Brianna Parkins, Irish Times columnist

The I.T. has a regular column these days, each one written by a different Irish expat/emigrant (in Australia, or Germany, or Singapore, or wherever) harping on about how wonderful their new country is, and how Ireland was so rubbish they were forced to move abroad, etc, etc. Meanwhile, another regular feature in I.T. is written by immigrants to Ireland, usually writing about how absolutely great life is here, the best thing since sliced bread. The paper is either deeply confused or making an attempt at balance 😄

In her column a few weeks back, she said her parents were retired on good pensions implying they couldn’t if they were in Ireland, but her father was a firefighter and her mother worked in a bank, both would have decent pensions in Ireland and a comfortable life in retirement, you have to make choices in life, a steady job, good pension, or a job doing what you feel passionate about, but maybe less benefits.

I think Brianna thought she could make a career here but her whining/dullness got old way to fast.

She had a few days filling in for Matt Cooper on TodayFM before dissappearing from the air altogether and then huffing off home.

I think the IT know, exactly, what they are doing. Irish people are, incredibly, “thin skinned” when it comes to criticism.

Rightly, or wrongly, this journalist is putting up articles that seem to be, quite, “negative” about the place and this is getting a lot of feedback, or engagement.

It’s the sort of thing ‘Live Line’ or Newstalk’s, dreadful, afternoon rip off show tend to get some “mileage” out of.

It's the continuous Ireland bashing, and generally, it's really poor takes with a contrived effort at wit. I'm just remembering off the top of my head some articles….

One where Irish people are implored to move to Australia, why is this place seen as a promised land? It's roasting, expensive and half way across the world. Some of us love this country, not the way it's run but the people, the land itself. It's something deeper and she completely missed the mark by saying it's all bad so just move.

Then another one about people using exercise as a means of running away from their problems with mental health. And if you were to find her with a drink and cig dancing in a bar just know she's happy. Ok. Weirdly sanctimonious and too pointed to just be a bit of fun.

Then all the general nonsense of picking apart Irish culture. Yes, yes we are this that and the other, when are you going to write a piece that is novel and entertaining? Instead of robbing from the Irish comedians observational humour on Ireland.

I just want Roisin Ingle back. You know, someone who is Irish gets "it" (humour, way of speaking, cultural norms, the experience of being and growing up Irish).

It really isn't much to ask for in a national paper. While I may read different articles from different publications I read the Irish times for a generally Irish centric view on things.

Someone who has only been in the country 5 years (or whatever) could only offer a limited perspective. And that is exactly what Brianna Perkins view is, someone writing for Irish people about Irish matters but not actually understanding us in a more complete sense.

Probably teetering on xenophobia but as I said, Irish Times, a slice of life column, I can't relate much to an Australian's woes and ills about Ireland much. I can't imagine too many Irish people would be able to either.

That said all this would be forgiven if she was genuinely funny, but that is rarely forthcoming.

I gave up reading the opening page of that magazine. A pity for the publishers, because it's easily the most visible and most accessible page.

But it's ALWAYS a whiner. I don't like whingeing, and it's incessant. Can they not find some cheerful or at least optimistic journalist to put in a few paragraphs?

It doesn't HAVE to be a woman - there's no law that forces you. They don't HAVE to complain, either - it's a free country, you can comment on anything!

This is satire, by the way, lest anyone misunderstand me.

But it's a true fact that I went right off that Brianna: she's a depressing bore to read.

Oh look, I'm yet another paddy living in Oz, how wonderfully original and groundbreaking.

I don't see the relevance of having a column written from Australia. I thought it was gone when it was missing for a few weeks but no, it's back.

Brianna has written some weird stuff about exercise and mental health. That people who are exercising are mentally unwell and wouldn’t have to do it if we had proper mental health services. That drinking and smoking is good for her mental health. I may be misquoting, but only slightly. Utter nonsense, but still published as if it might be true.

I get sick of all the different columnists they put on that page in that section of the IT anyway, they all end up writing the same kind of article consistently, making the same points, and it just gets irritating.The IT should change them from week to week.

I'm struggling to work out whether your misogyny or your ableism is more obnoxious.

jeez. Today’s article was headwrecking; aren’t we great in Oz that everyone turns up to vote. The Irish are a disgrace with their low turnout at the polling stations…

People who don't bother to vote are a disgrace.

She mentioned the mandatory voting in the article. Also the measures they take to make it easier to vote.