Little Lady nods to Big Fella as duke eyes drink

THE Big Fella from West Cork and the Little Lady from across the water quietly battled to dominate the Taoiseach’s office in their own way.

Indeed, the shadow of Michael Collins fell heavy throughout the second day of Queen Elizabeth’s visit, first making its mark in a brooding oil and canvas hanging high on the wall between Enda Kenny and the British monarch as she was received at Government Buildings.

One of Mr Kenny’s first acts in the hours after he became Taoiseach 10 weeks ago was to remove the old painting of de Valera which had previously been lodged above the sumptuous fireplace by his desk to make room for the more Fine Gael-friendly figure of the former IRA director of intelligence.