Air rage: Asthmatic councillor gets sniffy over colleagues’ deodorant use

Politicians rarely come up smelling of roses — but some Fine Gael councillors have left a colleague near-breathless.

Cork county councillor Deirdre Forde created a bit of a stink when she voiced disapproval of uncomfortable, overpowering scents from some of her male colleagues.

Observers in County Hall witnessed some councillors mouth “what the f...” as Ms Forde proclaimed, during a council meeting, she was not at all happy with certain excessive odours, including aftershave, emanating from some of her male buddies.

As arms were clamped to sides to avoid any further emissions, some of the ‘blue brigade’ anxiously tried to spot the culprits with BO.

Ms Forde, who suffers from asthma, conceded it wasn’t a question of anybody belonging to the “great unwashed party” — unless they happened to be disguising it with lashings of a very pungent deodorant.

“It’s just overbearing. I have asthma and it’s affecting me. I’m just saying please refrain from [using] it,” she said.

The remark caused shock and amusement in equal proportions.

Cllr Frank O’Flynn (FF) couldn’t resist teasing Ms Forde, a former member of Fianna Fáil who jumped ship to its rivals several years ago. He suggested she should return as Fianna Fáil is smelling a bit rosier these days.

Ms Forde declined to name the councillor whose choice of fragrance had offended her senses. She later told colleagues there was only one male deodorant she could tolerate — Fahrenheit.

One Fine Gael member on the council, who didn’t wish to be named and with tongue in cheek, offered a suggestion to call in the council’s environment department to ensure there was no breach of any air pollution regulations.