Humour
“Don’t blame me – I was only the taoiseach.”
As Crooked Timber’s Maria Farrell says, “words to live by”, people. In today’s Irishman’s Diary, Frank McNally offers a “history of Ireland in 100 excuses”. 78. We made those pre-election promises in good faith. It was only in government we realised how bad the country’s finances were. 79. It was a complex but legitimate business [...] more »
How it feels to be Irish these days?
With all the intense focus around Scottish devolution here on Slugger, we missed what has to be the best blog post of the week on Storyful… another tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. As someone once said. more »
It’s maybe not his Romeyness, but perhaps it’s his Mittness?
The Daily ShowGet More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook Somewhat after the fact, but worth it for the crack… more »
If you are *really* sorry, have this on my desk by Tuesday week..
How many times have we looked for and not got an apology from a serving politician? No ‘S’ word from Martin or Gerry, or the Doc. We’re still waiting for one for Tom’s car crash election night speech. And whilst Big Al tried to make a go of it last night on Newsline, it seems [...] more »
“Until further notice (see Preamble post-script), the Houses of the Oireachtas shall have a room containing an elephant.”
As the eurozone slides into the abyss, there’s just time for some light relief – courtesy of Frank McNally’s Irishman’s Diary in the Irish Times. Article 6 The name of the State is Eire, or in the English language, Ireland. The Government may, however, enter into periodic commercial agreements with regard to naming rights. Thereafter, the [...] more »
“If elected president, does Mr Higgins plan to expand the review section?”
In his Irish Times’ Irishman’s Diary Frank McNally pre-empted John’s complaint with some questions about Irish Presidential candidate Michael D Higgins’ dubious past. From the Irish Times As the presidential campaign grew dirtier, it was inevitable that, sooner or later, somebody would raise the poetry issue. No surprise that the somebody was Gay Mitchell. The [...] more »
Gay Mitchell is a Presidential candidate
(This may not be him) more »
“Let’s raise a single eyebrow to our next president.”
In the Irish Times, Ann Marie Hourihane identifies the best candidate for the job – Sir Roger Moore. Roger Moore is handsome; he looks great in a blazer, which is not as easy as you might think. He is good humoured and has charidee experience as a Unicef goodwill ambassador, a role which he has [...] more »
Euro crisis: As seen by…
I’m not sure where he found it, but Philip Lane has posted this amusing graphic at the Irish Economy blog as the EU’s existential crisis continues. Heh. more »
“The Borgias couldn’t give a stuffed fig about sense”
If Camelot was anything to go by the actual series will fail to match the promise of the review and will be cancelled after one season. Until then enjoy another epic review, this time of The Borgias, by Sarah Dempster at the Guardian’s TV blog. Created by director Neil Jordan, The Borgias is a potboiler [...] more »
A poem for the day – The Pipe-bomber
This is another one from the late 90s, that I think is a response to or expression of a sense of depression at the low-level post-ceasefires violence from loyalist organisations that didn’t ‘get it’ or see anything in the ‘process’ for themselves or were just too plain sectarian to care (delete as applicable). Though I [...] more »
A fundie holiday
I saw a few people had noted my absence from blogging: I thought I owed the massed ranks of sluggerites who actually have no real interest an explanation. I was on holiday: after the twelfth of course. We went to Ballyronan for the 12th itself and as ever had a good time. Most of our [...] more »
Friday Thread: Hey (Father) Joe, where you going? St Pats Knock, 1976.
Right, many of you won’t make much of this. But if you are anywhere near fifty, you’ll certainly remember the music (taken from the Pound Club, behind Roddy’s and opposite the bus station in Oxford Street, I think. It turns out to be “The Pieces of Eight” in Anne Street) and that unforgettable mid 70s look. For [...] more »
POTD – Bar Stool Republican
One of the “events” at Flatlake Literary Festival was a Gonzo Zoo which had actors playing various caricatures of the Irish. From the unemployed builder, to the Irishman abroad and as pictured the Bar Stool Republican. There was also a liberal left winger, an angsty singer song writer and a pair of boy racers, complete [...] more »
Tweet of the Day (ah, well, yesterday)…
From my old mucker from Queens, Ciaran O’Kelly (in response to a question I asked on Slugger’s Facebook page): Dear @SluggerOToole: Ireland is NOT A PLC. (it is a wholly owned subsidiary of its past). You can follow Ciaran on @ctokelly…. more »
A Dubliner’s Diary: The Visit…
“When The Visit was first announced, I guess most Irish people were a bit surprised that such a high-profile guest would be coming to Dublin. It’s not that they aren’t welcome, but there was a lot of animosity about stuff that happened in the past. Some people will never get past the association with the [...] more »
Moldova was robbed!
In the end, Azerbaijan won Eurovision 2011. Jedward finished a creditable 8th and Blue managed 11th place. But how could anyone have failed to award the gloriously bizarre Moldovan entry, So Lucky by Zdob și Zdub, a well deserved douze points! Enjoy. more »
Midlife crisis man
I am 40 this year. Even typing that seems almost unbelievable. However, despite attempts to brow beat my mother into admitting that she got my, and my younger sister’s dates of birth wrong way round, I have had to admit that I am indeed middle aged. I was the last year to do O levels [...] more »
Zombie thread
It is election time and as such I wish to continue the tradition I began last May by discussing monsters. Last time it was werewolves: this year it is going to be zombies. I have discussed zombies before but I think we need another thread on this issue. Whilst on holiday for the last couple [...] more »
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Books
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Of the Old North and other Vanished Kingdoms..
I’m currently trawling through Norman Davies’s fabulous new tome – “Vanished Kingdoms” – Five stars in the (London) Telegraph’s review from Ben Wilson: All the nations that have ever lived have left their footsteps in the sand,” writes Norman Davies. “The traces fade with every tide, the echoes grow faint, the images are fractured, the human [...] read our review » -
Legion of the Rearguard – Dissident Irish Republicanism by Martyn Frampton, Book Review
Are you confused about ‘dissident’ Irish Republicanism? Anxious about its existence and its seemingly increasingly deadly capabilities? Martyn Frampton’s new book, Legion of the Rearguard: Dissident Irish Republicanism (Irish Academic Press, 2011) serves both as a primer on active dissident groups and a timely analysis of their historic significance and contemporary capabilities. This book clears [...] read our review »
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Children of the Revolution (Bill Rolston)
What was life like for children of political activists during the Troubles? A new book by Bill Rolston and published by Guildhall Press during the summer has collected together the stories of twenty Children of the Revolution whose parents’ activities – and in many cases, imprisonment – had a significant affect on childhoods and life [...] read our review »
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