Even Mary Wilson lightened up – Radio Moment of the Week

Radio moment of the week Once seen as a counter-cultural figure, Luke “Ming” Flanagan, independent TD for Roscommon and south Leitrim, has gradually become an old-fashioned parish pump populist, if Wednesday’s appearance on The Last Word (Today FM, weekdays) is anything to go by. Incensed by a government threat to prosecute those who cut turf on protected bogs in contravention of EU regulations, he laid into Jimmy Deenihan, Minister for Heritage. Flanagan had an impressive array of facts at his disposal as he complained that it would now be near-impossible to cut turf in his constituency. But it was his strident argot that stood out. “Stop bowing your head and stand up to Europe. Show a bit of balls, please.”