Marian Finucane

alan partridge aha wrote: »

I presume the presenter pulled her up on it and told her to stop talking shiote

Not sure Alan, but he did say that he felt that half the nation wanted her to shut the fohhrke up in case their kids were listening.

That’s a paraphrase, not direct quote.

Now this this is only me, but the lass came across as a total cretinious person who seriously boiled my piss.

I may well be totally wrong though.

JohnnyFlash wrote:

Anyways, when Marian stumps out her last fag and departs RTE then I think Brendan O'Connor would be a good replacement. He's quite a natural at the light hearted pieces, has toned down the need to be funny all the time when having 'the banter', and isn't afraid to give a few politicians a kick in the balls or gee if they deserve it.

Yeah but what about the accent. I can't abide it.
I switch off when I hear him. I'd even prefer Ray to him even though he too annoys the hell out of me.

JohnnyFlash wrote: »

The accent doesn't annoy me personally. Regional accent, with no huge particularities in how he pronounces certain words.



I don't have the venomous dislike for Raymond either that some of the crew around here seem to have. Harmless sort. Think O'Connor has the makings of a strong broadcaster. And he might need a new job if the newspaper gig gets chopped as a result of the 'funny business' going on in INM.

Agree there Jon, lots of worse accents, Jacqui Hurley for example.

Funny shape on Ballsy though, big meat head on a thin body.

Not a good shape, in my opinion.

JohnnyFlash wrote: »

Used to be a 'big unit' at one stage, Brendan. He'd have been known as 'The Bomber' or 'Brick Shíthouse' if playing senior hurling. Probably too much porter and snackboxes. Could happen to any of us to be honest. Agree he has gone a bit gaunt.



Doesn't get away from his merits as a broadcaster though. Think his show on the pictotube can be very good when he gets decent guests, and he's not a yes-man or a script merchant. Not a leftie either, which is refreshing when listening to the national broadcaster.

Good point there Jon, that place is infested with lefties.

There’s a lad on Drivetime, what’s his name, Keane I think who I’m sure ‘woods-up’ when reporting stuff about the current Govt Throws serious shade their way, with obvious enthusiasm,and of course Wilson gets the ‘equality’ gig going on every show.

All on huge wedges,Jon, and all seem anxious to ‘have a cut’ whenever they can.

Subliminal agendas, Jon, listen carefully over the next few days and you will get my knife.

Ming is a world class whiner

Ming is a man who can identify problems. Doesn't have the chutzpah to come up with workable solutions though, or to place himself in front of the electorate with a mandate to actually try and implement those solutions. Hurler on the ditch. Very easy job, and appeals to a cohort of the electorate who are permanently in a stage of outrage.

Brendan Bendar wrote: »

What exactly do you mean by “commercial revenue they bring in”.

How does this work and could you expain it to a dim witted person?

Many many thanks.

About a third (IIRC) of RTE's revenue is from ads. Traditionally, any time a high-profile broadcaster is criticised for their eye-watering salary, the defence is wheeled out that they bring extra money. From all their hardcore fans tuning in, pushing up ratings, and hence the amount per ad slot they can charge.

JohnnyFlash wrote: »

Ming is a man who can identify problems. Doesn't have the chutzpah to come up with workable solutions though, or to place himself in front of the electorate with a mandate to actually try and implement those solutions. Hurler on the ditch. Very easy job, and appeals to a cohort of the electorate who are permanently in a stage of outrage.

In fairness, while this might be partly true for Connaught/Ulster, Roscommon is hardly known as a hotbed of anarchy.

serfboard wrote: »

Ah well now, he did have a solution to the poor numbers on the Western Rail Corridor - a tea-serving trolley.


I kid you not.

A lady has set up a tea/coffee stall at Ennis station. Can't say if it's contributed to an increase in passenger traffic but I can attest that she does a lovely coffee.



Mind you if I had to share a journey in the company of Ming I'd need something a hell of a lot stronger than coffee

alaimacerc wrote: »

You thinking absinthe, or something more like full-scale Swiss clinic?

Even for Ming that's a bit extreme. You are going Coppinger level there.

"Another middle aged straight white male taken to task and that's no harm at all."

Is he for real?

Brendan.
Some theatre reviewer made remarks about the body of a female actor. She had a go at him and he apologised.

Imagine if he'd said the same about a black gay woman.

sligojoek wrote: »

"Another middle  aged straight white male taken to task and that's no harm at all."

Is he for real?

That was more of a tongue in cheek remark after all the labelling of people with Lionel Shriver. She was a difficult enough guest so he was treating her with kid gloves to some extent.

At another point in the interview Brendan asked:
"You think fundamentally that it's not easy to say what you think any more. That's what you believe, isn't it?"
and Lionel Shriver responded with:
"We have developed a very censorius and rigid social environment, prescriptive... The left has a list of orthodoxies to which you have to subscribe en masse.You can't just even just tick some of them. You have to believe this whole set of opinions which amounts to a kind of religion"
I think this pretty much describes the Irish media as well. Take the recent referendum for example. It was taboo to admit that you were voting NO. You didn't see any celebrities coming out for the NO side, nor many journalists brave enough to say that they were voting NO. All we had here was U2 and others opportunistic celebrities jumping on the popular side, and supposed journalists like Noel Whelan lobbying for YES. And when you have the situation where people are afraid to air legitimately held views, that is censorship. And this applies to pretty much every topic that is discussed. If you dont have left leaning opinions on housing, migration, gender quotas etc etc you are persona non grata.
I sort of laughed to myself when Brendan asking that question because I actually heard Brendan himself making a very similar point when speaking to George Hook a few years ago - he said that there "were a set of opinions that you were expected to have when you work in the media". And of course, ironically George himself fell foul of not having those opinions and lost his own job shortly after.

anthonyjmaher wrote: »

That was more of a tongue in cheek remark after all the labelling of people with Lionel Shriver. She was a difficult enough guest so he was treating her with kid gloves to some extent.

At another point in the interview Brendan asked:
"You think fundamentally that it's not easy to say what you think any more. That's what you believe, isn't it?"
and Lionel Shriver responded with:
"We have developed a very censorius and rigid social environment, prescriptive... The left has a list of orthodoxies to which you have to subscribe en masse.You can't just even just tick some of them. You have to believe this whole set of opinions which amounts to a kind of religion"
I think this pretty much describes the Irish media as well. Take the recent referendum for example. It was taboo to admit that you were voting NO. You didn't see any celebrities coming out for the NO side, nor many journalists brave enough to say that they were voting NO. All we had here was U2 and others opportunistic celebrities jumping on the popular side, and supposed journalists like Noel Whelan lobbying for YES. And when you have the situation where people are afraid to air legitimately held views, that is censorship. And this applies to pretty much every topic that is discussed. If you dont have left leaning opinions on housing, migration, gender quotas etc etc you are persona non grata.
I sort of laughed to myself when Brendan asking that question because I actually heard Brendan himself making a very similar point when speaking to George Hook a few years ago - he said that there "were a set of opinions that you were expected to have when you work in the media". And of course, ironically George himself fell foul of not having those opinions and lost his own job shortly after.

Sorry, what 'media' were you watching/listening to that didn't give a platform to the NO vote?
This has to be challenged - the No side got plenty of opportunity to air it's minority views.