A number of weapons were produced during the row at a hotel in Rathnew.

The brawl at the country house hotel was reported to Gardai shortly after eleven o'clock last night.

A large number of people were involved and it's understood that slash-hooks, knives, machetes and pick axes were produced during the fight.

Gardaí from Wicklow and Wexford were called to the scene, and the garda helicopter was also dispatched.

The scene has now been sealed off for technical examination.

So far there have been no arrests.’

……………………….

Which reminds me!

I have two weddings to attend shortly.

Must do a check-list to ensure I arrive prepared:

invitations ; hotel reservations ; gifts ; camera ; machete ; pick-axe.

Yes! Now I’m all ready!

……………..

 

And while I’m in that kind of mood ….

A friend told me recently of a house where Mass is occasionally and secretly celebrated by a ‘failed priest’ .. or rather, one sent to ‘Limbo’ with a question mark over his head over some recent court proceedings.

‘The blinds are all drawn first and the doors locked!’ it was explained.

Now, I’ve heard of the ‘fashion police’ –

indeed they’ve been after me and Paul Hoben this fair while. 

But Vatican storm-troopers forcing entry to the above house on the occasion of a private Mass?

I doubt it.

Still I allowed my mind to wander and the image insisted itself upon my brain …

The heavy clunck-clunck-thump as helicopters hovered overhead ….

Then ropes lowered and the riot troopers swarming down to the ground ..

The tinkling of glass from breaking windows as several plastic baton rounds smashed through bedroom windows, followed by smoking canisters of CS gas …

Screams as old ladies, clutching their rosary beads dived for cover beneath the nearest bed ..

Fully-equipped, heavily-armed Swiss Guards – in ornamental uniforms – but wielding Tazar guns and 4-foot long batons, smashing their way through locked doors ..

Have I been reading too many Dan Browne thrillers recently?

Or is it others who have this penchant for drama?