Irish Echo Sport

Ireland seems to have elected a singing Prime Minister.

Ireland’s new Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, was hailed a local hero last week in his native Offaly. Fair enough.

The county – or at least every red-faced, Fianna Fail gombeen man and lovely girl in the district – turned out to savour the greatness of the man.

What seems like thousands of sycophants piled onto a tiny stage in the town of Clara in Offaly in what looked like a scene from Father Ted.

Then, before you could say BIFFO, he broke into song. Not any old song, mind you.

A song about his father getting elected to the Dáil and whose seat young Brian inherited when dad passed on in 1984.

So there it was, a scene that reminded us that Ireland, for all of its changes, hasn’t changed that much.

Have a look for yourself.