O’Dea missing as the bands played on in Limerick

THE bands played on, but there was no Waltzing Matilda for Willie O’Dea.

Up to 30,000 lined the streets of Limerick yesterday for the great International Band parade. But a notable absentee was former defence minister Willie O’Dea who has been a regular on the VIP review stand in previous years.

His political nemesis, Cllr Maurice Quinlivan lined up with deputy mayor, Cllr Denis McCarthy and other members of the city council.