The Irish in Britain, including those of Irish descent, make up a significant part of the UK population. Here, you will find news, entertainment, events, sports and features from the local Irish Post newspaper.

WHEN the coalition government was formed in Ireland in the wake of the General Election I immediately had this vision of Taoiseach Bertie Ahern singing his version of The Green Green Grass Of Home in front of a karaoke machine in his local boozer in Dublin.

I could even see Tony Blair accompanying him on guitar now that he has nothing else to do with Cherie swaying her hips and dreamily doo-wapping on backing vocals and John Prescott propping up the bar leering at the local talent.

It would go something along the lines of:

The old hometown looks so green As I wake up from my dream And there to greet me is my old friend John (Gormley) with Trevor (Sargent) Down the road I look and there’s Enda Kenny Looking lost like Crossroad’s Benny It’s so good to touch the green green grass of home Chorus (all together now) Yes they’ll all come to meet me Back-stabbers smiling sweetly It’s so good to touch The green green grass of home.

Only Bertie could have pulled off such a coalition.

As I write there are probably people planning to set-up even more political parties now with a view to getting Mercs and perks after the next General Election when they will be needed for another coalition.

Come to think of it I might start one myself because my own car will need replacing by then.

If U-turns were an Olympic sport we would be drowning under gold and silver medals.

I suppose it is reassuring to know that in this fast-changing world some things never change.

Speaking of government changes I heard a recent phone-in programme inviting suggestions for leaving presents for Tony Blair and John Prescott.

The only sensible thing I could come up with was a whip-around to send them on solo back-packing holidays in Iraq wearing I Love George Bush T-shirts two weeks for John Prescott and four weeks for Tony Blair.