Talk of the Town: Sparks fly over TIE's battery of PR people

But perhaps in a sign of things to come, one of the men working for the council's tram company, TIE, has been given the title "head of politics". Mike Connelly, who until recently was TIE's media and public affairs manager, has been handed the intriguing job description.

Mandy Haeburn-Little, director of customer services and communications for the tram project, said: "The 'head of politics' was a working title for a role which looks after this aspect of our communication function and has not been finalised as a title."

She added: "All credit to the Evening News, who are the only external source to pick up on this. The role is, of course, separate to what the Evening News refers to as my battery of PR people – of which there are two."

Lost in a cloud of alcohol

HEN and stag parties staggering from pub to pub in matching T-shirts are hardly an unusual sight in the Capital. Yet drinkers in several city centre bars were forced into a double-take by one visiting hen night at the weekend, and not, unusually, because of any particularly outrageous behaviour

Dressed in tiaras and matching tops, there appeared nothing unusual about the group, until they turned their backs – to reveal the legend "Dublin 2010".

No, they had to explain to more than one joker, they were not lost – just victims of the volcanic ash.

First time for first aid

THEY say it's always good to learn a new skill. And that was certainly the case for Steven Gregory.

Only an hour after completing a First Aid course at Oatridge College in West Lothian, the 41-year-old countryside ranger arrived at Almondell Country Park, four miles from the College, and heard that one of the team had suffered a blow to the head from the branch of a tree.

Much better, on reflection

AS ANY unlucky lady who has spent an unbearable amount of time queuing to powder her nose during a night out at the theatre would say, facilities for the fairer sex can often be a bit on the miserly side.

Architects behind the new Usher Hall revamp have clearly taken this information on board, doing away with the sparse cubicles of old and fitting something far grander.

As well as being bright, airy and featuring improved disabled access, female theatre-goers will be delighted to hear it also boasts a curved corridor of cubicles so long that it almost seems endless.

And they will be doubly pleased to hear that, unlike a lot of spectacular sights at the theatre, it has not been done with mirrors.