Fine Gael heavy-hitters fire up Jerry Buttimer campaign

Smokers to the left of him, singers to the right and there he was, stuck in the middle, the Minister for Health, in the beer garden of a Cork pub, rain dripping down, looking as uncomfortable as a patient on a trolley.

In the South County Bar for the election campaign launch of Fine Gael colleague Jerry Buttimer, the beer garden was about the only corner of the pub with enough “sshsh” for an impromptu media interview.

Not that anyone could hear his responses, lost as they were to the rousing chorus of “Grace just hold me in your arms and let the moment linger” as Sunday night pub-goers got into the swing of whatever there is to swing about with Monday morning looming.