Seanad campaigns fizzle out but revenge awaits

In fitting fashion, the Seanad referendum campaign ended in game playing and a wash-out.

As the grey autumnal rain tumbled down on a Taoiseach ridiculed by opponents for not being up to a TV debate, his handlers gave him something less taxing to deal with — putting a giant jigsaw piece in the one space left in an oversized puzzle.

It was the final cardboard prop of a cardboard campaign and, to be fair to Mr Kenny, he did manage to get the piece in the right slot at first attempt — well, after he nearly tripped over a keep-off-the grass rail, that is.

Oh, and the Taoiseach, along with Richard Bruton and Alan Shatter, even held up the green, white, and gold coloured piece the right way — at their fourth attempt, after various poses with the tricolour either upside down or on its side.

Curiously, the bandstand in St Stephen’s Green was chosen as the site where the Irish flag would slot into the jigsaw depicting other small countries who manage just fine without an upper house.

Tomorrow’s vote could be a lot tighter than expected if our cabbie’s conversations with customers who, like him, have switched from anti-to-pro Seanad are to be trusted.

Asked if he feared the wrath of “cranky” senators who will still serve out their term if the Seanad goes down, Mr Kenny dismissed the entire political class: “You have cranky deputies as well, politics is about cranky people, and all kinds of people — that’s democracy.”

All of which indicates fallout from a yes vote could have the makings of one of those cable TV shockers: “When Senators Attack”. And, as if to underline the danger, there looming ominously in the trees 10m away was Taoiseach nominee- turned-die-hard-save-the-Seanad campaigner Senator Katherine Zappone, ominously observing the jigsaw hack saw Mr Kenny was trying to amputate the upper house with.

Sinn Féin was also out in force to endorse the kill- the-Seanad drive with Gerry Adams flanked by Senator David Cullinane, sporting a natty pair of glasses.

On closer inspection the specs revealed the brand FCUK — interesting how Shinners can acknowledge the United Kingdom as long as it enhances their fashion status.

And so the referendum campaign fizzled-out in the drizzle, and while the “Sink The Seanad” saga may not have been much fun, the likely sequel — “Revenge Of The Cranks” — looks like being far more entertaining.