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Dublin: 10 °C Sunday 19 May, 2013

Primary colours: TD asked to remove Dublin flags on Dáil grounds

Labour TD Aodhán Ó Ríordáin told that he’ll have to hide his county colours when in Leinster House.

Image: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

AS ALL-IRELAND mania reaches fever pitch, Labour’s Aodhán Ó Ríordáin was stunned to learn today that the Leinster House car park is strictly a county colour-free zone.

The Dublin North Central TD is one of many Dubs fans painting the capital blue with flags and banners ahead of the county’s first All-Ireland final appearance in 16 years.

But shortly arriving in his Dáil office this morning, Ó Ríordáin got an unexpected phone call asking him to take down the small sky blue and navy flags attached to his car.

“I was quite surprised to receive a phone call from the Merrion Street gate this morning asking me to take them down,” Ó Ríordáin told TheScore.ie.

They didn’t really give me a reason, but I think essentially it’s that no banners or flags are encouraged so that we aren’t displaying political messages.

“They were fairly innocent county flags which I had on the car Monday and yesterday, but they’re down now. Consider me duly chastened,” he joked.

Once the clock hits quitting time later on this evening though, Ó Ríordáin said, the flags will be straight back up as he continues to savour the build-up to Sunday’s big match.

“As soon as I’m out of the car park later, we’ll have a ceremonial relaunching and unfurling of the flags. With any luck, we’ll cause a bit of a traffic jam.

“If we play like we played against Tyrone in the quarter-finals, we have a great chance. If Kerry play to their potential though, it’ll be a tough one.

We’ve been waiting 16 years to have a day like this in September. It’s great for the city and great for the county.

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Comments (11 Comments)

  • nice to know government dealing with the important issues…..

    Reply
    • It isn’t the Government that would deal with that issue.
      They are trying to bring the country back from the bankruptcy caused by the previous Fianna Fáil coalition government.

      There would be a set of standing regulations governing what can and can’t be displayed while in the Dáil or its environs. (You may recall the Shinners being picked up over wearing the Easter Lily in the Dáil chamber)

      Being Ireland, flags and emblems are a particularly sensitive issue.

      Reply
  • Wouldn’t be the first time that that o riordan sham has had to remove his gaa colours.. cynical bastard joined a gaa club in inner city just to get the tracksuit top and had his picture all over the place in a newsletter the next day.. thankfully local people seen through him!!

    Reply
    • That doesn’t surprise me at all from that unlikeable eejit. This is the same fella who was on about putting a tax on every text sent – of course, his phone is paid for out of his “expenses”, which, although he lives in Dublin, he manages to claim the maximum every month!

      Reply
    • A bit harsh, eh? Even as an FFer, I can’t understand how a primary school principle from, who fought tooth and nail to get his Dáil seat last time around is a “cynical bastard”. I’ve spoken to him before, and asked him questions when he was on an education panel at my old school – unlike a few non-politicians, he answered my questions straight off. He’s just got a few pseudo-marxist delusions, which I can’t really hold against him personally. ;)

      As for this – PC BS. I can understand where it’s coming from, but it’s a GAA game for feck sake.

      Reply
  • His wife was in my masters class so met him a few times back then. Fairly sound chap despite us disagreeing on virtually everything. Rarely responds to me on Twitter mind, I’m clearly not getting the love anymore.

    Reply
  • Sure we would…don’t we give yis Tipperary Water and the nectar of life…the large bottle of Bulmers, half pint glass, ice…and nothing else added but time to savour the minor Tipps inflicting a hat trick of defeats on the young Dubs at least. The Big Dubs could pull it off though!

    Reply
  • Up Kerry n tipp!

    Reply
  • Let’s hope Dublin don’t show up for either of the finals this weekend. Same as they bottled the minor and u21 finals in the last few weeks. Cmon Tipp!!

    Reply

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