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On The Record

Jim Carroll

Music, Life and everything else

Politics

The people have spoken

That’s democracy. You cast your vote on a Friday and they count your vote and everyone else’s vote on a Saturday. There’s a different kind of democracy in some constituences like Wicklow and Laois-Offaly where they’re still counting your vote …

On the Polls: tá deireadh na gcoillte ar lár

An bhfuil cead agam dul amach anois?: while we wait for the leaders of the main political parties to debate their policies and plans in the new national languages of Polish and Chinese (have any parties reached out to immigrants …

On The Polls: “she’s looking down on you now”

Canvasser of the Week: Olivia O’Leary accompanied a “rueful…languid, laid back, self-deprecating” Minister for Children Barry Andrews as he roamed Dun Laoighaire looking for Number Ones. It may be worth remembering that Andrews is a brother of comedian Dave McSavage …

When Michael Lewis came to town

It may be an idea to print off Michael Lewis’ article from Vanity Fair and keep it by the front door for when a canvasser from a government party calls by over the next few weeks. After visits to Iceland …

Introducing: On the Polls 2011

And they’re off. After a lengthy preamble, which saw candidates and prospective candidates chomping at the bit, doing a spot of neighing (or harrumphing in the case of Conor Lenihan and Joan Burton) and a few false starts (that would …

TV gold: Tonight With Vincent Browne

There’s only going to be one winner in the forthcoming general election and that’s the grumpy Limerickman with the weird eyebrows who locks up the TV3 studio most nights of the week and leaves the key under the mat for …

The men in the pinstripe suits

We don’t get the government we deserve; we get the government we collectively vote for. Look at them. Go on, take a good hard look at the last lot we voted for and sigh. Then take a look at what …

Putting a shape on 2011

There are some traditions which you shouldn’t mess with. With the fourth estate, it’s customary to spend December looking at the year that was and January looking at the year that’s ahead. Seeing as I’ve spent the Christmas break adhering …