To be Frank, the name’s Fahy not Fahey

We got a wrap on the knuckles recently, from Fine Gael City Councillor Frank Fahy, for adding an ‘e’ to his name and spelling it Fahey.

Ordinarily, most people wouldn’t be too put-out by the misspell, but Frank is a Blueshirt and doesn’t like being mistaken for former Fianna Fáil Councillor, Galway West TD and junior minister, Frank Fahey, who lost his seat in the last General Election.

Not sure why – we always found Frank Fahey with an ‘e’ to be grand to deal with – but fair enough if you’re Frank Fahy without an ‘e’ then we’ll call you Frank Fahy without an ‘e’.

Apparently it drives Frank’s wife bonkers that we spelled it with an ‘e’, by mistake, in the past, and so from now on, to keep the missus onside, we’ll do our best Frank to remember no ‘e’.

We’re not the only ones who’ve mixed the pair up though. Frank Fahy without an ‘e’, apparently, has been the recipient of a fair amount of letters that should have gone to Frank Fahey with an ‘e’.

Cllr Frank lives in Menlo; former minister Frank lives in Coolough, not a half a mile away as the crow flies.

So no wonder the postman has sent a few mobile phone bills and the like to the wrong Frank.

“Of course I didn’t pay them, I just forward them on,” Cllr Frank tells us.

There is some stray post that comes in handy though, says FG Frank without the ‘e’.

“I get lots of Christmas cards that were meant for him (Fianna Fáil Frank) . . . so now when I go out canvassing I know what houses not to call to!”

No airs and graces about Michael D 

Must admit we’ve sneered at the manner in which Michael D Higgins’ ‘grand’ accent has grown grander since taking up residence is Áras an Uachtarán.

Maybe it’s all the hob-nobbing at the Ferrero Rocher par-tays at the Áras that has fine tuned his well-to-do brogue. 

But we’re pleased to report that, posh accent aside, Michael D, Clare native and Galway’s adopted son, hasn’t lost touch with the people of the Westside who elected him.

The former Labour man was spotted recently at the Westside Shopping Centre, outside Dunnes Stores, posing for photographs with local children, proving there’s no airs and graces about Mickey D. Wouldn’t see yer wan across the water doing that now would ya?

For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.