McCarthy deserves to be back at the top

NOW all of 85 years of age, Tomás Mac Giolla made a rare public appearance in the pages of Hot Press this week, reflecting on a colourful and controversial life in Republican and left-wing politics in Ireland.

The IRA, Sinn Féin, The Workers’ Party, Aldershot, North Korea, Moscow, money forging and more – all the boxes are ticked over the course of a lengthy interview conducted by Jason O’Toole.

And then, right at the end, after Mac Giolla has railed against what he calls his “pet hate” – a perceived media consensus – comes this little zinger out of left field::