Mandarin a trilingual first for fruity Fidelma

Politicians are known for talking sh@*te.  In Galway, some of them are adept at Double Dutch, too.

Others are specialists in hot air.

Most have mastered the art of talking for long periods without actually saying a whole pile . . . well nothing of substance anyway.

Every politician has spoken gibberish, at least once a week.

We only bring up the subject of language and talking because we think we’ve stumbled on an oratory first in the Houses of the Oireachtas: Mandarin.

Yes, we are happy to confirm (until some nerdy political anorak proves otherwise) that our very own Galway senator Fidelma Healy Eames was the first member of the Oireachtas in the history of the State to utter words, on the record, in the Chinese language.

“Bhuel, tá cúpla focal agam i Sínis (Well, I have a few words of Chinese) – huān yíng – welcome,” said fruity FHE to the Gaeltacht Minister at the start of a Seanad debate on teaching Chinese in Irish schools.

As ‘firsts’ go, this trilingualism (you’ll note that that was ‘Gaeilge’ she used in the same debate and not all Chinese!) may not sound that impressive but it’s better, say, than holding the ‘first Oireachtas member to be caught dodging train fares’ record, now isn’t it.

Maith thú Fidelma.

Ironic . . . don’t you think

There’s an interesting aside to Galway’s bid to become the European Capital of Culture in 2020.

One of the Irish cities that could be competing with Galway for the crown is Sligo.

And who is the City and County Manager in Sligo? It’s Ciarán Hayes, former Director of Services at Galway City Council, of course, who was the public face of the local authority in every crisis.

As that great modern-day philosopher Alanis Morissette would say, wouldn’t it be ironic if Ciarán beat his former employers in Galway in the bid process to earn the prestigious moniker for Sligo.

It’d be a bit like rain on your wedding day . . . a free ride when you’ve already paid . . .

For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.