Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is making a habit of picking up sporting jerseys during this year's St Patrick's celebrations in the United States. On Monday, Mr Ahern came away with a couple from the Jesuits of Le Moyne College in Syracuse in New York State
Yesterday, the mayor of Baltimore, the Kennedyesque Martin O'Malley was the one to present new sports gear to Mr Ahern.
However, the selection of a replica of the jersey worn by Baltimore Ravens' linebacker, Ray Lewis, raised eyebrows among local reporters.
Lewis, who has, to put it mildly, a colourful reputation, was charged with murder a few years ago following a row outside an Atlanta pub.
Lewis eventually made a plea agreement with prosecutors and pleaded guilty to an obstruction of justice charge, and testified against two friends. He served a year of probation, but avoided doing any time in jail.
Presenting some gifts in return, the Taoiseach said he had closely studied the musical record of the mayor, who is the lead singer in a band called, not so modestly, "O'Malley's March" - which played in Dublin last year.
Mr Ahern said he had decided that the mayor had drawn musical inspiration from The Pogues and, thus, presented him with a CD collection of the works of Shane McGowan. Happily taking the wrapping off his parcels, the mayor replied: "We're going to crank this up in the mayor's office for the next 48 hours."
