By, by birdie

A sudden by-election was narrowly averted in Dublin North last weekend. Labour deputy Sean Ryan was inspecting the sand dunes at Portmarnock, which have been the subject of much controversy over the years, when a golf ball whizzed by within inches of his head. It came from the direction of Royal Portmarnock Club. When it landed on the beach he went to retrieve it. It bore the logo of the PDs.