Most people would think being President of Ireland was a more than sufficient way to fill the day.Not Mary McAleese.
She's apparently been taking night classes in her spare time (and who ever thought Uachtarain, or whatever the plural is, had any of that?)
Last week, she popped along to Dublin's Milltown Institute to receive her Higher Diploma in Canon Law, instantly making women everywhere feel like total underachievers.
Here we are, bemoaning our lot as we struggle to keep all life's pesky little balls in the air, but Mary just sails through, effortlessly demonstrating her capacity to be the perfect wife, mother, world leader, bridge builder, and brain box.
And just to make matters worse, she's now embarked on a postgraduate MA in Catholic law as well. As you do.
Why stop there? If she's feeling at a loose end one evening, Mary could always start a chain of restaurants, sort out the global financial crisis, win an Oscar, coach her own camogie team to an All-Ireland Final, find the lost city of Shangri-La, sail single-handedly round the world in a teacup, or become the next JK Rowling -- and still be up early next morning to perform the pres's usual duties, such as meeting the Ambassador of Whereverland, and patronising the disadvantaged.
Could it be she's getting itchy feet?
Her predecessor famously went on to take up a better job on the world stage
Maybe Mary the Second's headed the same way. Though for her, all roads would definitely lead to Rome.
The diploma she got last week is often considered the first step on the road to the priesthood.
From the Aras to the Vatican: if anyone can, Mary can.
Pope Benedict, be warned!
Our last two presidents have a good track record of taking over institutions formerly dominated by men ...
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(Source: II)