“Is that our job rather than other peoples’?”

You’d be forgiven for thinking that Northern Irish are almost devoid of humour, especially when we are the butt of other people’s jokes. It’s as though we are always straining to see echos of Punch’s simianised caricatures of the 19th Century in every new poke at our sensibilities. Beano picks up the news that Ofcom is investigating Catherine Tate Show because it portrayed a Northern Irish family as terrorists in its Christmas edition (added above).

“The scene saw the family opening their Christmas presents, which included a balaclava, knuckleduster and an apron which showed a balaclava-wearing terrorist alongside the words “Remember Everything, Forgive Nothing”.

Beano’s right in at least one respect. It wasn’t that funny, though who can argue that the last part has absolutely no resonance in generality with people here?

But he’s also makes a salient point in another regard: “Northern Ireland needs to improve its image, certainly, but isn’t that our job rather than other people’s?”

Mick Fealty

Mick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty