Enda resists as Adams turns on the love

It was the love that usually dare not speak its name.

No, not the gay marriage equality protesters staging a lively demo at the Dáil gates, but Gerry Adams’s drive-by bromance bombardment of a bemused Enda Kenny.

“May I begin by wishing the Taoiseach a very happy Valentine’s Day?” Mr Adams enquired.

“Thanks,” chipped back an unflattered Taoiseach, before adding: “Sometimes I get all concerned when I hear Deputy Adams talk about St Valentine’s Day — I’m not sure whether it’s romance or massacre he’s talking about.”

Presumably, this was an unfriendly reference to Sinn Féin’s infamous 1980s slogan, which, even if it had been fluffed-up and pinkified for Cupid’s day, would still consist of: “A chocolate box in one hand and an armalite in the other.”

But like a hairier Mr Darcy in Pride and Prejudice, the Sinn Féin leader was not ready to give up on his quest. “It is a good day despite your rejection of my, er, my, my love,” he told the Taoiseach as Mr Kenny rolled his eyes and said, exasperated: “Spare me.”

Then, as if it were possible, things got stranger. As if to counter Mr Adams attempted reinvention as a Jane Austen character, Enda decided to model himself on Eric Cantona, insisting: “Deputy Adams asking how many people will be off the dole next year is like asking how many seagulls flew over Phoenix Park in the past three weeks.”

Mr Adams was clearly in a playful mood and demanded to know exactly how many seagulls had flown over said park.

But the Ceann Comhairle (whom Mr Adams had also wished a happy Valentine’s Day to in a bizarre attempt at a platonic parliamentary ménage à trois) stepped in to rule the Shinner out of time: “Do not spoil St Valentine’s Day. We do not want to fall out of love with each other at this point,” he almost purred.

It all put Mr Adams’ rather emotional outburst a few weeks back that the Taoiseach was an “amadán” for letting Nicolas Sarkozy rub his French fingers through his hair at an EU summit in a new light.

Could Mr Adams’ extreme distaste for the brief, but very public, cosy encounter with Sarkozy have been provoked by jealousy?

Like the fabled 32-county socialist republic, does Gerry believe it is only a matter of time before Enda is within his grasp?