Poster paints Ahern as Grinch who stole Christmas

The Taoiseach is depicted as a Grinch character in a Young Fine Gael poster campaign, it emerged today.

The pre-budget stunt, to be launched on Monday, aims to highlights the consumer rip-off of young people between 18-30.

The poster, entitled ‘The Grinch that Stole Christmas’ depicts Bertie Ahern as a masked Grinch Santa, and features Tánaiste Mary Harney and Finance Minister Brian Cowen as reindeer trying to steal rather than deliver Christmas presents.

It features the slogan ’Bertie Stop This Xmas Rip-Off’ and lists a series of nine items including groceries, credit cards, CDs, alcohol, mobile phones, electricity, motor tax and petrol.

“Young Fine Gael’s college branches will be putting these posters up in campuses throughout the country,” a YFG spokesman said.

The theme of the poster is based on the 2000 Hollywood film ‘The Grinch that Stole Christmas’ starring Jim Carrey – the biggest-grossing movie of that year.

The Grinch is a fictional creature created by children’s author Dr Seuss, and the word has also entered the English language meaning a cruel, uncaring and greedy person.

In the film, the Grinch steals Christmas presents and decorations from a town but still doesn’t stop Christmas happening.