JOKER JIM IS A STAND-UP GUY.

WELLS, Wells, Wells. Who would have thought that Jim Wells is a joker in the DUP's pack.

And if the Assembly ever falls, the boul Jim could carve out a new career for himself as a stand-up comedian. The South Down MLA certainly had me and scores of other guests at Stormont in stitches last week.

A short distance away in the real world of stormy Stormont, the Assembly members may have been squabbling about their budgets.

But the Long Gallery wasn't short of harmony at the all-party party organised by Rostrevor musician Tommy Sands to mark the completion of the Assembly's four year mandate.

While Danny Kennedy sang and Dominic Bradley was on the fiddle, Sinn Fein's Caitriona Ruane and Barry McElduff recited poems before Jim Wells told tales out of school.

He remembered how Sammy Wilson once wrote a speech for an un-named DUP backbencher who baffled everyone by saying that the closure of a school in Coleraine was "a fat accomplice" not realising that the words in front of him were actually "a fait accompli".

Jim also said that when the late politician Raymond McCullough asked the Speaker of an old Assembly if it was in order for a colleague (Willie McCrea) to act the eejit he was told, "He's not acting!"

But as well as tears of laughter, there were also tears of sorrow at Tommy's special night especially when he and his children, Moya and Fionan, sang several songs from his new album, Arising from the Troubles.

The first was about the murder of three policemen near Aughnacloy. The second was a tribute to "an absent friend" at Stormont - John Hume.

Several people who were there were associated with paramilitary groups.

UDA leader Jackie McDonald didn't perform but the new head of the PUP, Brian Ervine, showed he's got one helluva voice as he belted out his own song Leaving Dalriada which was a favourite with his late brother David.

Paul Marshall and Roy Arbuckle from the group Different Drums battered the bejazzus out of a Lambeg and a bodhran.

And Southern-based musicians Steve Cooney (Sinead O'Connor's husband) and John Sheahan, who's still going strong with the Dubliners, were also in fine form.

One of the most uplifting contributions came from Catholic and Protestant young people from the Ambassadors for Peace group from north and east Belfast who told us how they're working towards getting the so-called peace walls removed from Belfast by 2019, the 50th anniversary of the monstrosities going up.

Another highlight came from a comic genius who may be getting on in years but who hasn't lost his touch ... Crawford Howard, the man behind the hilarious Diagonal Steam Trap album.

Crawford's Fenian Record Player is a must-hear which has been the subject of much Internet chat down the years.

I remember reading a query from a German fan of the piece who wanted to know why the wee Prod in the poem had smashed a window on the Falls Road to "annoy the cobal row".

It was pointed out to him that what Crawford was really saying was to "annoy the Pope in Rome".

CAPTION: THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT: (clockwise from top) Moya Sands; Jim Wells and Catriona Ruane all did a turn at the all-party party