The Black Eye - Ewan McKenna

Tell me how · 03-07-2020 10:41pm

Arghus wrote: »

Had a look at some of his twitter interactions from yesterday. He is a bit of a prat.

Clearly he was looking for a reaction from people, a bit pathetic tbh - and quick to look for sympathy when he got blowback. He also got some basic facts totally wrong to try to bolster his argument, claiming that, for instance, pubs were left open for Paddy's Day. Feels like his true colours were on display yesterday.

I'm all for journalists who don't buy the 'press release' type of reporting but so much of his stuff on Twitter makes it very hard to defend him.

He's outright abusive to people and then doesn't seem to understand when people bite back.
If someone from FF/FG/HSE did what he did yesterday he would have blown a gasket with outrage.

Higgins5473 · 03-07-2020 10:51pm

Tell me how wrote: »

I'm all for journalists who don't buy the 'press release' type of reporting but so much of his stuff on Twitter makes it very hard to defend him.

He's outright abusive to people and then doesn't seem to understand when people bite back.
If someone from FF/FG/HSE did what he did yesterday he would have blown a gasket with outrage.

You are the ultimate defender of anyone and anything on Off The Ball radio show, for I don’t know how long until you were repeatedly told to stop telling posters who criticised the show and presenters to “switch off and not listen then”, doesn’t seem like you are much of a fan of McKenna? understandably, but follow him on Twitter and following a fairly useless thread on his podcast. Take a leaf out of your own book? You’ll sleep easier tonight.

Tell me how · 03-07-2020 10:55pm

Higgins5473 wrote: »

You are the ultimate defender of anyone and anything on Off The Ball radio show, for I don’t know how long until you were repeatedly told to stop telling posters who criticised the show and presenters to “switch off and not listen then”, doesn’t seem like you are much of a fan of McKenna? understandably, but follow him on Twitter and following a fairly useless thread on his podcast. Take a leaf out of your own book? You’ll sleep easier tonight.

Oh, I'm sorry, is this your party and I wasn't invited?

My posts here should show I'm able to be objective when analysing who I listen to or pay attention to.

Something you are unfamiliar with obviously.

Arghus · 03-07-2020 11:14pm

Higgins5473 wrote: »

You are the ultimate defender of anyone and anything on Off The Ball radio show, for I don’t know how long until you were repeatedly told to stop telling posters who criticised the show and presenters to “switch off and not listen then”, doesn’t seem like you are much of a fan of McKenna? understandably, but follow him on Twitter and following a fairly useless thread on his podcast. Take a leaf out of your own book? You’ll sleep easier tonight.

Is he not allowed to give his opinion on Ewan McKenna on a thread about Ewan McKenna?

You don't appear to have an issue with his opinion of McKenna. It reads to me as if you're just having a go at the poster. Bit uneccessary tbh.

Higgins5473 · 03-07-2020 11:16pm

Tell me how wrote: »

Oh, I'm sorry, is this your party and I wasn't invited?

My posts here should show I'm able to be objective when analysing who I listen to or pay attention to.

Something you are unfamiliar with obviously.

Whoosh...right over your head.

You have had scarcely zero to say disapproving of your idols on Off The Ball, and will jump to their defence, generally with some patronising baiting irrelevant comment If there is any criticism of the show or its presenters, usually for as long as you could saying “switch off then”.

You’ve had nothing positive to say about Ewan McKenna or his show, only criticism.

So until now, only positivity and defence of one show and only criticism of another.

You really need to look up the definition of objectivity.

Higgins5473 · 03-07-2020 11:21pm

Arghus wrote: »

Is he not allowed to give his opinion on Ewan McKenna on a thread about Ewan McKenna?

You don't appear to have an issue with his opinion of McKenna. It reads to me as if you're just having a go at the poster. Bit uneccessary tbh.

Indeed I am, as far í know. pointing out blatant hypocrisy isn’t against the rules here

Arghus · 03-07-2020 11:22pm

Higgins5473 wrote: »

Indeed I am, as far í know. pointing out blatant hypocrisy isn’t against the rules here

Attacking the poster and not the post is though.

Higgins5473 · 03-07-2020 11:28pm

Arghus wrote: »

Attacking the poster and not the post is though.

That’s not attacking a poster, get over yourself. Christ, by the same logic you’ve just attacked me by suggesting I am attacking a poster. What a world we live in.

Have I attacked you too? Are you ok? I’m sorry for attacking you, xoxo.

Arghus · 03-07-2020 11:36pm

Higgins5473 wrote: »

That’s not attacking a poster, get over yourself. Christ, by the same logic you’ve just attacked me by suggesting I am attacking a poster. What a world we live in.

Have I attacked you too? Are you ok? I’m sorry for attacking you, xoxo.

I will manage, I think, to be okay.

No, I didn't attack you.

I didn't have a paragraph of largely irrelevant personalised bitterness spring loaded, which had nothing to do with your actual expressed opinions about the subject of discussion.

jaykhunter · 04-07-2020 12:20pm

Higgins5473 wrote: »

Have I attacked you too? Are you ok? I’m sorry for attacking you, xoxo.

Mod note: This kind of antagonistic post is not on - everyone, please converse respectfully or not at all. Thanks

ArielAtom · 06-07-2020 10:36pm

Ewan MacKenna, the man likes to attack people on Twitter, then when called out plays the victim. He said sorry and that it was a mistake, he seems to make a lot of mistakes!!!! He does not like debate and blocks people who try to converse with him if they appear to have a logical point to his opinion. He gets offended if some name calls him yet feels it’s ok to call Varadkar a Cnut. My own opinion is he is doing it to stay relevant, not sure if he’s an Indo employee or a freelance journalist now. There’s no such thing as bad publicity.

Utopia Parkway · 07-07-2020 11:43pm

He could definitely do with some serious editing anyway. He's had a few 2 and a half hour episodes. That's a serious commitment to listen to when most people have to fit in other podcasts as well.

Higgins5473 · 10-08-2020 6:07pm

He’s outdone himself with the latest one, 3 hours and 25 minutes long. I got as far as about 15 minutes when that clown he has on with him started going off on one about someone in direct provision who tweeted a photo of the poor quality dinner he was served, don’t think McKenna or himself saw the irony in how no less than 20 seconds before this he was lamenting that living conditions here are so bad in direct provision they’ve been forced to go on hunger strike. Think I’ll bow out of the podcast at this stage. I’ve given it enough of a go, it’s total shįte.

Capt. Autumn · 22-08-2020 8:41pm

Latest Ewan McKenna Black Eye podcast.

He does a ten minute monologue every episode and nails the Irish response to Covid in last weeks one from 31:30.

This was before the latest ridiculous contradictory lockdown restrictions and Golfgate. This week's episode should be good.

https://tortoiseshack.ie/collateral-damage/

Jayesdiem · 26-08-2020 7:28am

Delighted I found this one. Can’t stand Ewan McKenna but he never fails to interest me.

26-08-2020 11:11am

Had the sound been fixed at all?

TRANQUILLO · 27-08-2020 5:05pm

I like a lot of what Mackenna has to say but that Groves fella he has with him is some smug dose isn't he.

BagheeraBlue · 27-08-2020 5:08pm

Largest pos in Ireland

TRANQUILLO · 27-08-2020 5:09pm

BagheeraBlue wrote: »

Largest pos in Ireland

he's number 1 in the pod charts? no way . And its only relatively new.

Higgins5473 · 27-08-2020 10:17pm

TRANQUILLO wrote: »

he's number 1 in the pod charts? no way . And its only relatively new.

Think boyzone reached number 1 once, it’s still sh*t

Brendan Filone · 26-10-2020 10:24pm

Has Ewan given this up? No podcast since 13 September.

As an aside, I started following his twitter and every Saturday evening without fail he puts up a drunken tweet abusing someone but Sunday morning it is always deleted (presumably when he has sobered up).

26-10-2020 10:54pm

Brendan Filone wrote: »

Has Ewan given this up? No podcast since 13 September.

As an aside, I started following his twitter and every Saturday evening without fail he puts up a drunken tweet abusing someone but Sunday morning it is always deleted (presumably when he has sobered up).

who have been his recent targets?

Brendan Filone · 26-10-2020 11:04pm

glasso wrote: »

who have been his recent targets?

Can't remember exactly, calling Leo Varadkar and the government cunts I think

Higgins5473 · 26-10-2020 11:11pm

Brendan Filone wrote: »

Can't remember exactly, calling Leo Varadkar and the government cunts I think

seems like a very reasonable assessment in fairness. wouldn't exactly take a feed of beer to come up with that much.

Say Your Number · 26-10-2020 11:33pm

It's only a pity Ewan isn't Taoiseach, if he was no here would have died from the virus, and it would have been eliminated long ago.

TRANQUILLO · 01-11-2020 9:02pm

A special pod came up on my feed today from the guys at the tortoise shack. They had a chap on talking about anti semitism. God love him I had to turn it off. He has an awful speech impediment or something. He spoke like a broken record. It was uncomfortable to listen to. He didnt stammer, but repeated the end of every sentence.

Higgins5473 · 01-11-2020 9:03pm

TRANQUILLO wrote: »

A special pod came up on my feed today from the guys at the tortoise shack. They had a chap on talking about anti semitism. God love him I had to turn it off. He has an awful speech impediment or something. He spoke like a broken record. It was uncomfortable to listen to. He didnt stammer, but repeated the end of every sentence.

Ok, but is that the end of the podcast?

TRANQUILLO · 01-11-2020 9:07pm

Higgins5473 wrote: »

Ok, but is that the end of the podcast?

haven't heard one since September. Hiatus?

Sweet.Science · 02-11-2020 10:05am

Say Your Number wrote: »

It's only a pity Ewan isn't Taoiseach, if he was no here would have died from the virus, and it would have been eliminated long ago.

Its unhinged the way he goes on .

Tell me how · 02-11-2020 4:28pm

Sweet.Science wrote: »

Its unhinged the way he goes on .

So many times this year I have thought about muting him on Twitter but haven't yet, and still follow him. For now.

I was a Tribune reader when he started there and argued for many years that he was an up and coming Paul Kimmage and that we needed journalists who didn't see themselves as fans with type-writers but I can't really defend him any more.

And I'm way past looking towards his work to be informed or enlightened or even entertained. The heading invariably tells you exactly the tone of the piece and it will be judgemental, aggressive and outright insulting towards anything which remotely can be seen to be 'convention' or 'the elite'.

Rugby, FAI, GAA, Horse Racing, Premier League, Media, any story from these areas will include the claim that the elites are there only because of where they come from or what they look or sound like, they are more interested in maintaining the status quo and exploiting everyone else. It'll then go on to say how people supporting these are clapping seals who don't realise what they are doing and he has been ostracised because he calls it as he sees it. He is closer to being 'she who must not be named' than he is Paul Kimmage at this point. And I take no pleasure in writing that.

We need journalists to expose corrupt, illegal, exploitative behaviour (Mark Tighe on JD for example), and I have no interest in simple fan-club pieces for the most part but I no longer expect Ewan to uncover or outline unfair or unreasonable behaviour, I expect him to just rant that it is going on, and sure what would you expect and if a negative angle isn't readily apparent, to just create it. In March, he was aghast at Cheltenham and said that the thousands who would die would be on the hands of Harris and Varadkar and recently he is laughing at the ineptitude in Ireland having a lockdown while apparently they're still partying like it's 2019 where he is living.

At least Kimmage can write a piece highlighting his joy in something or his admiration for a sporting act or skill in the middle of his pieces on unsavoury behaviour, Ewan, at the moment is all sour, no sweet.

Tell me how · 02-11-2020 5:28pm

^^^^
Right on cue

https://twitter.com/EwanMacKenna/status/1323295294331772929

A single tweet which shows his feeling towards education, health, political, judicial and media structures in Ireland.
Aside from it nearly being impressive to sh*t on all of them in just 47 words, it illustrates exactly what I was saying above.

This is no longer journalism, it's a personal narrative from someone with the platform of a journalist.

Sweet.Science · 06-11-2020 3:57pm

Tell me how wrote: »

So many times this year I have thought about muting him on Twitter but haven't yet, and still follow him. For now.

I was a Tribune reader when he started there and argued for many years that he was an up and coming Paul Kimmage and that we needed journalists who didn't see themselves as fans with type-writers but I can't really defend him any more.

And I'm way past looking towards his work to be informed or enlightened or even entertained. The heading invariably tells you exactly the tone of the piece and it will be judgemental, aggressive and outright insulting towards anything which remotely can be seen to be 'convention' or 'the elite'.

Rugby, FAI, GAA, Horse Racing, Premier League, Media, any story from these areas will include the claim that the elites are there only because of where they come from or what they look or sound like, they are more interested in maintaining the status quo and exploiting everyone else. It'll then go on to say how people supporting these are clapping seals who don't realise what they are doing and he has been ostracised because he calls it as he sees it. He is closer to being 'she who must not be named' than he is Paul Kimmage at this point. And I take no pleasure in writing that.

We need journalists to expose corrupt, illegal, exploitative behaviour (Mark Tighe on JD for example), and I have no interest in simple fan-club pieces for the most part but I no longer expect Ewan to uncover or outline unfair or unreasonable behaviour, I expect him to just rant that it is going on, and sure what would you expect and if a negative angle isn't readily apparent, to just create it. In March, he was aghast at Cheltenham and said that the thousands who would die would be on the hands of Harris and Varadkar and recently he is laughing at the ineptitude in Ireland having a lockdown while apparently they're still partying like it's 2019 where he is living.

At least Kimmage can write a piece highlighting his joy in something or his admiration for a sporting act or skill in the middle of his pieces on unsavoury behaviour, Ewan, at the moment is all sour, no sweet.

Pretty much the nail on the head there . I unfollowed on Twitter as it became too much for me it was actually getting me down . Funny you mention G O'D. It really is a slippery slope that people can go down .

hermano · 21-11-2020 11:56am

Hes going off on one with rte. Trying to claim he lost his job in the Irish media for "for questioning the government and NPHET very rationally". Ya lost your job coz no one wants to listen to you whinge and moan about absolute everything.

Brock Turnpike · 21-11-2020 12:16pm

hermano wrote: »

Hes going off on one with rte. Trying to claim he lost his job in the Irish media for "for questioning the government and NPHET very rationally". Ya lost your job coz no one wants to listen to you whinge and moan about absolute everything.

Who was he working for in Ireland?

hermano · 21-11-2020 12:23pm

Brock Turnpike wrote: »

Who was he working for in Ireland?

Had a column in the indo

Tell me how · 21-11-2020 6:43pm

hermano wrote: »

Hes going off on one with rte. Trying to claim he lost his job in the Irish media for "for questioning the government and NPHET very rationally". Ya lost your job coz no one wants to listen to you whinge and moan about absolute everything.

Brock Turnpike wrote: »

Who was he working for in Ireland?

He used to be a frequent enough contributor on the Hard Shoulder on Newstalk and also on Off The Ball.

I think himself and Ger are from the same town in Kildare and I remember him on OTB once and Ger telling him that he was looking forward to having a pint next time Ewan was home.

I find it very frustrating because he has alienated himself with the vociferousness of his negativity and taking joy in pointing it out. He could have maintained a pretty consistent niche from himself as a 'voice from abroad' type contributor but he alone is responsible for poisoning that well. And again, I'm not saying he should be all sweet and towing the positive line on everything but he's like someone who would come in the door and point out the negatives about the dinner his partner put down in front of him rather than be thankful they did so, or notice all the good things about it.

I finally had enough and muted him on the night of the Presidential Election in the US, every time I looked at Twitter as Trump surged in to the lead with walk in ballot results, it was another gleeful tweet from Ewan saying how much of a fcuk up the Democrats had made in selecting Biden, how they only had themselves to blame, how America was going to implode and it was their fault.

Say Your Number · 21-11-2020 6:48pm

I'm amazed someone who has expertise on every subject under the sun could find themselves unemployed.

CatFromHue · 21-11-2020 7:16pm

Tell me how wrote: »

He used to be a frequent enough contributor on the Hard Shoulder on Newstalk and also on Off The Ball.

Was he on OTB much? I don't really remember him being on that often, maybe 3 or 4 times over a 4 year period.

I do remember him being on The Hard Shoulder and The Last Word but only for big events like the Khabib v McGregor fight or the World Cup in Russia. He wasn't a regular like any of the people who cover sports on a Friday evening on The Last Word. He was on these stations during the Irish Times ban which is pretty funny really.

Arghus · 21-11-2020 11:19pm

Say Your Number wrote: »

I'm amazed someone who has expertise on every subject under the sun could find themselves unemployed.

And such a cheerful disposition to boot!

Higgins5473 · 22-11-2020 12:47am

Tell me how wrote: »

He used to be a frequent enough contributor on the Hard Shoulder on Newstalk and also on Off The Ball.

I think himself and Ger are from the same town in Kildare and I remember him on OTB once and Ger telling him that he was looking forward to having a pint next time Ewan was home.

I find it very frustrating because he has alienated himself with the vociferousness of his negativity and taking joy in pointing it out. He could have maintained a pretty consistent niche from himself as a 'voice from abroad' type contributor but he alone is responsible for poisoning that well. And again, I'm not saying he should be all sweet and towing the positive line on everything but he's like someone who would come in the door and point out the negatives about the dinner his partner put down in front of him rather than be thankful they did so, or notice all the good things about it.

I finally had enough and muted him on the night of the Presidential Election in the US, every time I looked at Twitter as Trump surged in to the lead with walk in ballot results, it was another gleeful tweet from Ewan saying how much of a fcuk up the Democrats had made in selecting Biden, how they only had themselves to blame, how America was going to implode and it was their fault.

Is this a Black Eye related post, hence the title of the thread?

Or are you just going to continue with long winded rants about MacKenna? This is pretty much your Off The Ball love in appreciation stuff which you are obsessed with. Move on lad/lass,

*Note to Mods - the podcast looks like it’s done OR maybe give the poster above a nudge the Off The Ball appreciation thread is elsewhere.

wnolan1992 · 23-11-2020 4:24pm

Mod: Folks, could we try and move back to discussing the podcast itself rather than focusing solely on opinions of the host? While some discussion of the host is obviously necessary and welcome as podcasts are often personality driven (and particularly if no new episodes are currently releasing), but the recent posts in the thread are edging closer and closer to reading like a thread about a person rather than a podcast.

Tell me how · 23-11-2020 4:49pm

The topic of GAA funding towards the Dublin Setup raised its head again over the weekend. (There's a thread on Boards on it)
This is a topic which Ewan has done a lot of work on uncovering over the last couple of years.
Given that, his phone should be ringing a lot today from producers looking for his comments on it. Will be interesting to see if that happens.

Higgins5473 · 23-11-2020 7:46pm

Looks like it’s back

https://twitter.com/ewanmackenna/status/1330853585580675073?s=21

Salvation Tambourine · 14-04-2021 1:22pm

Janelle Attractive Checkbook wrote: »

Any sign of this coming back?

You'd think it would have by now around the pandemic stuff that Ewan is very involved in on Twitter.

hermano · 14-04-2021 1:46pm

Janelle Attractive Checkbook wrote: »

Any sign of this coming back?

No sponsor will go near him. One pulled out coz he was sharing gript articles. Hes too aggressive on Twitter and burnt too many bridges

Utopia Parkway · 14-04-2021 2:24pm

Janelle Attractive Checkbook wrote: »

Any sign of this coming back?

He actually had some very interesting guests on during the last run even though the whole thing needed serious editing. Some 3+ hour episodes.

Tell me how · 14-04-2021 2:26pm

hermano wrote: »

No sponsor will go near him. One pulled out coz he was sharing gript articles. Hes too aggressive on Twitter and burnt too many bridges

That's it in a nut shell.

OTB used to give him an opportunity and he completely destroyed that relationship with how he attacked the media for their coverage of Ireland Rugby.

Your point about twitter is 100% accurate, he responds to anyone who disagrees with him and is not only aggressive but abusive at times and that's just a grenade companies don't want to be handling.

Still surprised the podcast didn't proceed, they're relatively cheap to produce until you get in to a space of paying for higher value contributors but surely there are enough people looking to get their message out there around the pandemic that would have waived their fee to allow it to proceed long enough to gain some traction.

14-04-2021 2:34pm

I’d rather untangle a very large box of cables than listen to MacKenna.

Billy Ocean · 14-04-2021 11:37pm

Based on his Twitter he's either completely toxic or mentally unwell

ArielAtom · 15-04-2021 7:30am

As many have stated his presence on Twitter and his often bizarre posts have alienated him from potential sponsors.

The Black Eye - Ewan McKenna

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