An Irishman's Diary

A history of Ireland in 100 nicknames:

1. Hibernia (Land of winter)

2. Fir Bolg

3. Balor of the Evil Eye

4. The Hound of Ulster

5. The Hag of Beara

6. Niall of the Nine Hostages

7. Conn of the Hundred battles

8. Land of Saints and Scholars

9. Sheila-na-gig

10. Sitric Silkbeard

11. Strongbow

12. Perfidious Albion

13. Silken Thomas

14. The Virgin Queen

15. The Pirate Queen/ Grainuaile

16. The Great O’Neill

17. Red Hugh

18. Old Ironsides

19. King Billy

20. The Man from God Knows Where

21. Róisín Dúbh

22. The Minstrel Boy

23. The Wild Colonial Boy

24. Slugger O’Toole

25. Fighting Bill Tracy (from Dover)

26. The Iron Duke

27. The Liberator

28. Fenian

29. Taig

30. Buckshot Forster

31. Orange Peel

32. Skin-the-goat Fitzharris

33. The uncrowned King of Ireland

34. “Kitty” O’Shea

35. The Citizen

36. Matt the Thrasher

37. The Bould Thady Quill

38. Monto

39. The Long Fella

40. The Big Fella

41. The Quare Fella

42. The Black and Tans

43. The Blueshirts

44. “Red” Kelly/“Ned” Kelly/etc

45. Gentleman Jim

46. Billy the Kid

47. Bugs Moran

48. Mickey Finn

49. Boss Croker

50. Tipp O’Neill the Four Horsemen

51. The Gorgeous Gael/The Clones Cyclone/The Pocket Rocket, etc

52. Myles

53. The Tomb of the Unknown Gurrier

54. Lugs Brannigan

55. The Pecker Dunne

56. The Bull McCabe

57. Mad Dog Coll/McGlinchy/Adair, et al

58. Horse (as in “Howrya Horse?”)

59. Provos/Stickies/RiRa, etc

60. “Doctor” Paisley

61. Father Trendy

62. Bomber Liston

63. Bono

64. Big Tom

65. The Bard of Erin

66. Pat the Cope

67. Phil the Fluther

68. Van the Man

69. Spit on me, Dickie

70. Hurricane Higgins

71. Chippy Brady

72. The Black Pearl of Inchicore

73. Keano

74. The Rose of Tralee/ Mooncoin/Allendale, etc

75. The Floozie in the Jacuzzi, etc

76. The royals/rebels/ flour-bags/sheep-stealers, etc

77. The Tallaght Two

78. The Guildford Four

79. The Birmingham Six

80. The Anglo Ten

81. The Dirty Dozen

82. The Gang of 22

83. The men of 98

84. The General

85. The Man who denies he is the General

86. The Monk/The Viper/The Westies, etc

87. Gooch

88. Trap

89. Ruby

90. Jedward

91. The Minister for Hardship/Richie Ruin

92. Mac the Knife

93. Pee Flynn/Pee “Three Houses” Flynn/The Flynnstones/Bev, etc

94. Rambo Burke

95. The Drumcondra Mafia

96. The Teflon Taoiseach

97. Biffo

98. PIIGS

99. Dame Enda

100. Merkozy.