Ireland could be Don for in grave new world

AS he was taken on a VIP tour of the 1.8 million square feet of the Great Hall of the People, Micheal Martin could have been forgiven for wondering what the weather in Beijing is like in mid-March.

- NEIL LESLIE

China's leaders laid on such a céad míle fáilte for the Taoiseach this week that he could find himself wistful for a return trip to the People's Republic come St Patrick's Day.

The grand state rooms were even bedecked in EU flags as well as Irish tricolours as the man from the People's Republic of Cork found himself feted by the three most powerful figures in the Chinese Communist Party.

Compare that to what awaits him if he is lucky enough to make it onto the White House guest list along with Conor McGregor this year.

As the Chinese dictatorship was love-bombing the incoming EU Council President from Ireland, the wannabe US emperor was firebombing a sovereign nation and kidnapping its head of state, all from the comfort of his holiday home TV room.

The reality show of the snatching of the vile Nicolas Maduro held his attention for only as long as it played out on his giant screens.

Within minutes he had moved to warning other nations like Colombia and Cuba to "watch their ass".

It took just hours for his deranged lust for real estate to turn on a NATO ally and EU member.