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OH AMBASSADOR, WITH these amazing Irish exports, you are truly spoiling us.
In our #PowerOfGreen series, we’re all about celebrating the best aspects of what it means to be Irish.
And while we’d like to think we represent the best of our country when we head off travelling, it’s celebrities that really wind up doing the ambassador job for us on the international stage.
So, let’s pick an (entirely unofficial and just for fun) ambassador of Ireland. We’ll state the case for each one, then throw it over to you guys in a poll to duke it out for the ultimate champion.
(Psst – if you don’t rate our picks, then it’s all to play for in the comments section with your suggestions. No messing now, right?)
Our ambassador nominee from the world of business, there’s no denying that Michael O’Leary has broken the mould several time over with his strategies for budget airline Ryanair. Opinionated pronouncements aside, he’s achieved great success and transformed the industry. It just all boils down whether or not you want our ambassador to the world driving around in a taxi he bought to beat the traffic.
He’s undoubtedly a powerhouse in the UFC. Boasting lots of wins until his shock defeat this year, which arguably only served to humanise the man behind the big talk and bravado. His dress sense isn’t for everyone, but there’s no doubt he’d kill the after-dinner speeches at diplomatic soirees as our visiting dignitary.
Now for an ambassador from our rich seam of arts and culture experts, we have one of Hollywood’s youngest leading lights. Her accent drives some people up the tree, but her acting chops cannot be sneezed at – and if the painfully Irish story at play in her film Brooklyn didn’t move you to noisy sobs, well you need to check your pulse.
The man, the myth, the Marmite of rockstars. These days he’s nearly as well-known for his presence in charity and philanthropy circles than he is for rocking out to One on a big stadium stage. Listen, he’s already met the pope so we don’t have to worry about him making a show of us or anything. Well, apart from his shades that is.
A left-field contribution here, but we think our Amy could really do us proud as a global ambassador for Éire. Anything she does or says or uploads to social media just absolutely reeks of being totally sound. The woman can do no wrong. And frankly our national image needs that kind of Midas touch sometimes, right?
A charming entertainer with a message and more glitter than you can shake a stick at. We’re sure that other countries would be dead jealous of our ambassador having the best frock at the whole gala, as well as a sharp-tongued dig that only a professional drag artist can deliver to boot.
It’s time to vote. To make things fair and open up the playing field, we’ve left one option up to you – but that means we want your suggestions for perfect Irish ambassadors in the comments section. (We’re celebrating the parts of Irish life that make us proud, so bear that in mind when you’re picking.)
Get voting…
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I think the decision to ask people to stay off the roads was a major contributor to the low death toll .
Well done to all the emergency services and to companies who instructed staff to stay home .
Condolences to the families of those who lost loved ones .
@Paddy Hayden: no doubt as also did closing schools/crèches etc. I was put at 8 yesterday morning and it was like Christmas Day. Popped to shop about 11 and it was like an off license on Christmas Eve. The winds were at their worst in the early hours of this morning in north fingal
I agree Paddy. Well done to all. Does anybody feel that those who defied the advice and went swimming or whatever, should be charged with sone type of public order offence ? Like it was crazy to do what some did – idiots !
@Chris Gavican: yes
@Chris Gavican: send them the bill for their rescue, and pursue them through the courts for payment. Might deter other Darwin Award nominees.
@Chris Gavican: They should be made to pay whatever it costs to bring out the emergency services. To unnecessarily put others’ lives at risk, whatever about the stupidity of risking their own lives is criminally reckless.
The pictures of shoppers in Tesco and Lidl are hugely informative. Who knew that is how people shopped in a storm?
@roderick:
Roofs blown off and structural damage in Cork, meanwhile shoppers in Dublin stocked up on their lattes….
@Avina Laaf: I mean it was just one day!
@Avina Laaf: The builders in Cork must be cowboys then. They should learn how to build properly.
It was only one day of the storm but for people living in the country which is where most of the damage was done, it’s up to 10 days without power which also means no water and roads still blocked, so maybe for a change people on here should think of those outside of Dublin.
In fairness the queues are always like that in lidl in Thomas St
The biggest storm I remember was on the night of 31 January 1974. There were 3, 100-year old trees down across the Monkstown road (Co. Dublin). The road was closed for 3 days. On the Vico road above Whiterock beach most of the wires were down from the poles on the road. I lost count of the number of fallen trees I saw all around Co. Dublin. A new housing estate in Portmarnock had most of the roof tiles stripped from many houses. I was driving at 1.30 AM along the Stillorgan road near Foxrock and the trees were meeting each other from both sides of the road forming a tunnel. That road was a much narrower dual carriageway in those days. I’m amazed that this storm is never mentioned when big storms are talked about on radio or television. I have never experienced winds or storms as bad as that one.
So, there was a storm in dublin and cork yesterday, the rest of the country was very lucky !!!
@eamonn farrell: well said eamonn, pics only show dublin and cork, as we know the rest of rural ireland does not matter in some eyes
have your say