Celebrity

These days, if you spot a celebrity, you can log on to the Popbitch messageboard and post your sighting, prostrating yourself before the particular brand of cruel humour prevalent amongst its residents. Unfortunately, as Northern Ireland only has two celebrities (James Nesbitt and Hugo Duncan, if you were wondering), we have to make do with sighting the many politicians that "govern" this land. A good conversation can arise from the sighting of an MP, Euro MP or MLA, a brief silence can be filled by mentioning the sighting of a councillor or similar lesser demagogue.

So, without further ado, I present the pop:
Sinn Fein's Gerry McHugh
Incumbent Chairman of Fermanagh District Council and Mayor of five councils.
Gerry was seen at Fermanagh Enterprise Centre, attending the last module of Invest Northern Ireland's Start a Business programme (formerly known as the Business Start programme). The module focused on tax and outlined obligations to the Inland Revenue.

And the bitch:
Gerry and a fellow student were complaining about paying tax and resenting that it "ends up lining someone's pocket". I suggested that if they visualise their taxes contributing to the salary of an NHS nurse they may find it a little more bearable, to which they agreed.

The opportunity to study a Sinn Fein councillor in such close proximity arises rarely, and allowed me to challenge any dormant prejudices I may be harbouring. I was surprised to find myself looking for a reaction every time "Her Majesty" was mentioned (which was often, especially in regard to the newly formed department of Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs). It was wrong of me to expect ranking Republicans to exhibit the same behaviour in everyday life as on "Hearts and Minds".