Author Archives: Aaron McAllorum

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“It seemed that no one exposed to him could be immune to his magnetism. The media coverage and the nation’s reaction is a testament to how much a self-developed code of ethics and a strict discipline of treating all with respect, even if it wasn’t reciprocal, could shape a character of such rarity.”

Mick Lally’s son, Darach, yesterday.

Final Ovation For Mick Lally (Kathryn Holmquist – Irish Times)

Marie Mullen Remembers A Scholar With A Voice Of Silk (Galway Advertiser)

All photographs by Eamonn Farrell (Photocall Ireland)



Peter Boone of The London School of Economics and Simon Johnson, former chief economist with the IMF have penned a blog about the Irish economy for the New York Times. Ho hum, you say. Not another one.

This is a little different:

“Ireland had more prudent choices. It could have cut the budget deficit while also acknowledging insolvency and requiring creditors to share some of the burdens. But a strong lobby of real estate developers, the investors who bought banks’ bonds and politicians with links to the failed developments (and their bankers) prefer that taxpayers, rather than creditors, pay.”

And this means…

“Under the current program, we estimate that each Irish family of four will be liable for 200,000 euros in public debt by 2015. There are only 73,000 children born into the country each year, and these children will be paying off debts for decades to come.”

In conclusion?

“Ireland, simply put, appears insolvent under plausible possibilities with current policies.”

Good morning.

In Ireland Danger Still Looms (NY Times – Blog)

Only kidding.

He actually asked: “Why does every plane have two pilots?”

To which you might reasonably splutter: “WTF? What the…How the? What if?”

Stop worrying.

Michael has a plan.

“One member of the cabin crew on all Ryanair flights would be trained to land a plane. If the pilot has an emergency, he rings the bell, he calls her in. She could take over.”

Yes. We’re all going to die.

O’Leary Ponders One Euro Toilets, Standing Passengers (Bloomberg)

(Photocall Ireland)

The Orange Order appear to have won a two-year copyright fight to keep their superhero mascot, Diamond Dan The Orange Man (as this poster – via Clark Hazard – would suggest).

Dan is named after one of the Order’s founding members, Dan Winter – the Diamond refers to the Institution’s formation at the Diamond, Loughgall, in 1795.

His Superpowers include being able to hit a Lambeg drum by just staring at it.

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CLICK the ARROW

Labour Leader Eamon Gilmore this morning. When he stopped doing that, he predicted:

* FF/Green/Independent Dingbat coalition will be “over before Christmas”.

* Labour will not – repeat not – enter government with Fianna Fail.

* He’ll close Anglo “within six years”.

* Kilkenny will win on Sunday.

* Vampire Weekend will steal the show at The Electric Picnic.

* But it will rain.

Gilmore Predicts Govt. To Fall Before Christmas (Examiner)