I’ve only met Miriam Lord the once, on a freezing Meteor Awards red carpet, but she was a delight. Kind of like your favourite auntie, she asked me who some of the more obscure young starlets were that tottered along in front of us into the Point Depot. “I don’t know, Miriam,” was all I could tell her most of the time. When it comes to generating C-list celebs, Ireland makes it onto the A-list. But the point is this: Miriam Lord – lovely lady.

And a cracking writer too. Read her colour bit on the Ranelagh Rumble here.

Sucker punch:

His [John Gormley's] blood was up and he would stand for no more “nonsense” from Michael McDowell. “Calm down, John. Calm down,” urged the Minister.

Talk about a red rag to a compassionately reared organic bull.

The Rumble in Ranelagh – it’s all anybody’s talking about today (er – was talking about yesterday – damn time zones).

Michael McDowell tries to re-hash his last election stunt, going up a pole while sliding down the polls.

Greenie John Gormley, looking eminently sensible in his breathable anorak,  shows up to pose a few ‘questions’ about McDowell’s interpretations of Green policy, which he claims are utter lies.  Cue massive political bitchfight, which the assembled journos lap up like cats that got the custard.  Moments like this confirm Election 2007 as Ireland’s most entertaining in decades.

For more see RTE’s coverage – see if you can spot the look of sheer glee on the face of RTE political correspondent Fergal Keane as the camera pans past him during the media melee.