February 27, 2020 Craic & Codology

A continuing threat to the elderly and infirm that shows no signs of disappearing – that’s right, my tenure as health minister continues. Unfortunately, it thus falls to me to lead our response to the spread of the Coronavirus. Affected countries are saying their hospitals are overcrowded, their resources stretched to breaking point, with widespread… Read more »

February 27, 2020 Craic & Codology

Following Ireland’s drubbing at the hands of the English, head coach Andy Farrell has conceded a new approach is needed. As such, the IRFU has decided to contract Bono as an ambassador and will be sending him to visit all upcoming opponents. “Morale in our camp was decimated after his visit,” explained Farrell. “It’s also… Read more »

February 27, 2020 Craic & Codology

RTÉ bosses say the recruitment of journalist Brendan O’Connor to replace the late Marian Finucane and to present a new TV panel show next summer “is clear evidence that the station is meeting the demands of younger audiences”. A spokesperson for O’Connor said, “Brendan is one cool daddy-o! Sure, he wears his suit with an… Read more »

February 27, 2020 Craic & Codology

Desperate efforts are continuing to re-float a bulk carrier that hit the rocks in the Emerald Isle. Reports say the carrier, known as the MV (Mostly Vacuous) Labour Party, came to grief after being all at sea for several years. “It was being towed along by a larger rust bucket the Finegael, but they became… Read more »

February 27, 2020 Craic & Codology

I will arise and go now And go to AIB And settle a small dispute there That will save me financially And I shall have some peace then No more Virgin or TV3 Or shouting abuse at panelists Sure, t’was always about me.

February 26, 2020 Craic & Codology

It’s funny how fads change from season to season. This time last year everyone was raving about animal prints; now it’s all about the Coronavirus. You can’t go a minute without hearing talk about it. Well, don’t worry, I’ve got the inside tips on how to look Corona-chic. Diamond-Encrusted Surgical Mask Featuring 12 diamonds, this… Read more »

February 13, 2020 Craic & Codology

by Groan Harris With our nation still mourning the demise of our perfectly functioning two-party political system, I sat down with Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald to discuss their electoral success. Groan Harris: Were you as shocked as I was to see how well Sinn Féin performed? Mary Lou: Honestly, it came as something of… Read more »

February 13, 2020 Craic & Codology

John Blandville’s latest book proposes a pet theory that the Queen and Princess Margaret were forced to flee from rural Ireland during the Second World War. Having briefly been sequestered in Tipperary to escape the Blitz, the royal children demurred, saying they felt as if they’d been “cast out of the frying pan and into… Read more »

February 13, 2020 Craic & Codology

Least-supportive candidate: Catherine Noone Most animated short: Brendan Howlin Best fantasy screenplay: Each party’s housing promises In memoriam: Regina Doherty’s political career

February 13, 2020 Craic & Codology

By U Ranus Astronomers have reassured the public that a ‘blue moon’ sighted over London last week is not a portent of doom and disaster. Thousands of consumers had been stocking up on vital supplies amidst fears that the deep blue orb in the sky signalled the gods’ plans to take revenge for some major… Read more »

February 13, 2020 Craic & Codology

John Delaney to FAI  Our parting was so cruel and swift Though some ghouls found it funny I‘d not survive being cast adrift Had I not got your money! ♥♥♥♥♥ Joe Brolly to RTÉ  Words were said, assertions made And I misused my tongue But I called every spade a spade And for that my… Read more »

February 13, 2020 Craic & Codology

Eamonn Holmes has revealed his struggle to come to terms with the amount of publicity Phillip Schofield has been receiving lately. “As an occasional presenter of This Morning, I thought I’d grown used to living in Phil’s shadow,” wrote Holmes in an emotional Instagram post. Yet, he went on to describe how he now feels… Read more »

February 13, 2020 Craic & Codology

By our rugby correspondent Sal R E Capp The RFU has announced that the England rugby team will withdraw permanently from the Six Nations Championship with immediate effect. “We decided that we will no longer abide by the rules of rugby as played by the other five nations. We will in future make up our… Read more »

February 13, 2020 Craic & Codology

EXCLUSIVE TO ALL POLITICAL PARTIES 1. The Six Nations diverted voters from the one outstanding election issue facing the country – namely, giving their first preferences to (insert party name here). 2. The media were completely against us from the start. 3. A lot of our traditional hard-core supporters seemed to be away on holidays… Read more »

January 30, 2020 Craic & Codology

Spring is in the air and there is surely a spring in the step of every Irish citizen, as it’s election season. While touring across Ireland during this campaign, I have been greeted by hundreds of people on the streets. I will admit that, due to our policies, many of them are living there –… Read more »

January 30, 2020 Craic & Codology

Ireland is a nation of people with long memories – specifically, people who are likely to remember what happened before 2011. Unfortunately, many of these are unlikely to vote Fianna Fáil. That’s why we are happy, following an extensive consultation with a company specialising in public relations and reputation salvage, to declare that we are… Read more »

January 30, 2020 Craic & Codology

Candidate: Brash stranger with inane grin who ruins your evening Party policy: Aspirational promise to do something that will never happen Cabinet: Large cupboard stocked with alcohol to blot out election nausea PR: Official party manifesto Doorstep pledge: Patent untruth Baby: Useful prop for candidate’s photo opportunity Manifesto: Literary term including fiction and fantasy genres… Read more »

January 30, 2020 Craic & Codology

January 30, 2020 Craic & Codology

We guaranteed the interviewee’s anonymity I was a member of the Fine Gang – until I was told to leave. When you join, everyone in a gang stresses how everyone looks out for each other, that you’ve joined a family. Well, that was true, until the first sign of trouble. Let me tell you, any… Read more »

January 30, 2020 Craic & Codology

Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran has announced he is leaving Independiente, the team currently sponsored by Alliance. In an interview with Shannonside Radio on Monday, the Longford-Westmeath striker said he will be without a club for the next game, standing on the touchline rather than togging out in the rainbow colours of Independiente. However, Boxer has not… Read more »

January 30, 2020 Craic & Codology

Ireland is on near lockdown as a vast gangland feud spreads rapidly across the country. The escalation in the war of words and empty threats is a result of a renewed battle for national supremacy among Ireland’s leading gangs. Numerous smaller factions have been drawn into the conflict, but the primary participants are the notorious… Read more »

January 30, 2020 Craic & Codology

By Ava Go and Phil E Buster Outraged communities living in fear are today calling for ‘zero tolerance’ of these ruthless gangs brazenly plying their trade on the streets of the country’s towns and villages. The calls come amid growing concerns that many people now feel trapped in their homes for fear of being caught… Read more »

January 30, 2020 Craic & Codology

For far too long the most vulnerable in Irish society have been overlooked and abandoned by those in power. They have remained near-voiceless and ignored by a callous elite. It is time for a change to this terrible state of affairs. Leaving aside RTÉ’s deplorable treatment of Sinn Féin, we understand that the people of… Read more »

January 30, 2020 Craic & Codology

Election canvassing in South Wexford has been thrown into disarray following a new outbreak of a deadly infection known as the Veronavirus. The condition was thought to have been eradicated following an initial outbreak last November but has now re-emerged. Experts say the re-emergence is a “serious threat to the survival of every candidate that… Read more »

January 30, 2020 Craic & Codology

Compiled by Our Political Polls Staff Phil Spreadsheet How the latest polls stand 32% would prefer to see less of David McCullough than Miriam O’Callaghan – although 81% wanted neither 53% of the population thought that Henry McGee had even less to say than Miriam Lord 99% of those polled just after reading anything by… Read more »

January 30, 2020 Craic & Codology

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has dismissed the latest opinion polls, insisting that they are nothing more than a reasonably accurate indication of how people are likely to vote in a general election. As support for Fine Gael continues to remain flat, Mr Varadkar stressed that it was much more important to focus on the actual policies… Read more »

January 30, 2020 Craic & Codology

But only people in the Republic of Ireland will be asked to vote! Mary Lou McDonald of Sinn Féin has called yet again for a unity poll. This time, however, she is suggesting that only people living in the Republic of Ireland will be asked to give their views. “For too long the people of… Read more »

January 30, 2020 Craic & Codology

As I once said to my close friend Sam Beckett, political life attracts attention-seekers. All these self-styled candidates will say absolutely anything if they think it will secure refuge in Leinster House. The same applies to our coterie of government ministers, who typify the crass, self-promoting antics that are at the very core of Ireland’s… Read more »

January 30, 2020 Craic & Codology

Fine Gael: What if we commemorated Cromwell instead? Fianna Fáil: All politics is yokel PBP/Solidarity: Taxing your patience since 2011 Sinn Féin: Who’s worse, McGregor or Hooligan? Labour: Ugh, we give up Green Party: The sky is falling Aontú: We won’t last nine months either  Independent Alliance: At least Stepaside is safe

January 30, 2020 Craic & Codology

Favourite film: Daddy’s Home Favourite song: Father and Son, Boyzone Favourite TV show: Married With Children Favourite band: The Offspring Favourite cartoon: Family Guy Favourite hobby: Breadwinning Favourite clothing: Suspenders Favourite food: Tripe

January 29, 2020 Craic & Codology

At Fine Gael we take pride in representing the cutting edge of contemporary Ireland. That’s why we’ve welcomed the internet revolution and joined leading social media platform Bebó. Though we’ve embraced this change, we urge you – the Irish electorate – to resist the siren’s call of change and maintain blind loyalty to those who’ve… Read more »

January 16, 2020 Craic & Codology

It has been announced that Leinster House will be looking for new tenants from February. The landlord is seeking changes due to a lack of confidence and petty squabbling among the current residents. But an advert for the property on Daft.ie has garnered criticism for several unsettling stipulations. The proposed lease, which is quoted as… Read more »

January 16, 2020 Craic & Codology

Double Irish, Dutch Sandwich – Sale Ends Soon! One of our most popular sellers will be taken off the menu on 31 January, so get it while you can! – Contains: Bad eggs – Saving our bacon – Fishy dealings – Cheddar saved – Jammy arrangements “Better than the s**t sandwich of full corporation tax”… Read more »

January 16, 2020 Craic & Codology

LEO VARADKAR I’m really hoping to work on my fitness – not for political office, obviously – but to benefit my physical health and general well-being. Naturally, I’ll be focusing on improving my strokes in hot water. Meanwhile, my personal poll ratings continue to soar. ARLENE FOSTER In this period of change ahead for Northern… Read more »

January 16, 2020 Craic & Codology

Simon Harris shows off his certificate Well everyone, we’ve set a new record! I want you to all give yourselves a big pat on the back. If you can’t hoist yourself upright in your hospital bed/trolley, then ask a harried nurse or doctor to do it for you. When I found out trolley numbers had… Read more »