What's with all the Anti-Arthur Day campaign ?

crusher000 · 23-09-2013 1:41pm

seamus wrote: »

All this anti-AD stuff has probably been cooked up by the Diageo marketing team.

Every second radio show and every single newspaper had been talking about Arthur's Day for the last week. You can't buy advertising like that.

The only ones being "duped" are the people who've jumped on the anti-AD bandwagon, unwittingly allowing themselves to be used in a big Diageo marketing campaign.

Let's put it this way; I've seen very few actual advertisements for Arthur's Day around. However, I still know that it's this Thursday because those opposed to it won't stop talking about it. By wittering on about it, they've basically ensured that everyone in the country knows Arthur's day is this Thursday, rather than just a subset of the population.

Can I say how absolutely right you are. It is of no importance to me either but all the ban, end talk has got more free press. I'm guessing this will be the biggest Arthur's Day yet. Mis guided anti-establishment we'll show them attitude. Now we're getting some where in this thread.

Corkbah · 23-09-2013 1:44pm

wolfpawnat wrote: »

Because we celebrate it as a national day, a day of getting drunk for no reason whatsoever! We have no national day of some kind for the things that matter in our history. We get stupid comments about the "Drunken Irish" which we try to dismiss, then we make a day like this. Nothing wrong with having a few at a weekend or the like, but a national day to a drinks company that are no longer even based in Ireland? It is great to have music and the like promoted, but it shouldn't be by making ourselves seem like absolute alcoholics.

I for one am sick of A&E's being riddled in stupidly drunk people wasting very valuable resources, and I am sick of the dirty "Drunken Irish" comments by some.

I agree - we should have a national no-A&E day (the day after Arthurs Day or to co-incide with Arthurs Day) ... where all A&E staff refuse to treat alcohol related injuries !, Garda could refuse to deal with alcohol related incidents (make it optional for safety reasons)

Duck's hoop · 23-09-2013 1:44pm

Excuse to drink. End of. People already talk like its been around for decades even though it's in it's 5th year.

Took about 2 years for people to start treating it like a national holiday. Total gob****ery.

Wattle · 23-09-2013 1:48pm

crusher000 wrote: »

Okay National Fish & Chip day lets have a go at that. Far more obese children from eating chips than drinking Guiness.

The Drunk'n Irish, we seem to use this term more than people form outside the Country so this is more an inner reflection on us , than a perception by people from outside the country. Bankrupt Ireland. Corrupt Ireland would be more apt names for some on this island than drunk'n.

Education not legislation will lead to responsible drinking, answer to everything increase taxes or ban.

The RSA probably lead the way in education didn't hear take the cars of the irresponsible , if you break the law your caught, the rest of the population that drive responsibly have nothing to fear. Same for those of us whom enjoy a drink, and yes may get taken in by marketing at times , but not all the time. Heineken Cup, Bulmers Comedy Festival. Alcohol sponsorship has funded many music festivals too. Will Christy et al be pulling out of these events ? As it's our money that goes towards them.

I travel a lot and as an Irishman that doesn't drink I always get the same amazed reaction: 'You don't drink? But your Irish?'. The reputation that we have as a nation of pissheads is entirely our own fault and things like Arthur's Day only perpetuates the stereotype.

crusher000 · 23-09-2013 1:57pm

Wattle wrote: »

I travel a lot and as an Irishman that doesn't drink I always get the same amazed reaction: 'You don't drink? But your Irish?'. The reputation that we have as a nation of pissheads is entirely our own fault and things like Arthur's Day only perpetuates the stereotype.

Which came first ? I have travelled as well to other countries and people there get drunk too. I think it's self perpetuating that has givien us the tag and not necessarily our International friends. Most of our tourism is based on Come to Ireland for the music and the crack. It doesn't say come and keep drinking until you fall face down in your own piss. The fact that 2500 pubs have closed means somethings gone ascue somewhere.

Come to Ireland buy your Dutch Gold in Tescos and sit on a wall blaggarden old women is becoming the new mantra.

Reekwind · 23-09-2013 2:03pm

Dravokivich wrote: »

Awec's comments are of an extreme nature, in response to PR against Arthur's Day being put out in an extreme nature. It's like for like. Its not direct intention on his part, its reactionary.

Where did Christy call anyone a Nazi or engage in otherwise "extreme" stunts? Where did he do anything so low as to dismiss a man for having addiction problems? Basically, what did Christy do to excuse these attacks on him?

Other than suggest that Arthur's Day is an advertising scam, of course

crusher000 wrote:

The only ones being "duped" are the people who've jumped on the anti-AD bandwagon, unwittingly allowing themselves to be used in a big Diageo marketing campaign

'I disagree with X and therefore I'm going to swallow my dissent and allow X to monopolise the airwaves.' Effective campaigning, that

crusher000 · 23-09-2013 2:12pm

When and where will people learn to drink responsibly ? Is it being brought to the pub with a guardian and sitting down having a chat over a pint , or a friend with fake ID with a plastic bag full of bottles down the park ?.

This is where the discussion around drink should be going and not a day in the year a drinks company has set aside where free living , repsonsible adults have the choice to go out if they wish , or ignore the hype if they want. Arguments against Arthurs day are mis directed in my humble opinion.

Dravokivich · 23-09-2013 2:21pm

Reekwind wrote: »

Where did Christy call anyone a Nazi or engage in otherwise "extreme" stunts? Where did he do anything so low as to dismiss a man for having addiction problems? Basically, what did Christy do to excuse these attacks on him?

Other than suggest that Arthur's Day is an advertising scam, of course

You do realise that he wasn't literally calling Christy a Nazi, it was figurative speech. Does this really need to be explained so basically to you or are you choosing to make more of it, than it is?

P_1 · 23-09-2013 2:26pm

To be honest the worst thing about Arthurs Day is seeing so many people who aren't used to drinking stout lashing it down their necks like it's going out of fashion. I'd imagine that Andrex were delighted that this 'holiday' came about.

Ol' Donie · 23-09-2013 2:29pm

Candie wrote: »

It's just disappointing that a whole nation, when told by a drinks company to go out on a particular day and buy their drinks, will not only do as they're told, like lemmings, but be so grateful for the instruction that they'll congratulate each other all day about it.

Was trying to articlate this, you've hit the nail on the head.

It's bad enough people go out and buy pints on a given day as decided by a drinks producer, but actually doing it as if it's some sort of tradition to be proud of is absurd.

Worst of all is the fact that this brand is always pushed as being Irish, when it's based in the UK. It's a national embarassment.

Do they bother trying to promote this in other countries?

I wonder would "Budweiser Day" be embraced in the States.

crusher000 · 23-09-2013 2:36pm

Worst of all is the fact that this brand is always pushed as being Irish, when it's based in the UK. It's a national embarassment.

We could say the same about our International soccer team. Okay I may have opened the doors of hell with this.

FTA69 · 23-09-2013 2:44pm

Christy Moore has always received hassle for calling as it is in this country, unfortunately many people in Ireland react badly to anyone who tells the truth in a blunt manner. When he wrote about British injustice in Ireland he was pilloried for supporting Republicanism, when he wrote about striking Dunnes workers people moaned at him for having a go at the "wealth creators" and now that he's mentioning a cynical, corporate marketing exercise he's getting whinged at again. The man is a major contributor to Irish music and has long articulated on behalf of the downtrodden. He undoubtedly has earned good money from his trade but he has also put his money where his mouth is. He has performed free gigs, attended protests and raised awareness for progressive issues across the world.

Arthur's Day is a joke. It's a cheap, plastic appropriation of Irish culture that plays up to the worst examples of the stereotype of the Irish drunk. Diageo is also trying to use this initiative to boost sales abroad, backed up with pictures of p*ssed Paddies in silly hats getting sh*t-faced in the middle of the week. On top of this, every year we see an influx into A and Es as well as the usual scrote-acting across the country.

I love a good session, probably too much to be honest. I have nothing against people having the craic and obviously individuals make their own choice on what to drink or what not to drink. That doesn't mean however, that we shouldn't be able to have a discussion about the level of boozing in Ireland or the role of multinationals in trying to fuel that. Christy is as entitled as any to point out how this is a pile of b*llocks.

awec · 23-09-2013 2:44pm

Ol' Donie wrote: »

Worst of all is the fact that this brand is always pushed as being Irish, when it's based in the UK. It's a national embarassment.

Oh ffs. Hyperbole much?

nelly17 · 23-09-2013 2:46pm

Ol' Donie wrote: »

Was trying to articlate this, you've hit the nail on the head.

It's bad enough people go out and buy pints on a given day as decided by a drinks producer, but actually doing it as if it's some sort of tradition to be proud of is absurd.

Worst of all is the fact that this brand is always pushed as being Irish, when it's based in the UK. It's a national embarassment.

Do they bother trying to promote this in other countries?

I wonder would "Budweiser Day" be embraced in the States.

The phrase - Turkeys Voting for Cristmas - Comes to mind

Pingi · 23-09-2013 2:48pm

Big names, small venues, €10 tickets and the surprise element of it.

Grand.

hatrickpatrick · 23-09-2013 2:51pm

crusher000 wrote: »

Worst of all is the fact that this brand is always pushed as being Irish, when it's based in the UK. It's a national embarassment.

Technically U2 are based in the Netherlands and have been for about half a decade, does this mean we can no longer regard them as part of Irish music culture? :rolleyes:

We could say the same about our International soccer team. Okay I may have opened the doors of hell with this.

"...The only reason I have any dealings with you is because somehow you're manager of my country, and you're not even Irish... You English ****." -- Roy Keane (allegedly) to Mick McCarthy, 2002

The doors of hell, indeed!

FTA69 · 23-09-2013 2:53pm

Duck's hoop wrote: »

Excuse to drink. End of. People already talk like its been around for decades even though it's in it's 5th year.

Took about 2 years for people to start treating it like a national holiday. Total gob****ery.

I remember the first year and the people I live with called me down to the pub for this new thing, "Arthur's Day". I thought they were giving away free Guinness so off I hopped. There were four people I knew sitting around the table sipping on stout that they obviously hated, that childish grimace people who've never tasted stout get.

They bought so much into a marketing ploy they went out and bought something they didn't even like because they were told to. Ridiculous isn't the word.

C14N · 23-09-2013 2:56pm

I don't really care much about it one way or another but I can see why some people hate it. It's treated like it's some sort of traditional holiday but it's completely based around alcohol consumption. OP mentioned the German beer-fests and that's a good point but to the best of my knowledge, those aren't monopolized by a single company, it's about a variety of locally brewed beers generally instead. Also, it is an actual tradition that stemmed from the harvest, it wasn't just made up by a marketing team to sell Guinness to kids who don't normally drink it.

Still, they do organise the live shows and that's a bit of fun. Have fun if you want, it does seem like a bit of an excessively moralising thing if this "don't celebrate Arthur's day" is actually a campaign with advertising. If you don't like the day then just stay at home and watch telly for one evening.

Saruman · 23-09-2013 3:00pm

Busted Flat. wrote: »

What product in this country is truly Irish ?. Apart from beef.

Since we are talking about beer here... how about we start with O'Hara's stout, move on to Porterhouse and work our way from there until we reach the approximately 30 Irish owned breweries we have?

Some people say they celebrate Arthur's day to celebrate Irishness. Well then, drink a truly Irish product and not one owned by a foreign company head-quartered in London.

Wattle · 23-09-2013 3:03pm

crusher000 wrote: »

Which came first ? I have travelled as well to other countries and people there get drunk too. I think it's self perpetuating that has givien us the tag and not necessarily our International friends. Most of our tourism is based on Come to Ireland for the music and the crack. It doesn't say come and keep drinking until you fall face down in your own piss. The fact that 2500 pubs have closed means somethings gone ascue somewhere.

Come to Ireland buy your Dutch Gold in Tescos and sit on a wall blaggarden old women is becoming the new mantra.

Of course it doesn't say that but if I was a tourist observing the antics at closing time and the fact that we have a drinks company dedicating a day to going on the lash I'd say I'd get the impression that drinking until you fall down in your own piss is something that the Irish do regularly and often. Hence the reputation.

ScumLord · 23-09-2013 3:03pm

Wattle wrote: »

I travel a lot and as an Irishman that doesn't drink I always get the same amazed reaction: 'You don't drink? But your Irish?'. The reputation that we have as a nation of pissheads is entirely our own fault and things like Arthur's Day only perpetuates the stereotype.

I don't necessarily think it's a reputation of being pissheads, more of partiers. The English have a reputation of being pissheads when abroad. I feel like when you tell foreign people your Irish it's them that wants to go drinking using your nationality as an excuse. Whenever you tell them you don't want to go drinking it's not a look of shock I get, it's more a look of disappointment.

Wattle · 23-09-2013 3:10pm

ScumLord wrote: »

I don't necessarily think it's a reputation of being pissheads, more of partiers. The English have a reputation of being pissheads when abroad. I feel like when you tell foreign people your Irish it's them that wants to go drinking using your nationality as an excuse. Whenever you tell them you don't want to go drinking it's not a look of shock I get, it's more a look of disappointment.

Yeah but that partying usually involves drinking yourself into a virtual coma which is something that most nationalities just don't do.

ScumLord · 23-09-2013 3:18pm

Wattle wrote: »

Yeah but that partying usually involves drinking yourself into a virtual coma which is something that most nationalities just don't do.

No, but that's why they love to see us come along. They treat us like we're the international duffman.

Busted Flat. · 23-09-2013 3:21pm

Saruman wrote: »

Since we are talking about beer here... how about we start with O'Hara's stout, move on to Porterhouse and work our way from there until we reach the approximately 30 Irish owned breweries we have?

Some people say they celebrate Arthur's day to celebrate Irishness. Well then, drink a truly Irish product and not one owned by a foreign company head-quartered in London.

Where are you getting 30 breweries from.

Beamish/Crawford and Murphy stout is owned by Scottish and Newcastle.

FTA69 · 23-09-2013 3:24pm

Busted Flat. wrote: »

Where are you getting 30 breweries from.

Beamish/Crawford and Murphy stout is owned by Scottish and Newcastle.

I imagine he means the micro-breweries that are gaining popularity. For a nation that prides ourselves on our drinking culture we for the most part only drink bland p*ss-water.

paulbok · 23-09-2013 3:26pm

Dravokivich wrote: »

It's a yearly thing, people want to seem like they aren't taken in by an advertising campaign and show that they are stronger then everyone else who falls for it.

It's easy to keep away from them and they are generally only around for a week to one and a half weeks.

Except for Christmas, thats been going for about 5 weeks now.

irish_goat · 23-09-2013 3:26pm

Busted Flat. wrote: »

Where are you getting 30 breweries from.

Beamish/Crawford and Murphy stout is owned by Scottish and Newcastle.

Beamish and Murphys are now owned by Heineken.

keithclancy · 23-09-2013 3:28pm

Busted Flat. wrote: »

Where are you getting 30 breweries from.

Beamish/Crawford and Murphy stout is owned by Scottish and Newcastle.

Scottish and Newcastle is owned by the Heineken/Carlsberg consortium

Orignally Heineken tried to purchase Beamish but were shot down by the competition authority due to already owning Murphys.

hatrickpatrick · 23-09-2013 3:48pm

FTA69 wrote: »

I remember the first year and the people I live with called me down to the pub for this new thing, "Arthur's Day". I thought they were giving away free Guinness so off I hopped. There were four people I knew sitting around the table sipping on stout that they obviously hated, that childish grimace people who've never tasted stout get.

They bought so much into a marketing ploy they went out and bought something they didn't even like because they were told to. Ridiculous isn't the word.

In fairness, if they were genuinely "people who've never tasted stout before" as you say, it's sort of understandable - does anyone like it the first time? It's very much an acquired taste and takes more getting used to than lager (in my opinion anyway).

I think one crucial thing is the sippage aspect. Guinness (and stout in general) are made to be enjoyed slowly over a fair amount of time. Lagers are made with faster consumption in mind, and as a result, if you're used to drinking lager, it's easy to get into the horrible mistake of "swigging" your Guinness... Which I'm sure we'll all agree is a fairly unpleasant experience.

xgwishyx · 23-09-2013 3:49pm

Here are my options for Thursday 26th:

Option 1: Finish work and head home for a evening of TV, ironing, maybe some Xbox.

Option 2: Myself and a few colleagues pop to the pub after work for a pint or two, have a chat and a laugh about non-work things, and then I'll head home happy at a reasonable hour, ready for work again Friday morning.

I imagine that most of the country will be following option 2 if they go out Thursday, so I really don't see the issue with Arthurs Day on principle, it's the usual drunken louts that will ruin it for everyone, not the vast majority.

FTA69 · 23-09-2013 4:01pm

hatrickpatrick wrote: »

In fairness, if they were genuinely "people who've never tasted stout before" as you say, it's sort of understandable - does anyone like it the first time? It's very much an acquired taste and takes more getting used to than lager (in my opinion anyway).

That's not the point mate. They bought a product that they knew they didn't like simply because they were told to in an ad. It's ridiculous. I don't like cider for instance. And I wouldn't rush out to buy one because Magners sponsor a rugby league and extol the virtues of 17 types of apple and all that other sh*t.

Which I'm sure we'll all agree is a fairly unpleasant experience.

Not at all. I know people who'll drink a pint of stout in 4 odd gulps. One of the best things about a decent pint of Guinness is the ability to neck it.

Busted Flat. · 23-09-2013 4:08pm

FTA69 wrote: »

hatrickpatrick wrote: »

That's not the point mate. They bought a product that they knew they didn't like simply because they were told to in an ad. It's ridiculous. I don't like cider for instance. And I wouldn't rush out to buy one because Magners sponsor a rugby league and extol the virtues of 17 types of apple and all that other sh*t.

Not at all. I know people who'll drink a pint of stout in 4 odd gulps. One of the best things about a decent pint of Guinness is the ability to neck it.

Two gulps taste better.

Rented Mule · 23-09-2013 4:09pm

My question is 'why aren't these people complaining about Oxegen and Electric Picnic' ? Do they not have sponsors who sell alcohol ?

Is there not alcohol sold at almost every sporting event in the country ?
Is these not alcohol sold at almost every music event (including Waterboys and Christy Moore shows) ?

Mr Whirly · 23-09-2013 4:13pm

Rented Mule wrote: »

My question is 'why aren't these people complaining about Oxegen and Electric Picnic' ? Do they not have sponsors who sell alcohol ?

Is there not alcohol sold at almost every sporting event in the country ?
Is these not alcohol sold at almost every music event (including Waterboys and Christy Moore shows) ?

It's not really the same thing. Music festivals revolve around music. Arthur's Day revolves around Guinness.

Incidentally I have been to Christy Moore gigs where no drink has been sold.

Reekwind · 23-09-2013 4:18pm

Dravokivich wrote: »

You do realise that he wasn't literally calling Christy a Nazi, it was figurative speech. Does this really need to be explained so basically to you or are you choosing to make more of it, than it is?

You're pretty determined to avoid actually addressing any of my points, aren't you?

Rented Mule wrote:

My question is 'why aren't these people complaining about Oxegen and Electric Picnic' ? Do they not have sponsors who sell alcohol ?

Does Electric Picnic really have pretensions to being a national holiday that celebrates Guinness? I never noticed

Rented Mule · 23-09-2013 4:23pm

Mr Whirly wrote: »

It's not really the same thing. Music festivals revolve around music. Arthur's Day revolves around Guinness.

Incidentally I have been to Christy Moore gigs where no drink has been sold.

Do they not have music at Arthur's Day ? (Sorry for quoting Wiki)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur%27s_Day

Arthur's Day refers to an annual series of music events worldwide, first organised by Diageo in 2009 to promote the 250th anniversary of its Guinness brewing company.

Incidentally, I have been at Christy Moore shows where they did serve alcohol ....and Christy was drinking.

Rented Mule · 23-09-2013 4:33pm

Reekwind wrote: »

Does Electric Picnic really have pretensions to being a national holiday that celebrates Guinness? I never noticed

Funny. The tagline on the website says 'Showcasing Ireland's Talent and Creativity'.

http://www.guinness.com/en-ie/arthursday/

Mr Whirly · 23-09-2013 4:38pm

They have music at some events, not all of them though.

Duck's hoop · 23-09-2013 4:40pm

xgwishyx wrote: »

Here are my options for Thursday 26th:

Option 1: Finish work and head home for a evening of TV, ironing, maybe some Xbox.

Option 2: Myself and a few colleagues pop to the pub after work for a pint or two, have a chat and a laugh about non-work things, and then I'll head home happy at a reasonable hour, ready for work again Friday morning.

Pretty shīt options tbf.

Reekwind · 23-09-2013 4:40pm

I'm confused. Is Rented Mule suggesting that Arthur's Day - an occasion launched by Guinness, sponsored exclusively by Guinness, organised by Guinness and with the purpose of selling Guinness - does not revolve around Guinness?

xgwishyx · 23-09-2013 4:41pm

Duck's hoop wrote: »

Pretty shīt options tbf.

Have any other suggestions?

P_1 · 23-09-2013 4:45pm

Reekwind wrote: »

I'm confused. Is Rented Mule suggesting that Arthur's Day - an occasion launched by Guinness, sponsored exclusively by Guinness, organised by Guinness and with the purpose of selling Guinness - does not revolve around Guinness?

No it's also about Diageo and other Diageo related products.

awec · 23-09-2013 4:48pm

hatrickpatrick wrote: »

In fairness, if they were genuinely "people who've never tasted stout before" as you say, it's sort of understandable - does anyone like it the first time? It's very much an acquired taste and takes more getting used to than lager (in my opinion anyway).

I think one crucial thing is the sippage aspect. Guinness (and stout in general) are made to be enjoyed slowly over a fair amount of time. Lagers are made with faster consumption in mind, and as a result, if you're used to drinking lager, it's easy to get into the horrible mistake of "swigging" your Guinness... Which I'm sure we'll all agree is a fairly unpleasant experience.

You feel like you do just after you've finished your Christmas dinner and are barely able to move!

23-09-2013 4:53pm

Anti Arthur campaign = great for Guinness. All publicity.

I was out at the first few but it's kinda like a student night now so don't bother.

€2.50 a pint of Guinness, can't really argue with that.

You don't like it, stay away from it.

The amount of whinging pc fcukers in Ireland is incredible.

ScumLord · 23-09-2013 5:02pm

Mr Whirly wrote: »

It's not really the same thing. Music festivals revolve around music. Arthur's Day revolves around Guinness.

Music festivals revolve around the promotion of chart music and music sales. People under the influence of media pressure to idolise manufactured music can have a lot of problems similar to drug addiction IMO. Ban the lot of them!

Mr Whirly · 23-09-2013 5:09pm

ScumLord wrote: »

Music festivals revolve around the promotion of chart music and music sales. People under the influence of media pressure to idolise manufactured music can have a lot of problems similar to drug addiction IMO. Ban the lot of them!

I don't really have a problem with it at all. Companies can advertise whatever way they want. Christy Moore can point out what he doesn't like about it. Everyone else can decide whether they want to buy into it or not.

It's grand.

Standman · 23-09-2013 5:12pm

RobertKK wrote: »

I can't believe people fall for Arthur's day, which Diageo claim is to celebrate the pub and Irish music.
It is a marketing campaign with the simple point of raising brand awareness, and increasing the profits of Diageo.

A 30% rise in A&E admissions last year show there are a lot of people who fall for Diageo's marketing campaign, which is good news for the people who have invested in their shares, rather than those who invested in potential liver problems.

As much as I dislike Arthurs day, those people who make up the 30% rise in A&E admissions have no one to blame but themselves.

Rented Mule · 23-09-2013 5:33pm

Reekwind wrote: »

I'm confused. Is Rented Mule suggesting that Arthur's Day - an occasion launched by Guinness, sponsored exclusively by Guinness, organised by Guinness and with the purpose of selling Guinness - does not revolve around Guinness?

So there is nothing positive coming out of Arthur's Day ? There are no jobs created ? There isn't any exposure for the Irish bands and festivals that they sponsor around the country ? There aren't any new revenue streams created at the 500+ Free music events/1000+ performers and 'creative showcase events' ?

If none of this is happening, please let us know. The fact that Guinness is sponsoring the events means nothing to me. You're not looking at the bigger picture.

C14N · 23-09-2013 5:44pm

ScumLord wrote: »

Music festivals revolve around the promotion of chart music and music sales. People under the influence of media pressure to idolise manufactured music can have a lot of problems similar to drug addiction IMO. Ban the lot of them!

Well in fairness the likes of Electric Picnic and Oxegen don't really have many big chart bands that have all the promotion that labels can put behind them. The vast majority of acts are 20-something year olds that nobody has heard of and who don't normally get to play to a crowd this size.

Reekwind · 23-09-2013 6:01pm

ScumLord wrote: »

Music festivals revolve around the promotion of chart music and music sales. People under the influence of media pressure to idolise manufactured music can have a lot of problems similar to drug addiction IMO. Ban the lot of them!

Your opinion is wrong

But that's not even the point. How many people here would be "whinging" if the 27 Sept was declared 'National Westlife Day' and there was a massive media campaign to encourage everyone to buy Westlife tracks and their songs were omnipresent?

Rented Mule wrote:

So there is nothing positive coming out of Arthur's Day ? There are no jobs created ? There isn't any exposure for the Irish bands and festivals that they sponsor around the country ? There aren't any new revenue streams created at the 500+ Free music events/1000+ performers and 'creative showcase events' ?

To be honest, that's pretty inane. There would be positives from turning the GPO into a MacDonalds but I'd still say that it's a stupid idea

What's with all the Anti-Arthur Day campaign ?

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