Posted in Irish Middle Class on Jul 22nd, 2010 5 Comments »
Had to laugh at the excuses as to why Child Benefit cannot be means-tested/taxed.
Apparently the Department of Finance is saying that such a tax could be unfair and problematic.
Is that the criteria for the Department of Finance scuppering a tax? That it’s unfair? Problematic? Couldn’t reform the tax credit system to take allowance of […]
Posted in fuckwits, Irish journalism, Irish Middle Class, Irish Economy on Jul 21st, 2010 20 Comments »
Jesus man, the ESRI. What the hell has happened to them?
A couple of weeks ago they came out and said “We don’t know what we are talking about.”
And today, Paul Krugman has come out and said, “Ye don’t know what ye are talking about.”
I’ve criticised Krugman in the past for taking at face value the […]
Posted in Irish journalism, Irish Times on Jul 21st, 2010 No Comments »
Dan O’Brien’s tough and uncompromising collection of stuff he has pulled out of his ass, has just been launched.
You can get a sense of Dan O’Brien’s analysis over on Irish Left Review.
There are some more quotes here.
Posted in Irish journalism, Irish Economy on Jul 21st, 2010 6 Comments »
In a speech made at a business meeting of the Dublin Rotary Club last night, the Tánaiste Mary Coughlan said that the government had developed a new plan to get the economy working again.
‘There is too much negativity around these days’ she said, ‘and this needs to be nipped in the bud right away.’
‘That’s why […]
Posted in irishness, irish culture on Jul 20th, 2010 No Comments »
Finally found an embedded-permission version of this video.
One of these days I’ll get around to writing about Irishness and the music of Dexys Midnight Runners. When I do, this song will be top of the list.
My National Pride - Dexys Midnight Runners
Posted in fuckwits, Irish journalism on Jul 15th, 2010 4 Comments »
There was no general restriction of credit by the Irish banks to Irish business men or to potential housebuyers, a representative of the banks said yesterday. There was, however, a more careful examination of all applications, and particularly of credits for purely speculative purposes, which were examined in the light of the economic situation and […]
Posted in PDs on Jul 14th, 2010 5 Comments »
Was up in Dublin on Monday, heading into the National Library, when I passed by the PD’s old office on South Frederick street and noticed it was for sale.
According to Daft, it’s priced at 1.6 million euro.
Posted in Irish Middle Class, Irish housing, Irish social history, Irish Working Class on Jul 14th, 2010 1 Comment »
[Photo from ‘Darkest Dublin’ collection, RSAI]
I’m using so much of Ruth McManus‘ work for my chapter on 20th century Irish housing it’s embarrassing.
Her book, Dublin 1910-1940: Shaping the City and Suburbs (Four Courts Press, 2002) is in the public library system, and is available for purchase from Four Courts here.
I’m also drawing heavily […]
Posted in irish culture, Irish Economy on Jul 8th, 2010 1 Comment »
‘The injustice of time - rendered obsolete.’
Rain falls on the snow. The Contagion has taken hold. Ghosts from the old Dead Republic are emerging everywhere as the day of judgement approaches.
On Black Tuesday a guilt ridden political functionary runs from his job burying bodies in the city. He is tortured by voices of reproach as […]
Posted in Irish journalism, Irish Middle Class on Jul 7th, 2010 5 Comments »
I don’t really get Twitter, but I noticed that Irish Left Review sent this one out yesterday:
My god, @davidmcw is recycling his Ethelred the Unready opener again http://bit.ly/bvbUXL. See this http://bit.ly/99hRK5 for details.
To which McWilliams replied:
@irishleftreview …and i will use it again and again and again because it is wonderfully vivid
Well good for you […]
