27 August 1998 Edition
Television: Dunphy's way
The Last Word with Eamon Dunphy (Today FM)
The Ger Loughnane Interview (Clare FM)
The Rose of Tralee (RTE)
Whatever one can say about Eamon Dunphy - and there's a lot - it must be acknowledged that he possesses his own unique style.
Formerly a mediocre soccer player with Millwall, he led a failed effort by Irish soccer players to don black armbands in the wake of Bloody Sunday, but this early radicalism was soon replaced by a trek into right wing politics, where he vented considerable spleen at Republicans in The Sunday Independent. He drew the wrath of the Irish nation upon himself by rightfully challenging Jack Charlton at the height of his powers. He also challenged what he saw as the racist views of Helen Lucy Burke during a memorable TV appearence, grumbled at the ``lack of decent cocaine in this town'', and once labelled talk show enthusiasts as morons, which is somewhat ironic, as this is where he has found his niche as one of Today FM's few success stories, following his journalistic Waterloo in the libel courts at the hands of ex-IRA man Frank Ross.
His talk show and current affairs slot, The Last Word, can at times be a breath of fresh air, with Dunphy tending to probe his interviewees and taking a more challenging stance. Tuesday's show featured the ``courageous commentator'' (in the words of one caller), or ``the balthering fascist'' (in the words of another), Kevin Myers.
Republicans would tend to agree with the latter, in light of his years of insult and attempted degradation of us.
These are changing times however and Myers admitted that he was ``wrong'' in doubting the ``sincerity of Adams, McGuinness''. He acknowledged the ``courageous journey'' Sinn Fein had travelled, but they now have ``to bite the bullet and imprison ex-colleagues (RIRA), as Collins, De Valera and De Rossa had done before''.
When challenged by Dunphy on the necessity of internment and its inevitable victims, Myers stated that it is ``our moral duty to stop murder''.
Undoubtedly this new measure would result in numerous innocents being arrested and/or harrassed by Gardai/RUC, particularly members of Sinn Fein Youth and others who would be seen as vulnerable.
Myers also agrees with the confiscation of property ``for the greater good'' while acknowledging ``injustices will be done'', which smacks of the comments of the infamous Lord Denning.
While Kevin Myers has travelled a little down the road from his Dubln 4 bubble he nevertheless remains a conservative in liberal's clothing.
Dunphy's second guest, Pat Buchanan, is proud to be a ``forceful conservative'' and like all American Republicans is delighted that Bill Clinton's ``chickens are coming home to roost'', particularly as they've been seeking revenge ever since those `lefty liberals' humiliated the `great' (sic) Richard Nixon in 1974.
Following our Eamon's accurate questioning of the real reason for the bombing of innocent civilians in Sudan and Afghanistan (ie to divert US eyes away from Bill's briefs), Buchanan claimed that the US had ``lost its power of indispensable defender'' of the world - tell that to the thousands of Iraqis/Cubans who continue to suffer at the hands of US-inspired embargos.
Buchanan, his `colleague' Kenneth Starr, and their right wing brethren in Britain have historically used smear against their enemies, from the time of the Parnell forgeries and Clinton won't be the last - hold on to your trousers, you lefties.
Dunphy seems to take delight in reading out the comments of abusive callers desribing him as ``an egotistical bore'' who spews ``verbal diarrhoea'' - a big head he surely has, but he's definitely not a bore.
His show is complimented by the witty, albeit at times tasteless, ``Navan Man'' and his sidekick, the Drunken Politician, who sounds ominously like Charlie Haughey.
His latest offering recommended the internment of Hugh Leonard, and John Bruton, ``to stop him putting his feckin' big foot in his mouth'' - now that we can all concur with.
Still on the wireless (I was doing my utmost to avoid the Rose of Tralee), Ger Loughnane put the curse of Biddy Early while castigating his foes as follows; the Munster GAA Council were being led by a Don Corleone figure who was out to stiff the Banner,..... there were no human rights abuses worse in the world than the treatment of the Clare player suspended for three months...... and Waterford manager Gerald McCarty was similar to Radavan Karavic, or was it Monica Lewinsky?
If the above is true than Loughnane must surely be Osama Bin Laden, taking on the dogs of war at Croke Park, motivating his warriors into battle, only to be denied by the referee's watch, which a reliable source informs me was purchased at a fair day in Ballinasloe for 50p (you know the one with the Mickey Mouse hands on it).
Whatever else, the adventures of the Clare terrorists is great entertainment and in stark contrast to the dirge unfulfilled Derry served up on Sunday last.
Over on RTE Marty Whelan was modeling himself on Fr Ted with his ``lovely girl competition'' presenting ``some lovely girls..... with some lovely stories..... and lovely dresses''.
This is indeed ``the 40th Rose of Tralee'', where thirty odd grand Irish colleens gather from around the globe to have escorts for a week, but aren't arrested, and to don giant sweet wrappers on stage, be patronised and wave to their mammies and daddies - a bit like a giant Late Late Show.
Last year the Dome blew down and we thought we would be spared but alas a permanent structure has been erected to ensure the permanency of schmaltz on stage.
Presented by the ``Daz man'' Marty Whelan, who despite being a likeable old bean, is unable to make the colleens bloom.
Katy from Boston likes children and loves the Irish, Linda from Leeds loves kids and can do a reel and Mary from Melbourne likes to steal cars and do heavy drugs.
Enough of the cynicism - I propose Marty Whelan to be replaced next year by North Kerry's very own Martin Ferris!
Finally Network 2 presents ``One year On'', this Saturday -''the nation mourns.... and commemorates the death of the People's Princess''-colonialism is alive and well!
Preview
Set your videos on Sunday for a repeat of the hunger strike documentary I gCillín an Bhais. It features interviews with Bik McFarlane, Laurence McKeown, Leo Green and Jackie McMullan and it's definitely not to be missed. It's at 7.30pm on TnaG.
By Sean O Donaile
The Ger Loughnane Interview (Clare FM)
The Rose of Tralee (RTE)
Whatever one can say about Eamon Dunphy - and there's a lot - it must be acknowledged that he possesses his own unique style.
Formerly a mediocre soccer player with Millwall, he led a failed effort by Irish soccer players to don black armbands in the wake of Bloody Sunday, but this early radicalism was soon replaced by a trek into right wing politics, where he vented considerable spleen at Republicans in The Sunday Independent. He drew the wrath of the Irish nation upon himself by rightfully challenging Jack Charlton at the height of his powers. He also challenged what he saw as the racist views of Helen Lucy Burke during a memorable TV appearence, grumbled at the ``lack of decent cocaine in this town'', and once labelled talk show enthusiasts as morons, which is somewhat ironic, as this is where he has found his niche as one of Today FM's few success stories, following his journalistic Waterloo in the libel courts at the hands of ex-IRA man Frank Ross.
His talk show and current affairs slot, The Last Word, can at times be a breath of fresh air, with Dunphy tending to probe his interviewees and taking a more challenging stance. Tuesday's show featured the ``courageous commentator'' (in the words of one caller), or ``the balthering fascist'' (in the words of another), Kevin Myers.
Republicans would tend to agree with the latter, in light of his years of insult and attempted degradation of us.
These are changing times however and Myers admitted that he was ``wrong'' in doubting the ``sincerity of Adams, McGuinness''. He acknowledged the ``courageous journey'' Sinn Fein had travelled, but they now have ``to bite the bullet and imprison ex-colleagues (RIRA), as Collins, De Valera and De Rossa had done before''.
When challenged by Dunphy on the necessity of internment and its inevitable victims, Myers stated that it is ``our moral duty to stop murder''.
Undoubtedly this new measure would result in numerous innocents being arrested and/or harrassed by Gardai/RUC, particularly members of Sinn Fein Youth and others who would be seen as vulnerable.
Myers also agrees with the confiscation of property ``for the greater good'' while acknowledging ``injustices will be done'', which smacks of the comments of the infamous Lord Denning.
While Kevin Myers has travelled a little down the road from his Dubln 4 bubble he nevertheless remains a conservative in liberal's clothing.
Dunphy's second guest, Pat Buchanan, is proud to be a ``forceful conservative'' and like all American Republicans is delighted that Bill Clinton's ``chickens are coming home to roost'', particularly as they've been seeking revenge ever since those `lefty liberals' humiliated the `great' (sic) Richard Nixon in 1974.
Following our Eamon's accurate questioning of the real reason for the bombing of innocent civilians in Sudan and Afghanistan (ie to divert US eyes away from Bill's briefs), Buchanan claimed that the US had ``lost its power of indispensable defender'' of the world - tell that to the thousands of Iraqis/Cubans who continue to suffer at the hands of US-inspired embargos.
Buchanan, his `colleague' Kenneth Starr, and their right wing brethren in Britain have historically used smear against their enemies, from the time of the Parnell forgeries and Clinton won't be the last - hold on to your trousers, you lefties.
Dunphy seems to take delight in reading out the comments of abusive callers desribing him as ``an egotistical bore'' who spews ``verbal diarrhoea'' - a big head he surely has, but he's definitely not a bore.
His show is complimented by the witty, albeit at times tasteless, ``Navan Man'' and his sidekick, the Drunken Politician, who sounds ominously like Charlie Haughey.
His latest offering recommended the internment of Hugh Leonard, and John Bruton, ``to stop him putting his feckin' big foot in his mouth'' - now that we can all concur with.
Still on the wireless (I was doing my utmost to avoid the Rose of Tralee), Ger Loughnane put the curse of Biddy Early while castigating his foes as follows; the Munster GAA Council were being led by a Don Corleone figure who was out to stiff the Banner,..... there were no human rights abuses worse in the world than the treatment of the Clare player suspended for three months...... and Waterford manager Gerald McCarty was similar to Radavan Karavic, or was it Monica Lewinsky?
If the above is true than Loughnane must surely be Osama Bin Laden, taking on the dogs of war at Croke Park, motivating his warriors into battle, only to be denied by the referee's watch, which a reliable source informs me was purchased at a fair day in Ballinasloe for 50p (you know the one with the Mickey Mouse hands on it).
Whatever else, the adventures of the Clare terrorists is great entertainment and in stark contrast to the dirge unfulfilled Derry served up on Sunday last.
Over on RTE Marty Whelan was modeling himself on Fr Ted with his ``lovely girl competition'' presenting ``some lovely girls..... with some lovely stories..... and lovely dresses''.
This is indeed ``the 40th Rose of Tralee'', where thirty odd grand Irish colleens gather from around the globe to have escorts for a week, but aren't arrested, and to don giant sweet wrappers on stage, be patronised and wave to their mammies and daddies - a bit like a giant Late Late Show.
Last year the Dome blew down and we thought we would be spared but alas a permanent structure has been erected to ensure the permanency of schmaltz on stage.
Presented by the ``Daz man'' Marty Whelan, who despite being a likeable old bean, is unable to make the colleens bloom.
Katy from Boston likes children and loves the Irish, Linda from Leeds loves kids and can do a reel and Mary from Melbourne likes to steal cars and do heavy drugs.
Enough of the cynicism - I propose Marty Whelan to be replaced next year by North Kerry's very own Martin Ferris!
Finally Network 2 presents ``One year On'', this Saturday -''the nation mourns.... and commemorates the death of the People's Princess''-colonialism is alive and well!
Preview
Set your videos on Sunday for a repeat of the hunger strike documentary I gCillín an Bhais. It features interviews with Bik McFarlane, Laurence McKeown, Leo Green and Jackie McMullan and it's definitely not to be missed. It's at 7.30pm on TnaG.
By Sean O Donaile