Kenny charm offensive wins over protesters

The contrasting styles of the Taoiseach and the minister for finance were strongly evident yesterday in Limerick city centre.

Faced with about 30 noisy anti-austerity protesters during an election walkabout, Enda Kenney adopted a sympathetic “smother-them-with-kindness” approach.

Whereas No-Nonsense Noonan, in his home town, was like the Western movie gunslinger eager for a high-noon showdown at the OK Corral.

The Taoiseach took the wind out of several noisy sails by stopping to chat with his adversaries.

“They have a perfectly legitimate right to protest,” he said. “I have a job to do, giving people the opportunity of work. My job is not easy; it was never meant to be easy.”

Tommy O’Shea, an activist from Kildimo, Co Limerick, told the Taoiseach of his concern at the handing over of the work of county enterprise boards to the local councils.

Mr Kenny told him the new arrangement would lead to stronger partnerships with money spent to better effect.

Mr O’Shea, a 55-year-old Aughinish worker, said: “I got a very good hearing from the Taoiseach.”

Meanwhile, as an elderly woman tackled the finance minister using some unparliamentary terminology, he eyeballed her with a Noonan laser gaze.

In an instance, his agitated objector looked like a demented Yorkshire terrier who had just been muzzled.

Respite for Mr Kenny, meanwhile, was at hand in Little Catherine St courtesy of Jean O’Connor who owns the famous O’Connell’s butcher shop with her brother, Paul Craughan, and gave the taoiseach a sample of their award-winning Limerick hams.

However, one customer was not impressed: “Will ye clear off, I’ve to get the chops for the dinner,” she moaned.