THE TAOISEACH can neither clap in time nor sing in tune, while the Minister for Justice cannot play the saxophone, The Irish Times has learned.
The new revelations emerged at a party held in a Dublin bistro yesterday to mark Mr Bruton's 50th birthday. He was found out when he accepted an invitation to sing.
The result was undoubtedly the most discordant note of the campaign so far. As the band at Dobbins Bistro launched into Alexander's Rag Time Band, (it's the best band in the land ..."), Mr Bruton joined them.
He swayed and clapped - but to the beat of a different drum. He only leaned into the microphone to belt out the last lines of the chorus. The result cannot adequately be described in print.
He won an enthusiastic cheer for bravery at the party which then continued as a most harmonious political occasion. Mrs Owen approached the microphone early on, brushing aside a proffered saxophone and welcomed Mr Pat Rabbitte, who also had a birthday yesterday.
His party leader, Mr Proinsias De Rossa, and the Minister for Finance, Mr Quinn, turned up, as did a host of Fine Gael ministers, deputies and senators, party activists and Bruton family friends. Mr Bruton and Mr De Rossa posed for pictures, clinking glasses and grinning like old friends. Two and a half years is a long time in politics.
It was allegedly a surprise party, although one suspects Mr Bruton knew all about it in advance. The bistro was full of children - including Mr Bruton's and one of Mr Quinn's - and a fair smattering of Brutons. Mrs Finola Bruton seemed to be everywhere. Mr Richard Bruton called in for his lunch.
The cake was iced with a map of Europe, the EU states shaded in different colours and a Fine Gael logo in the corner. In short, the icing was lovely, but you couldn't see what was underneath.
There's a laboured political metaphor there somewhere.