Humour
“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 »
Off with her head?
UPDATE – video of the ‘execution’: It has variously been described as tasteless, juvenile, pathetic, street theatre and much more – tomorrow éirígí intend to chop Elizabeth Windsor’s head off in the centre of Dublin. more »
“All we’re doing is speaking very frankly and bluntly…”
In The Guardian Decca Aitkenhead interviews the rational thinking AC Grayling on the publication of his latest book – “The Good Book: A Secular Bible“. And he has this to say on atheists, and criticism from supernaturalists. From the Guardian interview Atheists, according to Grayling, divide into three broad categories. There are those for whom this [...] more »
Fine Gael appoint Minister for Happiness…
And, now I’ve heard it all. David Cameron wants a Happiness Index, now Fine Gael (rather belatedly) appoint a Minister for Happiness, the comedian Jarleth Regan. Presser below: An Taoiseach, Mr. Enda Kenny, T.D., has announced the appointment of Mr. Jarlath Regan as the Minister of State with responsibility for happiness; a newly created Ministerial [...] more »
“Exercising our right to walk the Queen’s highway..”
Right, this is just too good miss. Monaghan man Frank McNally on Ireland in 100 Euphemisms… My favourites: 12; 17; 30; 32; 47; 61; 77; 78; 81; 86; 87; 90; 99. more »
“Riddikulus!”
In the News Letter, Alex Kane calls the new TD for Louth, and still Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead, Gerard Adams, on his party’s, self-declared, “ongoing reconquest of Ireland“. From the News Letter article. Sinn Fein’s greatest skill remains its ability to bluff with a poor hand. It always talks and acts [...] more »
“Theirs is a vote for equality…”
One of the new TDs for Louth, and still Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead, Gerard Adams, has thanked all those who voted for his party. “I want to thank everyone who worked for Sinn Féin and all those citizens who voted for us. “Theirs is vote is a vote for equality, [...] more »
“Beards, fries, but no government…”
Crooked Timber’s Ingrid Robeyns ironically congratulates Belgium on setting a new world record without a government. As, indeed, do the Belgian people… 250 days and counting! Here’s a short CNN interview with Flemish comedian Geert Hoste And from a Guardian report On Thursday the word in Brussels was there would be fresh elections in April, a ballot likely to [...] more »
An anarchist speaks: “The only one that adheres to my policies is Fianna Fail”
H/T Malcolm… Great video via Alex Massie… more »
“at least those smartarses from Vanity Fair didn’t notice the pencils…”
Prompted by Michael Lewis’ recent lengthy, and somewhat controversial, article on Ireland in Vanity Fair, Frank McNally takes the opportunity in his Irishman’s Diary to provide a, possibly apocryphal, account of the parliamentary vote which led to the glass partition in the public gallery in the Dáil. From the Irish Times article Thus I suspect reports that [...] more »
Jeremy, Plaid Cymru and how to do economic competence
I have to confess to being something of a fan of Jeremy Paxman but his smugness can occasionally require use of the TV brick or alternatively a viewing of this excerpt from Newsnight below. It is quite an old clip, having originally been posted by Dewi (Slugger’s Welsh + Rugby correspondent) around election time and [...] more »
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