Brian has always had his eyes on the bigger prize

Brian Crowley doesn’t do controversy. He stays out of political fray. There are few issues, policies or positions that he’s associated with.

In many ways, few people really know his platform. While he is described as very conservative on social issues, he concealed this well during election campaigns. And 180,000 — more than a third of the electorate in Ireland South — gave him their first preference vote in last month’s European elections.

“He attends the garden fêtes and he smiles, he’s not a serious politician,” said one Fianna Fáil colleague, clearly annoyed about the headache he has caused for the party in recent days.