Enda Kenny is, apparently, now a stock photo for 'ugly' technology.

In a Guardian technology comment piece titled "Disappointing tech: When did the future get so ugly?" the leading picture is Enda Kenny - but not as we know him.

There sits the Taoiseach, wearing the bulky virtual reality device called the Oculus Rift, set against the infinite wonder of space - with a Photoshop "outer glow" effect to give him the aura of a benevolent god.

The photo was originally taken at a technology jobs announcement in January, and is captioned with "It’s time to ask – what the hell happened?" – a valid question for the Guardian photo desk.

The oddball stock photo - credited to the Guardian despite originally being taken by the Press Association - was spotted by several Irish users.

Our head of government being used in such an unusual manner was pointed out by several commenters on the Guardian site – (with less than complimentary comments about the Taoiseach).

Heading into an election year, at least our Taoiseach can take some solace in the fact that he has a backup career as a model if the polls don't go his way.