The mystery of how an Irish proverb found its way into a recent Brexit speech by EU president Donald Tusk may have been solved.

It has now emerged that the senior European politician's speechwriter is Co Cavan man Hugo Brady.

Speaking After meeting Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in Dublin last week Mr Tusk used the Irish language phrase "Ní neart go cur le chéile” which means “there is no strength without unity”.

A former Dublin City University journalism student, Mr Brady has a masters in economic science and a diploma in European law from the Law Society of Ireland.

He has worked with Mr Tusk for the last three years after spending time at the centre for European Reform, where he was a senior research fellow.

In the recent past Mr Brady has spoken highly of Ireland's diplomats and said it is the best prepared nation for the Brexit negotiations.