As news spread on Facebook and Twitter last night of a woman and a 15 year old girl injured outside a Fine Gael TD’s office it was interesting to see the media response. Despite no journalists on the scene of either the protests in Trim town or at TD Ray Butler’s home, RTÉ’s political staffer Mícheál Lehane was able to provide the following: FG TD Ray Butler says his family … Read More
We All Clandestine Partied.
News from the Employment Appeals Tribunal today reveals that AIB held “clandestine parties” for staff following the state’s €30bn bailout of the zombie institution. Michael Glennon is the disgruntled former employee who, among other evidence of his employment, revealed that he had been invited to the behind-closed-doors Bankanalia. Interestingly, the report carried in the Irish Independent stands in contrast to their failure to report or even attend an Employment Appeals Tribunal … Read More
Beaten By Derp.
We were writing a blogpost: "Derp or Wum? Pat Kenny and The Establishment call protestors criminals." Derp beat us. Tom 'Thatcherite' Parlon, Lise "Slate the Left" Hand, Mairead "Expenses" McGuinnes MEP and Pat the Plank continue the Irish media's Week of Wum. A right-wing circle jerk so obtuse we admit defeat and can only leave it here for you to gick over. From 20 mins, fiver to the first person who makes it to … Read More
When Hacks Attack.
Harry Browne spoke to Nick Davies – an award winning investigative journalist central to breaking the News Of The World phone scandal – about which he’s just published hack attack and the extraordinary vignette of Bono and Murdoch playing bridge together. HB: In Flat Earth News you popularised the term ‘churnalism’ to describe the cheap cut-and-paste on behalf of PR and powerful interests that increasingly fills newspapers. Hack Attack is … Read More
#meEJit: Stephen Collins Telling It Like It Isn’t.
In Today’s Irish Times Stephen Collins, the most dangerous man in Ireland, reports on Enda Kenny’s incoherent ramblings at a book launch. He manages to cram a delusion into each short paragraph. We took a moment and tore them apart. “Taoiseach Enda Kenny has defended the Economic Management Council (EMC), saying it played a vital role in enabling the country to avert economic disaster.” Stephen brushing aside Ireland’s economic … Read More
Fine Gael and Fiddling Facebook.
What’s that old saying about digging a hole? After much online hilarity, Fine Gael claimed earlier today they were spammed by large numbers of inauthentic Facebook users last night. What happened? The Wicklow based TD Simon Harris logged on for a post-Budget discussion but was greeted with a total lack of interest. Then thousands of users, predominantly overseas, began to like the post immediately. Online commentators were quick to … Read More
Direct Questions.
The headline in Saturday’s Irish Times was disappointing. It turns out it was also incorrect. Stephen Collins misrepresented the Ipsos MRBI poll carried out for the IT when he wrote: A majority of voters believe asylum seekers should be kept under direct State provision rather than being allowed to work or claim benefits, according to the latest Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI poll. Asked what they think should happen, 54 per cent said … Read More
Colemanballs.
If you have to steal one book from the library this year make it this one. Julien Mercille’s definitive analysis of the Irish media’s propagandist publishing in favour of an increasingly wealthy and powerful elite. Yes, yes there’s a special section on Marc Coleman. Check the reviews before you fork over the €112 on Amazon: “One of the most important political economy books of the year… Set to become the … Read More
The Clash Of The Ash.
Now We’re Hurling – Episode 1 from DCTV on Vimeo. Those grassroots media making die hards in Dublin Community TV have just upped this cut of an odd ball TV documentary that combines hurling with hip-hop. The series follows rabble’s favourite Kilkenny hurling nut Captain Moonlight as he traipses around Dublin’s concrete suburbs puzzling out the capital’s sudden passion for the puck. Along the way, he meets some familiar Dublin … Read More
The Baffler Goes Online.
Cranky mid-90’s alternative lefty rag The Baffler’s just put all its back issues online for the first time with a bang new website. Considered razor sharp in its day, there’s a treasure trove for print nerds to work through. The magazine published some game changing pieces. Thomas Frank’s What’s The Matter With Kansas? grabbed the issue of elctorates voting against their own interests by the scruff of the neck. And plenty of … Read More