Monthly Archives: April 2013

90172732Evidently.

The issue involves prima facie evidence that at least one crime may have been committed by serving TD and former government minister, Michael Lowry…

 

…In a proper democracy, the police force and Revenue would investigate the contents of the Lowry Tapes with extreme urgency. Confidence in the criminal justice and tax systems would demand no less. If there is even a whiff of favour towards a member of parliament in a criminal justice matter, then democracy is undermined. And right now, in light of all that is going on, democracy is not in a healthy condition.

…There has been nothing from Enda Kenny to suggest that he takes the tapes issue seriously, or has consulted his Minister for Justice on the matter. Nothing from Alan Shatter to show that he takes his ministerial brief seriously. It would appear that Kenny et al are gambling that the public doesn’t appreciate the seriousness of what is at issue, and intend to keep their heads down until it blows over…

…The function of the media in a democracy has also been strained by the Lowry tapes. The Irish Examiner, Irish Times, Newstalk FM and TV3’s Vincent Browne Tonight have all covered the story in a manner befitting its seriousness. However, the national broadcaster has not.”

 

Michael Clifford in today’s Irish Examiner, about apparent inaction by gardaí, Revenue, the government and RTE over The Lowry Tapes.

Lowry and inaction of Gardaí/Revenue (By Michael Clifford, Irish Examiner)

Previously: So RTÉ, Which Is It?

RTÉ and the Lowry Tape

(James Horan/Photocall Ireland)

BHLg4foCUAAoyC6Squished between a hairy-faced figure of fun and a hairy-faced figure of fun.

The buke – one of a limited edition signed, despite intense physical agony by editor Aidan Coughlan – in Dubray Books, Blackrock, Co Dublin.

Mmf.

Meanwhile…

Screen Shot 2013-04-13 at 10.10.21Emma Mack writes:

The bit of soggy tissue on the ground outside the Two Sisters pub, Terenure [Co Dublin] that looks like Ireland.

 

 

extrapolis

An interactive installation combining a large wall painting with 3D projection mapping and an XBox Kinect by Théoriz Crew and BKYC, who sez:

Breaking the boundaries between drawing and video projection, this digital art work litterally draws the spectator in an imaginary and alive city. Putting human life and animation at its core, Extrapolis explores and questions the relationship between the city and its inhabitants. Extrapolis draws its inspirations from both the comics world and the digital art sphere, like AntiVj’s Cityscape 2095

Hand Drawn City Comes To Life (Creators Project)

305923_392732587500369_1080937433_nClara.

Robert Kenny of Leinster Animal Rescue, writes:

This is Clara, a five-month-old Terrier cross I have been working with the past two weeks. This evening she was recovered dead after a ransom deal wasn’t met by me and her owner. The condition of Clara was horrendous. I shall have an autopsy tomorrow and proceed to have the people responsible brought to justice for this criminal act.

 

 

Leinster Animal Rescue (Facebook)

Thanks Dermot Bohan

Screen Shot 2013-04-12 at 22.21.14Rebecca Noonan writes:

A young Irish woman at an EU Citizen’s Initiative in Ghent, Belgium yesterday responded to the EU Commissioner for Trade’s claim that Ireland is out of a recession – and got a round of applause while doing so, Made Flemish news!

 

Jonah Hill was also in attendance.

Watch here

 

“Het gaat nog altijd niét goed met Ierland” (Daredect)

Bill

When you’re in trouble with the bank, it’s probably not the best idea to reveal your game plan on the Late Late Show.

Bill Cullen and Ryan Tubridy in conversation last month.

From: 02:42

Ryan Tubridy: “And how are you fixed financially? Are you good? Is it a mess?”

Bill Cullen: “Oh ho ho! Wait ’til I see. Who’s ah..? Anyone got a taxi here?”

Ryan Tubridy: “Ah like do you owe an awful lot of money or…?”

Bill Cullen: “Well ye see you know when you’re growing..I’ve put anything we’ve made and we’ve made a lot of money back into the business.”

Ryan Tubridy: “Yeah. Of course you did.”

Cullen: “..when the banks took over we…four years ago our assets were worth 70 million.”

Tubridy: “Yeah.”

Cullen: “That was written down over three or four years to 20 million.”

Tubridy: “OK.”

Cullen: “Still only owe the bank 10 million.”

Tubridy: “That’s what you owe?”

Cullen: “That’s all. And they closed it up and they’ve to sell the assets and get their 10 million back. I’ve 20 million cash put into the company and I don’t list. I’m Paddy Last-go-away.”

Tubridy: “OK”

Cullen: “So their job now is to sell the assets and ah get their 10 million back and they’ll be fine. If they don’t they have what they call a personal guarantee on me for anything that there’s a shortfall on so I’ll have to take that as it goes.”

Tubridy: So will you pay it all back?

Cullen: “No. Haven’t got it.”

Tubridy: “So what are you gonna do?”

Cullen: “What am I gonna do? I’m just gonna go on working and see you can’t get blood out of a stone? Can ya?”

Tubridy: “Well there’s lots of people in smaller..”

Cullen: “And there’s lots of people here ye know..”

Tubridy: “….in the very same boat…who are struggling.”

[Audience applauds]

Tubridy: “That’s it.”

Cullen: “I don’t know what you have to say.”

Tubridy: “Well what can they do?”

Cullen: “They can only lose so much. I’ve argued out….ye see banks or mortgage societies taking back a house from a guy who couldn’t pay 800 quid a month and giving it to someone else at 400 quid a month or sell it off. Why didn’t they leave him in it?”

Tubridy: “Yeah.”

Cullen: “That’s the thing. Why can’t they leave someone who can’t afford it in it for a while, build up the rent and then do a deal on it? And that’s the way I think…I hope it’s going to work.”

Bill Cullen and Jackie Lavin lose bid to keep running Muckross Park Hotel (Irish Independent)

High Court refuses appointment of examiner to Muckross Park Hotel – RTE

seve

For the weekend that appears to be in it.

Seve Ballesteros could put a ball anywhere from the trees to the middle of a fairway.

Tom Watson said in the Irish Times in April 1983 after Seve’s second Masters win:

“Seve is an aggressive, flamboyant type of player. He’s an Arnold Palmer type of competitor. When he’s playing well, he can shoot the lights out”.

 

Seve would have turned 56 this week.

Previously: Augusta Defiance