AMID THE GIDDY excitement and white smoke in Vatican City yesterday, a late bid for the position of Pope gathered pace in Ireland.
Paddy ‘Rala’ O’Reilly, kitman for the Irish rugby team, was struck by a higher calling and appeared on the balconies of Carton House in this reverential get-up:
(Credit: Jamie Heaslip)
Jorge Bergoglio, now known as Pope Francis, pipped Rala to top spot as the conclave went Argentine.
Fortunately for one of Irish rugby’s most affable characters he has a Lions tour to Australia to look forward to.
