Eoin Butler: writer, journalist and Mayoman of the Year

Tripping Along The Ledge


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FIRST THERE WAS (2003)


The full audio track is here:
First There Was

SHURELY SHOME MISHTAKE?

wedliftTwo good friends of mine, who I’m very fond of, were married recently. (That’s not them in the picture, by the way – but it does, I think, convey something of the occasion.) At any rate, the groom emailed me a few weeks later looking for my new postal address. He and his wife, he said, wanted to thank me for my generous gift. No bother, I told him. They were very welcome. Read the rest of this entry »

“I’M NOT SURE WHAT THIS GUY’S PROBLEM IS, BUT HE’S POINTING AN AK-47 ASSAULT RIFLE AT ME, SO I PREFER NOT TO MAKE A FUSS…”

26cnd-hamas.600
What stands before me is a scene of utter desolation: the chalk remains of roads, buildings and farmland, bombed and bulldozed beyond any recognition… Read the rest of this article here.

TODAY ON THE INTERNET I LEARNED THAT…

cow
1. Being one of Google Image’s top 10 search returns for “cow” is a dubious honour. The massive surge of incoming traffic is welcome, bit until I start hosting 10-10-20 ads, the benefits are im-moo-terial.

2. Today not being April 1st, I’m assuming the French really are serious and McDonald’s are opening a restaurant in the Lourve.

3. You know, I didn’t laugh out at this once. This isn’t funny, only true.

4. Finally, someone I don’t know is having dreams about me and writing about them on the internet. She is, she assures me, definitely not crazy…

Published: Irish Times, 17 May 2008

RING THEM BELLS

christ church
“We’re a little short on numbers tonight,” laments Ian. “Lesley is on his holidays, Vivian’s gone salsa dancing. I’m not sure where Gayle’s gotten herself to.” Read the rest of this entry »

DAVID WATTS (1967)

JIM CORR: THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE (PART DEUX)

jim corr
Markham left an interesting comment here imagining a parallel universe in which Jim Corr’s sisters three sisters were “average-looking, tone-deaf munters.” I got to thinking about a different parallel universe, one in which the rest of us are woefully misguided, and Jim Corr and Charlie Sheen are the ones who know the truth. In which the Lisbon Treaty, 911, swine flu etc. really are all part of an extraordinarily elaborate plot to accomplish, erm… what exactly? Read the rest of this entry »

“TAKE MY HAND, LORD JESUS TAKE MY HAND…”

croagh patrick 2
Religious beliefs and practices in Mayo are informed by ancient tradition, galvanized by history and shot through always with the strangest, and most profound, ambiguity. Nowhere is this better illustrated than on the stony slopes of Croagh Patrick…Read the rest of this article here.

JEALOUS GUY (1971)


As much as I love this song, I gotta admit “I didn’t mean to hurt you” is one of the lamest excuses of all time. I should know, I’ve probably used it a hundred times to a hundred people. It’s not until someone uses it on you, though, that you realise how idiotic it is. Read the rest of this entry »

READERS LETTERS

mailbag-2Dear Eoin,

I’ve never been lucky when it comes to love. My first husband Michael was great with the kids and the sex was fantastic. But one day he ran off with my best friend Tracy and the contents of our bank account.

I found new love with Dan. He was great with the kids and the sex was fantastic. But one day he ran off with my brother-in-law Pete and the contents of my lingerie drawer.Read the rest of this article here.