Author Archives: Aaron McAllorum

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Members of the USI this afternoon outside the Dail.

It was like Tahrir Square.

If the Egyptian protestors, rather than fighting for democracy, were demonstrating for the retention of Irish as a compulsory subject in the Leaving Certificate.

Conas a tú tá.

You can say that again.

(Photocall Ireland)

George Hook left the Sunday Independent last week because the paper had taken on the Sunday Tribune‘s rugby man Neil Francis.

Hook graphically described himself and Francis, a former Irish international, as “incompatible bedfellows’.

So, why the petulance?

Long answer. Back in 1996 – 15 YEARS ago – the Hookmeister sued Francis for libel and won. Francis, reporting on a match between the American Eagles and Ireland, inferred that the visiting side seemed to know Ireland’s throw-in calls and, as Hooky was the liaison between the US team and Ireland, the inference was apparently clear.

Short answer? Because ‘Hooky’s skin is so thin it was recently on the cover of Heat magazine with concerned friends asking: “Too Thin?”

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A total of 48 people died in the fire that engulfed the Stardust nightclub in Artane in the early hours of February 14, 1981.

Photographer Eamon Farrell captured these rare colour images (black and white photography being the standard for press work at the time) in the aftermath of the tragedy.

The gallery, which includes scenes from outside the city morgue, begins in the RDS, as news of what has happened reaches delegates attending the Fianna Fail Ard Fheis.

Stardust Group Steps Up Campaign For Justice On Disaster’s 30th Anniversary (Irish Times)

Prime Time Special On the 20th Anniversary (2001): Watch here

(Photocall Ireland)

As an obscenely wealthy man I am often asked by ordinary people: what would you do to help make Ireland great again?

I usually reply: “Put rich guys in the cabinet. Now give me a seven iron.”

This is no time for democracy. This is a time for wealthy, unelected people to be given their say over how we should be governed.

People will say: but you’re a Gibraltar-based tax exile who divides his time between homes in London, Marbella and Sandy Lane hotel in Barbados. Your Dublin properties include a house on Ailesbury Road and a Georgian mansion in Merrion Square. You play golf with Tiger Woods. You have a fantastically silly moustache. You are called the Kaiser.

What do you know about the needs of the average citizen?

My answer: “I don’t. Now get off my land before I set the dogs on you.”

Anyway, my thoughts are not concerned with the average citizen. The system is broken. The whole ‘voting for people thing’ is not working.

All we end up with is ordinary people obsessed with secrecy. Enough, say I.

This country is crying out for extraordinary people obsessed with secrecy.

Now if you don’t mind I need to spend some time with my money.

© Irish Times

(Photocall Ireland)

“Our history tells us that even in the darkest times we, The Irish, have the capacity not simply to look towards the light but to find the light and the Irish Film and Television Acadamy’s beautiful bronze statuette with its triskele reminds us of our Celtic ancestors who built Newgrange.

“There, rather like a cinema projector, a shaft of light shines right to the back of that ancient tomb signalling the beginning of a new year and from that point on the nights get shorter the days get longer, spring bursts through the weary winter and life, hope endure.”

President Mary McAleese at the IFTAs

Your Majesty. 1997 called. They’d like their meaningless, arse-shudderingly faux-Heaney prose back. Thanks.