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Leo Varadkar was up to his eyes in sh*te yesterday, but it had nothing to do with any political controversy. He was literally up to his eyes in sh*te.

Spectators at the annual Irish Bog Snorkelling Championships in Doohamlet in Monaghan probably got out a kick out of the Transport, Tourism and Sport Minister wading his way through mounds of sh*te and dirty water, but it was all in good fun as Leo proved to be a very decent competitor in the surprisingly popular event.

Leo and Fine Gael TD Sean Conlan at the bog snorkelling yesterday. Pic via Twitter/Aine McMahon

According to the Sunday Times, Varadkar completed the 110 metre course in a time of 2 minutes and 26 seconds, just over a minute off the Irish record of one minute and 24 seconds and enough to earn him a top ten finish on the day.

A spokesman for Varadkar told the paper: “It’s exactly the type of event the minster wants local communities to organise and it proves you don’t have to be in a top tourism destination to attract visitors.”

As well as being a bit of craic, there was a charitable element to the events as funds raised on the day will be spent on cancer treatment for Cian Connolly, a young boy from County Monaghan.

Varadkar will no doubt be pleased with his performance on the day, but some sceptics will say that as a politician, his experience in being full of sh*t on a regular basis gave him an unfair advantage over the rest of the field.

Hat-tip to Aine McMahon for the photo.