Blem Over to Urban Dictionary

Paige Harrison at BlankPaige is asking Dubliners to blem over to Urban Dictionary, and give a thumbs up to defining ‘blem’ as ‘an exhortation to make a short, swift journey; e.g. will you blem down to the off-licence for me?’ At the moment, ‘blem’ has been hijacked by Londoners who think it is a cigarette. >>>

Save Sodomy from Ulster

Ian Paisley Junior today declared himself to be ‘pretty repulsed by gay and lesbianism’. Thirty years ago his grim dad ran a gay campaign to ‘Save Ulster from Sodomy’. While this primitive phobia puts the Paisleys on a par with the Pope, it’s not the first time that it has got young Ian into hot water. >>>

Bertie Ahern and the Magic Briefcase

Once upon a time, a nice boy called Bertie was given a magic briefcase. It could change money into different amounts, and nobody knew how. The story began when another boy called Michael came to visit his pal Bertie.

Michael put UK£30,000 into the magic briefcase, and gave it to Bertie. Both of the pals thought it still contained UK£30,000. Actually, it now contained just over UK£28,620 plus some pence. Neither of them noticed the coins that made up the extra pence, because it was a magic briefcase. >>>

The Irishman who Invented the Penalty Kick

An Armagh man invented the penalty kick in 1890. A village team, Milford Everton, were bottom of the first ever Irish league table. But their goalkeeper, Willie McCrum, was about to change football for ever. >>>

The Power of Alphabetical Voting

Could this explain the Ahern era? You have a better chance of becoming a TD if your surname starts with a letter early in the alphabet. And Byrne is the most electable Irish surname. Maybe Gaybo picked the wrong career. >>>

Quiz – Remember Wanderly Wagon?

Nostalgia quiz! How many of the cast of Wanderly Wagon can you remember? Who played O’Brien, Godmother, Rory, Forty-Coats and Dr. Astro? And what were the names of the horse, O’Brien’s dog, the cuckoo-clock crow, the fox and the snake? Answers just a click away. >>>

Bono Finds God Living in a Cardboard Box

Bono finds God living in a cardboard box. But what on earth is God doing there? Listen to Bono make an impassioned sermon that unintentionally makes a strong argument for atheism.


Hurling Rules Ban Drunken Violence

Cork and Clare hurlers put on a sober display of stick-fighting before yesterday’s All-Ireland quarter-final. This type of thing has been a problem since at least 1869, when the first rules of hurling banned drunken violence by players. >>>

Ireland is a One-Party State

Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Taoiseach! Fianna Fáil have now won six general elections in a row. In the quarter century from 1987-2012, they will have been in power for 90% of the time. Fine Gael last won a general election in 1982, and will soon be seeking their first win in thirty years. It’s no wonder the national anthem begins with the words We are Fianna Fáil. >>>

Eurovision 2007 – Can’t Stop the Song

By coincidence, Ireland’s 2007 Eurovision entry – They Can’t Stop the Spring by John Waters – has nearly the same title and chorus as Can’t Stop the Spring by the Flaming Lips, which was recorded twenty years ago.