Monthly Archives: May 2012

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XZ5MOB3nww

They literally had no idea this would be offensive.

None.

The TV ad, screened in February ahead of the annual racing event [Cheltenham], stated “…we’re going to make Ladies’ Day even more exciting by sending in some beautiful transgendered ladies. Spot the stallions from the mares”.

The bookmaker said it was never the intention to cause harm or offence and it was “saddened” to learn that some viewers were offended by the ad.

 

Paddy Power Advert ‘Offensive’ (Eoin Burke Kennedy, Irish Times)

Relax, it was for charidee.

At the Copper House Gallery (off Synge Street, Dublin) last night for the launch of photographer Barry McCall’s exhibition of portraits (in aid of the ISPCC) were, top from left: Liam Cunningham, Glenda Gilson, Barry McCall, Keith Barry and Louis Walsh; middle pic: Saoirse Ronan and Louis Walsh, and bottom pic: Brian Kennedy and Sharon Corr.

The exhibition runs until June 11.

(Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland)

Well now we know he’s not.

Thanks to the BBC (again).

An investigation by BBC NI’s Spotlight [last night] into Sean Quinn’s empire has tracked down the headquarters of a company that controls more than $100m-worth of assets belonging to Irish taxpayers.

[Reporter] Jim Fitzpatrick travelled to Belize on the hunt for a company that has laid claim to the millions.

Mr Quinn went bankrupt in January owing 2.8bn euros to the Anglo Irish Bank.

It hoped to recover around 500m euros through sales of Quinn Group’s international property portfolio

However, the bank, now nationalised and called Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, soon discovered that it had lost control of these valuable assets.

…The programme uncovers documentary evidence in Sweden which demonstrates that Sean Quinn was part of a secret boardroom coup which put him back in charge of the property empire weeks after he had been dismissed from the Quinn Group.


Watch Sean Quinn’s Missing Millions here (you may need this)

Sean Quinn Spotlight Tracks Down Company (BBC)

(Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland)

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiWNTWi2JI0&feature=player_embedded

“You’ve got Robbie Keane. All-time scorer of the Irish international team…a cousin of mine… Robbie arrived [at LA Galaxy] halfway through last season scored his first goal in the first 21 minutes of his first game. His team mates were so happy to have him they filled his locker with what they call the ‘Pleasures of Ireland’. Guinness, Bailey’s and Irish Spring [a soap brand]. Hopefully Robbie’s broadened their horizons since then.”

Obama gives a shout-out (go to 1.29) to Robbie Keane during a visit by LA Galaxy to The White House yesterday.

 

 

Gavan Titley writes:

The Irish Times has an op-ed piece today by the Danish MEP Morten Messerschmidt (above), arguing for a No vote in the upcoming fiscal treaty referendum. Who is he?

Well, The Irish Times gives his byline as: ‘Morten Messerschmidt is a Danish MEP and a member of the Europe of Freedom and Democracy group in the European Parliament. He won his seat in the 2009 European election with 284,500 votes.’

This is very similar to his Wikipedia entry in English: ‘Morten Messerschmidt (born 13 November 1980) LL.M., is member of the European Parliament for the Danish People’s Party. He won his seat in a landslide in the 2009 elections with 284,500 personal votes.’

The crucial difference, of course, is that the IT byline omits his membership of the Danish People’s Party. Morten, of course, is not as bashful. Here he is expressing his affinity with Geert Wilders in a news clip concerning the ‘fear and anxiety’ that the DPP stokes among ‘Danish immigrants’. Starts at 1.40.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T1uItGjh-0

The Irish Times publishes Morten Messerschmidt (Gavan Titley, Storify)

Being Yes Men Of Europe Has Got Ireland Nowhere (Morten Messerschmidt, irish Times)