IN THE battle of the Fine Gael notice-boxes, it appears that first-time deputy Peter Mathews is gaining the upper hand over veteran show-off Bernard Durkan.

We had resolved not to mention Peter’s latest little episode at the weekly parliamentary party meeting, but he unwittingly provided a metaphor for his leader’s uncharacteristic behaviour by producing a large candle to mark his very first year as an all-growed-up politician.

The candle was passed to the top table, but party chairman Charlie Flanagan didn’t light it. This was on health and safety grounds, as the room was jam-packed and Charlie is aware that one should never have a naked flame near noxious fumes.

We hope that the Taoiseach, who attended the meeting, took Peter’s new candle home. Because Enda has been burning the one he currently has at both ends, and it’s beginning to show.

On Thursday, his cranky and rather petulant response to this week’s embarrassing but minor “Stargate” mishap startled observers more used to the Taoiseach’s disarming brand of brio.

Patient, engaging and upbeat: amiability is Enda’s stock in trade and it’s serving him well, both at home and abroad.

On the eve of his first year as Taoiseach, he should have been his chirpy self. Instead, he was tying himself in knots over his knowledge of an idiotic photo opportunity designed to sprinkle fairy dust over Fine Gael’s first year in power.

“This is a non-event, this is a non-event,” he growled at a press conference, showing his irritation when asked about the suddenly abandoned photocall. “This is a non-story. It’s a non-story . . . This was a matter that was organised or promoted slightly over-enthusiastically by Fine Gael. I do not regard it as an appropriate celebration of a year in office.”

Ironically, the Taoiseach has been celebrating throughout his year in office with an endless succession of feel-good photo-ops, some more daft than others.

So while his colleagues circled the wagons around their leader and unconvincingly blustered that he hadn’t urged them at the meeting to attend the photocall the next morning, Enda’s love affair with the soft-focus lens would tend to suggest he’s lost the power to discriminate the mere naff from the screamingly crass when it comes to PR snaps.

That none of the highly paid salary-cap busters in Fine Gael’s backroom team spotted the danger is astonishing. The insensitivity of the plan to get deputies and senators to pose in Merrion Square holding up big coloured stars “detailing Fine Gael achievements in government” was flagged as early as the teatime news on Wednesday, when RTÉ’s David McCullough wondered what the Labour Party would make of it.

It was then discussed at the parliamentary party meeting, when objections were raised. Numerous objections were apparently voiced, although Waterford’s John Deasy is the only name in the mix.

It’s unusual that the other objectors haven’t made it into the public domain, given that it would go down well with the public.

After the meeting, we hear reservations were expressed by furious party members in the bar.

Meanwhile, the matter was further ventilated on the the Vincent Browne television show.

Still, none of the West Wingsalary-cap busters stirred themselves.

On Thursday morning, newspaper reports made hay. And Pat Rabbitte, in sparkling form, made mincemeat of Fine Gael’s little wheeze.

When it was abandoned (more stupid excuses, until default mode was triggered and a press officer was dumped on), Enda said he only found out about the photocall that morning. At its kindest, this is highly improbable.

The Taoiseach’s grouchy response when questioned about the cancelled event and his flustered sounding replies at the press conference were not in character.

Above all, he looked totally worn out.

Time, maybe, to light Peter’s fresh candle.

One end only.