It is not the poverty
Of soil in Leitrim that makes me raise my hat
To fools with fifty pounds in a paper bank” (Lough Derg, Kavanagh)
A friend of mine is fond of saying, “he who tires of Bray, tires of life”. And there’s more than a line of truth in that one. As for myself, today […]

IBEC’s Turlough O’Sullivan has an unfortunate ideological quirk but it is treatable.  It seems he can’t say the words ‘low-paid’ without inserting ’so-called’ before them.  In fact, he has trouble using the actual words ‘low-paid’, only managing to say ‘lower-paid’. Still, his condition dictates that he still inserts ’so-called’ before them.  Mark Hennessy describes this condition […]

From the American political blogosphere - an interesting concept (actually the religious-political-progressive blogosphere). Yes, American religious-progressive.
With all the European media focused on Governor Sarah Palin and her supporters (Rush Limbaugh calling on all those who believe in ‘babies, guns and Jesus’ to support her), it’s important to keep in mind that religion in America […]

Obama’s nomination acceptance speech last Thursday (text | video) was never going to fall flat on its face. Compared to previous set piece events, the rhetoric was toned down and the content improved - all delivered in an electric atmosphere with the stadium backdrop shouting either confidence or hubris, depending on your optimism about the […]

I don’t know Dr. Gerry Burke.  Were he to walk past me on the street, I wouldn’t know him.  So, please, someone point him out.  I want to buy him a pint.  For Dr Burke has been going around getting himself disliked in certain circles.  He has made a complaint to the Competition Authority, […]

You can pick your friends but not your friends’ friends. Out last night with some of the former who brought some of the latter and, of course, their conversation turned to the recession. And those of the latter were real Euro-jockeys, propounding such thoughtful gems as ‘trade unions are sapping our vitals’. […]

Being the third and final part of a dérive through Dublin with a map of Paris.

Place Pigalle: Vibrant, albeit a little rundown, Pigalle tends to attract large groups of Americans, and, as a result, there is a great deal of anti-American feeling among the residents and artists. Much of the artwork was, frankly, disappointing: Most […]

The Wisdom of Old Men Has Been Earned. Is Not Just Bloody Senility!
Although lovely Holy pissing Ireland has always shunned bigheads and know-it-alls and have always been suspicious of thinking, up the country you will still find a great deal of respect for the job of teacher, especially as a job for ugly spinster girls […]

There are any number of issues that should be tackled in recession times. I won’t list them, you know them. But bashing EU regulations is not one of them, especially when you indulge in that great Tory, ‘Little Englander’ chicken-little past-time of fabricating regulations that don’t exist, just to have a bash.
And […]

Journalists are too often criticised for being pessimistic, lacking balance and failing to take due recognition of good news. One Irish Independent writer referred to this alleged phenomenon as the “doom and gloom blackout of the Irish Times”.
Admittedly, few journalists are known for injecting humour into their work, without, that is, compromising the integrity of […]