second.”

Brian had heard far worse than that in the past 12 months and was determined not to let it spoil the celebration of his glorious year in power.