Chairman of state-owned AIB David Hodgkinson (top), and Michael Noonan’s top NAMA adviser Michael Geoghegan (above), are both named in a 330-page report that follows an investigation into HSBC by a US Senate subcommittee set up in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attack on New York.

…Crucially, the damning report makes clear that both Michael Geoghegan and David Hodgkinson were aware of the major issues at the bank during the period under investigation, including HSBC’s processing of billions of dollars worth of hidden deals for Iranian banks.

 

*whimpers*

Pair hired To Clean Up Irish Banks Named In US Scandal (Donal O’Donovan and Peter Flanagan, Irish Independent)

Earlier: Not Their Finest Hour

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A30J2dq23d0

It’s rainin’ but there ain’t a cloud in the sky
Musta been a tear from your eye
Everything’ll be okay
Waitin’ on a sunny day

Niamh Hassell writes:

6 year old [Sophie Sutton] is taken up on stage by Bruce [Springsteen at the RDS, Ballsbridge, Dublin] last night. Mmmmmf

 

Sophie  and her father Paul spoke to Newstalk’s Breakfast Show AND gave a reprisal of her Brucie duet. Listen here.

(Pic via Newstalk)


Come here.

Ten days before the opening of the London Olympics, Tourism Ireland has launched the second phase of its ‘Escape the Madness’ campaign in Britain.

The €500,000 advertising campaign presents Ireland as a hassle-free holiday option to harassed Londoners during the games.

The campaign began last month with ads on the London Underground. This is stage two: a Youtube viral voiced (and briefly appeared in) by Chris O’Dowd.

That’ll get them over.

Ireland Promoted As Olympics ‘Escape’ (Meadhbh McHugh, Irish Times)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZDkjpHGOyo

The driver of a car who lost control and crashed through the front garden of a house in Dudley in the West Midlands wasn’t wearing a seatbelt. The owner of the house, on whose CCTV the crash was captured, said:

“He was flung from the car like a rag doll and it is amazing no-one was more badly hurt. A woman got out of the car and they were hugging each other. It was like they couldn’t believe they were still alive.”

awesomer/arbroath

[Click to enlarge]

Taken on Sunday by Gerry Quinn.

Magnificent.

But where?

Lines close at 10am.

Update: Gerry Quinn writes: It’s Mweelrea (highest mountain in Connacht), the lake in front is Doo Lough and the photo was taken from the Shreefry Mountains across the road. Click here For more photos of the walk. 

Protesting the ridiculously strict branding regulations of the upcoming London Olympics, street artist collective Brandalism (their motto: ‘taking the piss with a point’) has been busy ‘reclaiming’ billboards around the UK.

MORE HERE

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