When I say the Secret Service guy engaged me, I mean in a headlock…
So, that’s TWO consecutive wonderful weekends in Mayo for us!
WHAT A TIME TO BE ALIVE!
First Burke conquered Castlebar, then Biden charmed Ballina! I’m so glad we went! Even with the drama you had!
A great trip for the three of us… even the pub bore was bearable!
(They pause to smile wistfully at photos of Biden in Ballina)
Of course you HAD to get into trouble…
I felt we deserved to be up close and personal with Mr Biden!
Yeah, you were convinced that either the Editor or Joe Brolly would come good with press passes!
They’re insisting there was a misunderstanding…
You think they gave them to Frank Bran…
No conspiracy theories, please!
Anyway, we had a ball. Fair play to the pub bore for insisting we start off in Knock…
Yeah!
We got a glimpse of Joe Biden when he disembarked from the plane…
Yeah!
Then we tried to get ahead of the motorcade…
Say what you like about the pub bore, but he’s a nifty driver!
(They pause to discuss Roscommon v Galway this weekend, before returning to their Mayo musings)
Tell me again about that whole episode with the big Secret Service chap in Ballina… you really thought he’d let us into the VIP section?
I simply went up to him, ready to explain that we write in the biggest circulating newspaper in the region…
He reacted with the speed of a cheetah!
Yeah! I was saved – for once – by the pub bore!
I couldn’t see it all, not with the crowds…
Well, the Secret Service guy engaged me…
ENGAGED?
Okay, when I say engaged me, I mean in a headlock…
More like it!
Luckily, the pub bore explained who I was. Then he went on to talk to him about the founding fathers of America…
The Secret Service guy was cool with it all?
Well, as luck would have it, the pub bore spotted the Editor and Joe Brolly sitting in VIP seats near the podium, right beside Enda Kenny.
AND?
They came down and verified to the Secret Service that I wasn’t a threat.
I know we travelled home together, but you never told me where you watched Biden’s speech from…
Well, the Secret Service man marched me up to the VIP seats and joked: ‘Buddy, I like you, but I’m gonna sit you down beside another big giant of a man, just to make sure you don’t get over-exuberant!’
Beside ANOTHER Secret Service man?
NO! It was slightly awkward actually, as I was wearing my Roscommon GAA jersey. He plonked me down beside another VIP… Aidan O’Shea!
