TDs choose Cohen concert over fallout
Monday June 16 2008
Leonard Cohen's first appearance in Ireland in 20 years proved too good to miss for both the winners and the losers in the Lisbon Treaty vote.
As their government colleagues reeled from the rejection of the treaty, Bertie Ahern and Justice Minister Dermot Ahern forgot their troubles at the sold-out Kilmainham gigs.
It was a beaming and upbeat Gerry Adams who took his seat hours after the side he'd backed was declared the winner.
The Justice Minister and Sinn Fein leader were among the 10,000 who attended on the first of the three sold-out performances by the 73-year-old Canadian over the weekend.
Bono and his wife Ali, along with pal Guggi, were also at the gig which was already being branded legendary before the final encore.
U2 manager Paul McGuinness and his wife were in the crowd as were Gerry Ryan and his family.
It was last night before former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern made it to see Mr Cohen.
The man whose long goodbye is being cited as a factor in the government losing the referendum put aside his woes for a few hours at least.
It was a brief respite. Bertie is due back in the Mahon Tribunal for another grilling this week while his successor and team deal with the fallout from the people's verdict on Lisbon.
