The Diary, Ken Sweeney - Scene and heard

Irma Mali

Brendan Courtney

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* There were murmurs of discontent about the inclusion of Dublin band The Script in the nominations for the Choice Music Prize which took place in Vicar Street last Wednesday night. But their inclusion did add a bit of glamour, particularly singer Danny O'Donoghue's girlfriend Irma Mali (left). Thinking perhaps she was attending The Brit Awards, the stunning model turned up in a full length black silky gown. Not quite the wardrobe for Dublin indie.

* The former Cookes Restaurant on South William St will reopen as The Gourmet Burger Kitchen on 11 March. Westlife's Nicky Byrne is among the VIPs expected to attend the opening and post burger bash thrown by owners Graeme Beere and Denis Desmond in Renards.

* Irish viewers of BBC's Newsnight got a shock on Thursday night when RTE's Off The Rails presenter Brendan Courtney (above) popped up in a report about the Bank Of England. No, we're not making this up. To prove the general public knew nothing about a financial practice called "quantitative easing" – basically banks making more money – a BBC reporter went onto the street to do a quick vox pop. Their first target was our Brendan who proved as gormless about the subject as everyone else.