Eoin Butler

Published: The Guardian CiF September 17 2010

Why did Ireland’s science minister agree to launch an anti-evolution book?

The decision, since reversed, by Ireland’s minister for science, Conor Lenihan, to speak at the launch of a book that condemns evolution as a hoax is a damning and depressing indictment of Irish politics. But not, perhaps, for the reason readers might expect. Read the rest of this entry »

Perhaps this Mexican man and his dancing dog will cheer you up…

That would be a (hic) ecumenical matter…

My favourite #Cowengate tweet today came from my old Mongrel colleague Alan Moloney (@wshdcomic):

Breaking News: Government are splitting Taoiseach into a Sober Taoiseach & a Pissed Taoiseach.

Lest we forget, I had a late night run-in of my own with Brian Cowen about six months ago.

Norm MacDonald on Conan O’Brien (1997)

His new show, entitled simply Conan, débuts on TBS in the States in November. But for my all time favourite O’Brien moment, you’d have to go back to the Late Show in 1997, and this appearance by Norm MacDonald, in which the comedian hilariously sabotages O’Brien’s interview with Courtney Thorne-Smith, one of the then-stars of Melrose Place. Whatever you do, make sure to watch the whole way through to the very end. Read the rest of this entry »

Published: Irish Times, September 11 2010

‘Shturdy, reliable fellas…’

The YouTube videos are crude and derivative. They are written and performed by rank amateurs, a fact that is glaringly apparent in almost every scene. The editing is shoddy. Plot structure is sometimes nonexistent. And the picture presented of life in rural Irish towns is as bleak and depressing as anything penned by the late John Healy.

Oh, and the nine Hardy Bucks’ Storyland webisodes also happen to be some of the funniest comedy shorts this country has ever produced. Read the rest of this entry »

Mediocrity at One’s Elbow

The other day Lauren Murphy wrote about her least favourite band of all time. It got me to thinking about my own personal bêtes noires. I saw Elbow for the first and only time in Vicar Street two years ago. It was shortly before they won the Mercury prize. They were riding a wave of acclaim, lauded by everyone from Pitchfork to The Sun.

It seemed to me a pretty pedestrian set by a very ordinary band. (Albeit, with a singer so concerned for the welfare of his audience, you might have mistaken it for a Make a Wish benefit.) But in the bar afterward, other journalists were unanimous in their praise, hurling superlatives about the place like confetti. It had been a sensation. The gig of the year. A triumph on a par with Hannibal crossing the Alps. Read the rest of this entry »

This is funny

Rob and Antoine are sleeping in the back seat. I’m up front, taking the brunt of the conversation.

“Two hundred fifty euro per month my son in Krakow earn, yes? First month in Buncrana is two thousand euro.” Like practically everyone we meet in Poland, Boguslaw has family working in Ireland. His new grandson is even an Irish citizen. “Of course, Donegal very beautiful. Atlantic Ocean very beautiful. But Spire of Dublin? Why you waste all money on this piece of shit?” He seems to expect some sort of answer. Oh, God… Read the rest of this article here.

Stradbally, September 5 2010: 4.12pm.

They didn’t show the All-Ireland hurling final at Electric Picnic for some reason this year. So on Sunday afternoon, my friend Conor and I made the long trek back to his car, which was parked in a stubbly field somewhere about three miles away, to listen to Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh’s commentary on the car radio. Read the rest of this entry »

Probably the smallest pub in Dublin

“Arjen Robben,” I announce, out of the blue. “What about him?” “If I had an identical bald twin, I think that’s who it would be.” Aidan doesn’t give a shit. Read the rest of this article here.