TODAY WE LEARNED that One Direction star and Mullingar native Niall Horan is a pal of Longford-Westmeath Labour TD Willie Penrose.

Not only that, but Deputy Penrose was even mentioning Horan in Oireachtas debates as far back as 2010, when he called the young singer the “only positive” for Mullingar.

That wasn’t the only time Horan has been mentioned in the hallowed halls of Leinster House, and he’s not the only surprising celeb to have cropped up either…

Niall Horan, Bressie and Joe Dolan

In a Dáil debate on tourism promotion in November 2012 Deputy Robert Troy was bigging up the new mullingar.ie website, crticising the Government’s “neglect” of the midlands and hailing some of the town’s most famous sons:

International stars Niall Horan of One Direction and Niall Breslin come from Mullingar, as did the late, great Joe Dolan. The members of this group are doing it for themselves, they are not relying on the Government to market them.

Chuck Norris and Jackie Chan

In March 2012 Chuck Norris and Jackie Chan came up in a committee debate with school pupils about education and employment AS GAEILGE!

Ag smaoineamh faoi Chuck Norris agus Jackie Chan, b’fhéidir go mbeadh daoine difriúla ann as Éirinn, daoine le hainm mar Pheadar Ó Súilleabháin nó ainm éigean mar sin sna ealaíona comhraic.

Zig and Zag

In 1990 Brian Cowen demonstrated that he was a Zig and Zag fan

Twink

Twink got a mention, and the glad eye, in a 1994 Seanad debate with this exchange:

Mr. Enright:

… a much publicised case at the moment involved Twink, about whose home discussions are taking place….

An Cathaoirleach:

We are not dealing with Twink.

Mr Mooney:

Senator Enright is showing marvellous taste.

Mr. Enright:

She is a highly talented young lady.

Britney Spears

In a Dáil debate about the 2003 Civil Registration Bill Britney Spears got a mention when Bernard Durkan issued a BURN about her quickie Las Vegas marriage:

Deputy Paul McGrath rightly spoke about making it more convenient for people to register. Britney Spears had experience of marriage recently. I did not know if there would have been sufficient time to register that.

That prompted the Leas-Cheann Comhaire to remark:

It is not in order to make comments about people who are not Members of the House.

And then Fine Gael’s Pat Breen piped up:

The Deputy is a big fan of hers.

And back to Deputy Durkan:

While Britney Spears is definitely not a Member of the House, I was using an example of what might happen in the event that she became a Member of the House.

Britney Spears. A Member of the House. Gas.

So that’s Niall Horan, Niall Breslin, Joe Dolan, Chuck Norris, Jackie Chan, Zig, Zag, Twink and Britney Spears. Quite the motley crew.

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