Norris cuts loose and sheds beard for cancer charity

Following the close shave of the surprise vote to save the Seanad, its most famous son David Norris has shed his trademark beard in gratitude.

The Joycean scholar made good on a pre-referendum pledge to lose the facial hair if the electorate voted down attempts to kill the upper house. He had his beard removed live on Today FM’s Ray D’Arcy show in aid of the cancer support campaign Shave or Dye.

The senator and human rights campaigner was diagnosed with liver cancer four months ago and has pledged to fight the condition as hard as he can. “People should realise it’s not some sort of alien monster that’s flown in on a flying saucer — it’s your own cells. They’re not behaving, but they’re yours,” he said.