Ireland General Discussion

[patrick1]

Damn, and I had my lame "they killed Kenny - the bastards!" joke ready.

Ha, That is much better than that's the End 'a Kenny angle.

[patrick1]

This seems rather tame.   I guess the perjury portion makes it worse, however, it is still pretty innocuous. 

The twitter headlines are great.

[patrick1]

Also, "justice, equality and defence"?

As I recall, Defence is mandated by the Constitution, but it's not important enough to warrant its own portfolio. Hence this.

It is not in the constitution, but is based off statutory law that predates the current constitution.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministers_and_Secretaries_Act,_1924

[patrick1]

Rest in Peace. 52 is not old.

FF now down to one seat in Dublin - do I remember that right?

I think he was the last one.

edit: checked and he was.  Even he barely held on.

[patrick1]

Another answer to an old question...

FF and FG tribal split traced back to 12th century - Irish Times

Very interesting, I love the study of surnames so this was right up my alley.

Lets look at the Taoiseach surnames

De Valera-FF- Spanish
Costello-FG- Norman
Lemass- FF-I think Norman/French derivative- very rare name.
Lynch- FF- Norman
Cosgrave- FG- Gaelic
Haughey- FF- Gaelic
Fitzgerald- FG- Norman
Reynolds- FF- Norman
Bruton-FG- Anglo
Ahern- FF- Gaelic
Cowen-FF- Gaelic
Kenny- FG- Gaelic

Presidents
Hyde- no party- Welsh- edit. I think Hyde is actually Anglo origin
O'Kelly- FF- Gaelic
Childers- FF- Anglo
O' Dalaigh- FF- Gaelic
Hillery- FF-Anglo
Bourke- (Robinson) Labour- Norman
Leneghan- FF- Gaelic

And just because I like the topic
Pearse- Anglo
MacDermott- Gaelic
MacDonagah- Gaelic
Clarke- Anglo
Kent- Anglo
Connolly- Gaelic
Plunkett- Norman

[patrick1]

At least Irish voters are not as stupid as Scottish ones where until a few years ago, the Labour candidate could take a dump on your doorstep and still win your vote.

Official Ireland has taken on a crap not only on the stoop but directly on the voters and their progeny.

[patrick1]

I saw Enda on 5th Ave today. The weather was like his poll results here...

[patrick1]

Wow @ those numbers above.  The sharp drop jumps out at me too.  Is Noel Browne properly appreciated?  Seems almost forgotten rather than a national hero.

[patrick1]

Wow @ those numbers above.  The sharp drop jumps out at me too.  Is Noel Browne properly appreciated?  Seems almost forgotten rather than a national hero.

My guess is that the sharp drop (in both categories, but much sharper among "illegitimate") is due to the arrival of penicillin. Infectious childhood diseases were always going to hit harder in crowded institutions than amongst the general population, regardless of the level of care given.

Yes, but didnt the reforms Browne was able to briefly introduce lead to greater access to those lifesaving interventions?  From what I remember the whole Mother and Child scheme was tragic.

[patrick1]

Today's Irish Times website

There is just so much wrong with this webgrab on content, layout and Enda himself. And when did Keano become homeless lunatic