What Brian Cowen lacks…

Two nights ago (23rd March) RTE News had an amusing report about a very original prank: somebody had put nude portraits of our Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, on the walls of the National Gallery of Ireland and the Royal Hibernian Academy.  Framed, and accompanied by correctly phrased descriptions, the two portraits were not great painting and were, indeed, somewhat tasteless, but they were good caricature.   There was no crime involved, and the incidents had the resonance of a student rag day prank.

Last night, however, at the end of the 9 p.m. News broadcast, RTE had to apologise to the Taoiseach.   Anxious to jump on the bandwagon, a Fianna Fail TD has asked Cathal Goan, the RTE Director General to “consider his position”.

Mr Cowen - fully clothed

Good taste prevents us reproducing either portrait here, but they are easily available on the Internet. RTE’s apology has turned a local incident into an international news story, so the two portraits have been seen by millions, rather than the smaller number of Irish voters who might (or might not) have been amused by a local incident.

The Irish media has strained to be positive about Mr. Cowen: a talk to a chamber of commerce was lauded as great rhetoric and proof that he was, at last, sounding like a leader; a good performance in Washington on St. Patrick’s Day was acclaimed as the sign of things to come.

Mr. Cowen’s talents have not been obvious since he became Taoiseach.  His failings have been analysed, almost ad nauseam, but it’s only now that we realise he also lacks a sense of humour.