Ireland voted Bohemian elfish President?

caseyann

There you go insults already on our head of state.Disgusting and disrespectful.:mad:
I was not a backer of his or any of the others but i would not insult them like that and expect respect from other countries media.

The BBC is calling him "bohemian" while The Associated Press called him "elfish".


http://www.irishexaminer.com/racetothearas/news/bohemian-elfish-elderly-poet-world-media-descriptions-of-michael-d-526339.html

PARKHEAD67

The Washington Times wrote: "Ireland has never seen a presidential election quite like it - a reality TV star, a poet, a former terrorist, a conservative pop singer and a gay rights activist all campaigning for one position."


Gotta love the Yanks. So stuck up their own hole that they write crap like this.God almighty. I was once asked by a yank cousin of mine-"Do you guys have microwaves in Ireland"? I nearly laughed my hole off.

jimmycrackcorm

The headlines should really read Ireland couldn't produce a decent choice of candidates. Well we have him now and news is just that and fleeting. Hopefully MDH will actually make some use of the term to justify his election.

Jarren

DUBLIN — Ireland has never seen a presidential election quite like it: a reality-TV star, a poet, a former terrorist, a conservative pop singer and a gay-rights activist all campaigning for a position with no real power.

“It’s the campaign of the seven dwarfs racing around the country addressing television cameras,” said David Farrell, professor of politics at University College Dublin. “You’re voting for an office that’s virtually powerless.”

Polls will open Thursday with seven candidates vying for Ireland’s highest constitutional office. Executive authority in Ireland resides with the Cabinet; the president serves only as the head of state.

Even so, the popular two-term outgoing president, Mary McAleese, is credited with pushing along the peace process that brought an end to bloody civil conflict in Northern Ireland in 1998.

This time, the big issue is what Ireland should do to recover from its economic crash, a difficult topic to address for a would-be president lacking real influence in policymaking.

Opinion polls have been volatile, but show the front-runner as independent candidate Sean Gallagher, star of “Dragons’ Den,” a reality-TV show about business opportunities. Polls suggest that Mr. Gallagher will win 38 percent to 40 percent of the vote.

Mr. Gallagher has presented himself as an “Everyman” candidate, and his message has been job creation. His words have been well-received despite the revelation that he was once a member of the centrist Fianna Fail (Soldiers of Destiny) political party.

Fianna Fail, which had governed 61 of the past 79 years, was roundly defeated in March’s elections, dropping from 71 to 20 seats in parliament. The party was widely accused of economic mismanagement and was so humiliated in the last election that it did not field a candidate this time.

But his association with Fianna Fail apparently hadn’t hurt Mr. Gallagher until Monday. That was when it was revealed that Mr. Gallagher received a $6,900 check in 2009 from a business on behalf of Fianna Fail, a fact he previously denied.

It is not clear how the revelation will affect his campaign.

“He wasn’t resonating at the start of the campaign, he was just this ‘Dragons’ Den’ person, and now he’s the one to beat,” Mr. Farrell said of Mr. Gallagher.

Coming second in polls, with 26 percent, is poet and former government minister Michael Higgins, who represents the center-left Labor Party, the junior partner in Ireland’s coalition government. At 70, he is the oldest candidate.

An early top performer in the polls, David Norris is a gay-rights campaigner who sued his homeland in the European Court of Human Rights in 1988 to force Ireland to decriminalize homosexuality.

Mr. Norris, who has said repeatedly that he stands unashamedly for the liberal agenda, was an early favorite, but now is polling between 6 percent and 10 percent.

His campaign was hurt by the revelation that he wrote several letters to Israel’s government and courts to plead for leniency for his former lover, Ezra Nawi, who had been convicted of the statutory rape of a Palestinian boy.

This followed the surfacing of a 2002 magazine interview in which Mr. Norris said there was “something to be said” for “classic pedophilia, as practiced by the Greeks, for example, where it is an older man introducing a younger man or boy to adult life.”

Mr. Norris, who has served in parliament for 25 years, said his remarks had been taken out of context and has complained of a concerted effort to damage his credibility as a candidate.

Sinn Fein’s candidate, Martin McGuinness, also has been making waves.

Mr. McGuinness, a former Irish Republican Army (IRA) leader, is now deputy first minister of the British-administered Northern Ireland state. His bid for the presidency of the Republic of Ireland is widely seen as part of Sinn Fein’s long-term strategy to build support for uniting the island as a single republic. Opponents and commentators have harped on Mr. McGuinness’ violent past.

But Danny Morrison, a novelist and former director of publicity for Sinn Fein, says criticism of Mr. McGuinness is hypocritical and that almost all of Ireland’s post-independence political leaders had been IRA members.

“All of them are secure in their position in society because of what people did between 1919 and 1921,” Mr. Morrison said, referring to the IRA campaign for independence from Britain and subsequent civil war.

“What they’re really saying is, ‘It’s OK for your grandfathers [to fight for independence], but not you.’ If the criteria they’re applying to McGuinness had applied to [those in] post-independence government, the country would have been ungovernable.”

Polling between 13 percent and 17 percent, Mr. McGuinness is expected to finish third, which would represent a victory for a party once considered a pariah owing to its connection to the now-disbanded IRA terrorist group.
Meanwhile, Gay Mitchell, who represents the ruling conservative Fine Gael (Family of the Irish) party, is trailing badly.
A noted conservative Catholic and pro-life campaigner as well as a pro-European Union voice, Mr. Mitchell has failed to capitalize on his party’s surge to power in March’s general election, and polls place him in fifth place, with 6 percent.
Other hopefuls are “Dana” Rosemary Scallon, a 1970s pop singer who is campaigning on a pro-life and anti-EU ticket, and Mary Davis, managing director of Special Olympics Europe and Eurasia.

Ms. Scallon’s campaign has been dogged with controversies, adding to what is termed in political circles as “the soap-opera-like nature” of the election.

She first denied allegations against a “family member,” but refused to identify the allegations or the relative. It later emerged that the charges had to do with the alleged sexual abuse of her niece, who lives in Iowa, by her brother. Her niece’s mother, Ms. Scallon’s sister, had accused the candidate of covering up the incident.

Later, Ms. Scallon’s car narrowly avoided careering off a road because of a flat tire, and her husband suggested it may have been an assassination attempt. “What were they trying to do — injure us or murder us?” said Damien Scallon.

Irish police officials said Monday that they had ruled out that scenario.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/oct/26/irish-presidential-race-attracts-motley-crew-of-ca/?page=all

For mobile phone users:)

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

caseyann wrote: »

There you go insults already on our head of state.Disgusting and disrespectful.:mad:
I was not a backer of his or any of the others but i would not insult them like that and expect respect from other countries media.

The BBC is calling him "bohemian" while The Associated Press called him "elfish".


http://www.irishexaminer.com/racetothearas/news/bohemian-elfish-elderly-poet-world-media-descriptions-of-michael-d-526339.html

Why would you call "bohemian" an insult? To me that indicates someone who is artisitc, cultral and realxed.

PARKHEAD67 wrote: »

The Washington Times wrote: "Ireland has never seen a presidential election quite like it - a reality TV star, a poet, a former terrorist, a conservative pop singer and a gay rights activist all campaigning for one position."


Gotta love the Yanks. So stuck up their own hole that they write crap like this.God almighty. I was once asked by a yank cousin of mine-"Do you guys have microwaves in Ireland"? I nearly laughed my hole off.

What part of their discription is incorrect? To me that's pretty much what it was.

Also, you can't complain about Americans not knowing about Ireland and then portray the whole lot of them as being ignorant with an urban myth.

Cavehill Red

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

The headlines should really read Ireland couldn't produce a decent choice of candidates. Well we have him now and news is just that and fleeting. Hopefully MDH will actually make some use of the term to justify his election.

Ireland produced a perfectly reasonable range of presidential candidates, certainly by US standards.
Higgins, Norris, Mitchell, McGuinness and Scallon are all politically experienced at very high levels (Oireachtas, European parliament, etc). Mary Davis was responsible for a large international charity. Even Sean Gallagher had some merit to his candidacy.
One might more convincingly argue that previous elections threw up insufficient choice of candidates (2004 - McAleese V no one), (1997 - a law academic and RTE hack versus a minor charity worker - Adi Roche versus a former singer - Scallon as she then was versus a retired garda - Nally versus one MEP - Mary Banotti).
This election saw the development of serious media scrutiny of candidates alongside political dirty tricks for the first time (Lenihan's implosion in 1990, while similar to the smearing of Norris with the airing of ancient interviews from an amateur journalist, was not an arranged hatchet job).
That led to a situation (sityiation?) where one by one the favoured candidates fell out of popularity, first Norris, then Gallagher, in wild oscillations of public opinion, indicating only soft support for any individual candidate. McGuinness and Scallon, carrying certain cultural baggage, could never win. Davis also lost what little support she had due to the 'quango queen' attack. Mitchell was the wrong candidate for FG, and suffered from a backlash against the government who were elected to replace Fianna Fail's disaster in power, and have done nothing to deviate from that party's economic policies.
In the end, Michael D Higgins was the only candidate left unsmeared, a venerable and well-liked individual not associable with any controversy.
This doesn't mean he was a poor candidate. By contrast, it means that his candidacy was robustly tested and, unlike others, was not found wanting.
I concur with your hope that he will make good use of his new role.

[Jackass]

Anyone who calls a candidate an "Elfish, poetic, gay activist and possibly a terrorist" really took Gay Mitchells debate comments out of context.

caseyann

Ikky Poo2 wrote: »

Why would you call "bohemian" an insult? To me that indicates someone who is artisitc, cultral and realxed.



What part of their discription is incorrect? To me that's pretty much what it was.

Also, you can't complain about Americans not knowing about Ireland and then portray the whole lot of them as being ignorant with an urban myth.

You obviously do not know what a bohemian really means then.:D

I would expect media to a bit more gracious and informed on other peoples heads of state.
And i wouldn't imagine Parkhead meant all Americans just the particular ones who are writing such crap.

Yahew

caseyann wrote: »

You obviously do not know what a bohemian really means then.:

He does, you know.

I would expect media to a bit more gracious and informed on other peoples heads of state.

Like the way we eulogised Bush, or Republicans love Mrs Windsor?

And i wouldn't imagine Parkhead meant all Americans just the particular ones who are writing such crap.

His anecdote seemed to apply to all.


Gotta love the Yanks. So stuck up their own hole that they write crap like this..., and then his anecdote

Einhard

caseyann wrote: »

There you go insults already on our head of state.Disgusting and disrespectful.:mad:
I was not a backer of his or any of the others but i would not insult them like that and expect respect from other countries media.

The BBC is calling him "bohemian" while The Associated Press called him "elfish".


http://www.irishexaminer.com/racetothearas/news/bohemian-elfish-elderly-poet-world-media-descriptions-of-michael-d-526339.html

Since when has bohemian been an insult? As for elfish- he is! I think you're getting your knickers in a twist about nothing.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

caseyann wrote: »

You obviously do not know what a bohemian really means then.:D

I would expect media to a bit more gracious and informed on other peoples heads of state.
And i wouldn't imagine Parkhead meant all Americans just the particular ones who are writing such crap.

I know the origins of the word, but I still don't see it as an insult. Pretty sure they weren't intending to call him a knacker. There's a football team called Bohemians, isn't there?

And Parkhead's comments are hypocritical (unless his microwave-loving cousin wrote the article in question).

Son Of A Vidic

I wonder if little Michael D was 6.6ft tall, would he then be described as a 'lanky stick insect'?

EI_Flyboy

To think, it could have read Machiavellian troglodyte, erudite Queen, pious songbird, angry homophobe, grumpy guerrilla, not so sure about Mary Davis though... Mother Teresa or serial junketer...?

walrusgumble

PARKHEAD67 wrote: »

The Washington Times wrote: "Ireland has never seen a presidential election quite like it - a reality TV star, a poet, a former terrorist, a conservative pop singer and a gay rights activist all campaigning for one position."


Gotta love the Yanks. So stuck up their own hole that they write crap like this.God almighty. I was once asked by a yank cousin of mine-"Do you guys have microwaves in Ireland"? I nearly laughed my hole off.

God bless America, didn't they have an actor for president, a failed actor who tried for the Republican ticket last time out, a war criminal as President, a delluded woman with crazy religious n political beliefs etc. If that was America few of our candidates would never have got going, some might have been shot. sure aren't we great all together

Sand

Michael D is a ridiculous figure of few accomplishments - that might be politely ignored in Ireland, but thats who we have elected as our head of state and we cant expect others to ignore it as politely as we do. Not after being so vocal in our mainly negative views of other countries heads of state.

Mickey D is pretty good at dishing out the abuse - I'm sure hes able to take it.

walrusgumble

caseyann wrote: »

You obviously do not know what a bohemian really means then.:D

I would expect media to a bit more gracious and informed on other peoples heads of state.
And i wouldn't imagine Parkhead meant all Americans just the particular ones who are writing such crap.

enlighten us with your idea of what boheminan is so. If you ever read Michael D's contributions in Hot Press, watched his brilliant appearances on Don't Feed The Gonolas or Dermott Morgan's piss takes on him you will see why Michael D is liked and the image he intentionally protrayed all his life. The elfish bit is a bit mean,but unlikely to offend him. Nothing really that wrong with the article

walrusgumble

Sand wrote: »

Michael D is a ridiculous figure of few accomplishments - that might be politely ignored in Ireland, but thats who we have elected as our head of state and we cant expect others to ignore it as politely as we do. Not after being so vocal in our mainly negative views of other countries heads of state.

Mickey D is pretty good at dishing out the abuse - I'm sure hes able to take it.

Strong responsibility for establishin T NA G / TG4 , removal of media ban on Sinn Fein. he has raised "sexy" and non sexy human rights issues home n abroad,not his fault if majority ignore him

EI_Flyboy

Sand wrote: »

Michael D is a ridiculous figure of few accomplishments - that might be politely ignored in Ireland, but thats who we have elected as our head of state and we cant expect others to ignore it as politely as we do. Not after being so vocal in our mainly negative views of other countries heads of state.

Mickey D is pretty good at dishing out the abuse - I'm sure hes able to take it.

Eh yeah, what rock have you been living under...? TG4, ever heard of it? Or the film incentives that brought the likes of Braveheart to Ireland? Maybe you'd also like to politely ignore his campaigning for human rights around the world...?

Sand

@walrusgumble

Strong responsibility for establishin T NA G / TG4 , removal of media ban on Sinn Fein. he has raised "sexy" and non sexy human rights issues home n abroad,not his fault if majority ignore him

Yeah, I think "few accomplishments" covered it. Not sure that establishing a white elephant like TG4 even counts as an accomplishment.

laoch na mona

the man has done so much (i.e tg4) the rest of the world can politely fu*c off

EI_Flyboy

Sand wrote: »

@walrusgumble


Yeah, I think "few accomplishments" covered it. Not sure that establishing a white elephant like TG4 even counts as an accomplishment.

I often wonder why it is that when some people get caught out on being woefully misinformed that they further insist on digging themselves deeper into hole...

caseyann

walrusgumble wrote: »

enlighten us with your idea of what boheminan is so. If you ever read Michael D's contributions in Hot Press, watched his brilliant appearances on Don't Feed The Gonolas or Dermott Morgan's piss takes on him you will see why Michael D is liked and the image he intentionally protrayed all his life. The elfish bit is a bit mean,but unlikely to offend him. Nothing really that wrong with the article

A bohemian is a Roma gypsy it is basically lower class human used by the french.

If you ever read anything i said about Mickey D i have no misconceptions of what he has done in Ireland so i dont know why you are preaching at me.
You are entitled to your opinion whether you think it is meant as an insult or not.And i am taking the opinion it is.If Irish were to write any such thing about their presidents their would be a different attitude altogether.Rather than the typical Irish ly down and take it.
And i wouldn't if i was him take offence to it either because its pure bad media and ignorant.

Yahew

caseyann wrote: »

A bohemian is a Roma gypsy it is basically lower class human used by the french.

you are making up your own versions of words now. Fair play.

walrusgumble

Sand wrote: »

@walrusgumble


Yeah, I think "few accomplishments" covered it. Not sure that establishing a white elephant like TG4 even counts as an accomplishment.

in all the ministerial positions he held, ones that suited his skills,ie communications and his stint as culure and gaeltact that is a major achievement. he capaigned for that years before being a minister.it nearly did not go through.he can hardly be accused for giving lip service to the language. all o'cuiv is remembered for is Dingle/An Daingean. TG4 is a huge success and copared to the budget it gets it provides far more intelligent work,and shows deep interest in matters beyond Ireland

paddyandy

What should we expect...what do we deserve?

SamHarris

Imagine that? A news agency commenting on another head of state. Im just proud our own publications never do the same. :rolleyes:

I've always noticed this about my fellow Irish - an inferiority complex amoungst many that leads them to being furious when a particular social issue/ public figure from here is criticised/ made fun of in a large foreign publication. Same BS when Leno made fun of the picture of Cowen with beer, suddenly all the radio personalities who daily would make fun of Bush or make "jokes" about how stupid Americans are end up nearly in tears over the "disrespect".

Pretty good descripition, ditto with the Washington Post. Even if it wasnt I wouldnt give a damn.

Why do I have a feeling caseyann/ Parkhead are not furuious over near daily drivel in opinion pieces about foreign heads of state? Indeed, I have absolutly no doubt they are exactly the type to laugh the loudest if its intentionally insulting, judging by their previous posts.

southsiderosie

caseyann wrote: »

A bohemian is a Roma gypsy it is basically lower class human used by the french.

What? Um, no. The word has its roots in gypsy culture, but the common accepted usage of the word is for someone who lives alternative, anti-establishment lifestyle, usually as an artist, musician or intellectual. Please read past the first paragraph of wikipedia, lol.

caseyann wrote: »

If you ever read anything i said about Mickey D i have no misconceptions of what he has done in Ireland so i dont know why you are preaching at me.
You are entitled to your opinion whether you think it is meant as an insult or not.And i am taking the opinion it is.If Irish were to write any such thing about their presidents their would be a different attitude altogether.Rather than the typical Irish ly down and take it.
And i wouldn't if i was him take offence to it either because its pure bad media and ignorant.

Lie down and take what? Higgins does have a rather elfin look about him, between the shock of white hair and the spectacles; you almost expect him to write with a quill. Given that most presidents look like dour bankers, it's just something semi-interesting for political reporters to write about, that's all.

Tempest in a teacup.

walrusgumble

caseyann wrote: »

A bohemian is a Roma gypsy it is basically lower class human used by the french.

If you ever read anything i said about Mickey D i have no misconceptions of what he has done in Ireland so i dont know why you are preaching at me.
You are entitled to your opinion whether you think it is meant as an insult or not.And i am taking the opinion it is.If Irish were to write any such thing about their presidents their would be a different attitude altogether.Rather than the typical Irish ly down and take it.
And i wouldn't if i was him take offence to it either because its pure bad media and ignorant.

anything i said to you was to explain why the term bohemian is not a term that he would object to as an artist.i asked for your interpretation knowing that you would not realise the meaning of the term in this context.your the one showing ignorance

SamHarris

paddyandy wrote: »

What should we expect...what do we deserve?

We should expect/ deserve exactly what every other country does. It shows a massive amount of national inescurity how common this "outrage" is in Ireland. To me Parkheads post it very telling for the type of person that expresses this notion - furious over a short comment thats not grovelling at various candidates he goes on to try and insult 300 million people directly, getting "thanks" for it as though his attitude is anything but enormously childish and the worst kind of lazy stereotype. These people believe themselves, and therefore Ireland is worthy of vastly more repect than others. Its pure hubris.

Yahew

And we criticise the heads of State of the US all the time.

filthymcnasty

Jesus some very sensitive souls on here to be offended by any of those articles- how is the word 'bohemian' offensive.
The Washington Times article posted here is pretty accurate and descriptive of the campaign imo.

SamHarris

Yahew wrote: »

And we criticise the heads of State of the US all the time.

Alot of the time straight insult.

filthymcnasty

caseyann wrote: »

A bohemian is a Roma gypsy it is basically lower class human used by the french.

Bohemian is generally meant in the context of the someone associated with the arts.

I have never heard of your take on the word.

I'm not saying its not another interpretation of the word bohemian but only the most hyper-sensitive would associate it with this negative representation.

Bullseye1

Isn't Michael D on his way to New Zealand to appear in Peter Jacksons "The Hobbit"?

doomed

Just for the record

(1) Bohemian and poet are compliments, especially given where Ireland has come from (we used to think developers spending hundreds of thousands on a "bash" was classy)

(2) In the US Dana would be electable.

Bullseye1

Dana was elected here so what's the point of your point #2?

doomed

The European Parliament doesn't really count. Its the eurovision without the music and it was a once off. My point is that in the US, candidates a lot dafter than Dana are viable candidates for the presidency.

southsiderosie

doomed wrote: »

The European Parliament doesn't really count. Its the eurovision without the music and it was a once off. My point is that in the US, candidates a lot dafter than Dana are viable candidates for the presidency.

I don't know if I would call them viable...a lot of them are auditioning for their multi-million dollar pundit contract with Fox News.

That said, I still find it terrifying that Sarah Palin was actually the veep nominee.

Bullseye1

doomed wrote: »

The European Parliament doesn't really count. Its the eurovision without the music and it was a once off. My point is that in the US, candidates a lot dafter than Dana are viable candidates for the presidency.

She was voted to represent us in Europe. I really don't see how that doesn't count. At least the president can be controlled by the government here, we let a loose cannon free on Europe.

Manach

An Elf - surely Gollum instead?

mikom

caseyann wrote: »

A bohemian is a Roma gypsy it is basically lower class human used by the french.

Yeah...... lower class human......right...

Lower class human Rhapsody?

galwayrush

caseyann wrote: »

A bohemian is a Roma gypsy it is basically lower class human used by the french.

.

Hmm, the French are pretty proud of their Bohemian Left Bank area in Paris.

Bullseye1

Manach wrote: »

An Elf - surely Gollum instead?

Nah. Bilbo Baggins. After all it's his 111th birthday.

Fr Tod Umptious

SamHarris wrote: »

Imagine that? A news agency commenting on another head of state. Im just proud our own publications never do the same. :rolleyes:

I've always noticed this about my fellow Irish - an inferiority complex amoungst many that leads them to being furious when a particular social issue/ public figure from here is criticised/ made fun of in a large foreign publication. Same BS when Leno made fun of the picture of Cowen with beer, suddenly all the radio personalities who daily would make fun of Bush or make "jokes" about how stupid Americans are end up nearly in tears over the "disrespect".

Pretty good descripition, ditto with the Washington Post. Even if it wasnt I wouldnt give a damn.

Why do I have a feeling caseyann/ Parkhead are not furuious over near daily drivel in opinion pieces about foreign heads of state? Indeed, I have absolutly no doubt they are exactly the type to laugh the loudest if its intentionally insulting, judging by their previous posts.

My favourite is when Sean O' Rourke has Niall O' Down of The Irish Voice in NY on the News at One discussing the portrayal of Ireland on Family Guy.

Sean O' Rourke is on the floor laughing at the audio clips from Family Guy (the one with the plane landing on the beer bottles) while O' Dowd is trying to explain to him why we should all be offended by it.

It used to be on youtube not sure of it still is.

paddyandy

Michael D comes from a background of Arts Music & Literature etc. things that we value a lot but have little importance in the making of a great Nation.He reflects our values.Look around the galleries of dublin or visit I.M.M.A in kilmainham .He represents the nonsensical and ridiculous.We love circuses and neglect Law and Order so we deserve a Clownish President.

maccored

Yahew wrote: »

you are making up your own versions of words now. Fair play.

thats where the word originated - gypsies thought to have made their way to wherever they ended up, via bohemia.

Literary "Bohemians" were associated in the French imagination with roving Romani people (called "bohemians" because they were believed to have arrived from Bohemia[3][4]), outsiders apart from conventional society and untroubled by its disapproval. The term carries a connotation of arcane enlightenment (the opposite of Philistines), and also carries a less frequently intended, pejorative connotation of carelessness about personal hygiene and marital fidelity. The Spanish Gypsy in the French opera "Carmen" set in Seville, is referred to as a "bohémienne" in Meilhac and Halévy's libretto (1875).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bohemianism

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

paddyandy wrote: »

Michael D comes from a background of Arts Music & Literature etc. things that we value a lot but have little importance in the making of a great Nation.He reflects our values.Look around the galleries of dublin or visit I.M.M.A in kilmainham .He represents the nonsensical and ridiculous.We love circuses and neglect Law and Order so we deserve a Clownish President.

In all fiarness, the whole point of a president is to present the cultural and artistic merits of a countrty amidst everything else. He's not allowed take political stances, so voting for a president that wanted to would be a waste of time.

As for the "little importance" of art in the making of "a great nation", if that's the case, then humanity is even more ****ed that I ever beleived.

walrusgumble

Ikky Poo2 wrote: »

In all fiarness, the whole point of a president is to present the cultural and artistic merits of a countrty amidst everything else. He's not allowed take political stances, so voting for a president that wanted to would be a waste of time.

As for the "little importance" of art in the making of "a great nation", if that's the case, then humanity is even more ****ed that I ever beleived.

Don't tell him, but groups like the Gaelic League, Anglo Irish Literature revival or the GAA did more for the revival of Nationalism and Irish Culture (in principle a good thing, just some idiots ruin the party), yeah, possibly one of the few things that differentiates us with the English. I doubt Americans etc long to come to Ireland because of our very good IFSC etc (Tourists I mean)

Isn't Italian history hugely built on Art (Renaissance era) ?

walrusgumble

maccored wrote: »

thats where the word originated - gypsies thought to have made their way to wherever they ended up, via bohemia.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bohemianism

Do one disputed its origins, they are referring to the well known modern use of the term

EI_Flyboy

walrusgumble wrote: »

I doubt Americans etc long to come to Ireland because of our very good IFSC etc (Tourists I mean)

But they do come in droves for St. Patrick's day and the Cork jazz festival. Plenty even come for the Castlebar blues festival. Nonsensical and ridiculous!

recedite

caseyann wrote: »

The Associated Press called him "elfish".

An Irish speaking Elf? Leprechaun, pllease....