Massive cost of living crisis, global warming disasters and most of us, myself included, still don’t know what a tracker mortgage is! Let’s push to one side all the doom and gloom and focus on a few golden nuggets of happiness from around the country instead.
Barry Keoghan’s Bonkers Super Bowl Ad
What better to start us off than our very own Dublin-born talent cracking America with his sense of humour and acting prowess. Taking over America’s most watched sporting event, Barry brought us back to the beautiful Emerald isle and reminded us how great The Banshee of Inisherin was. Himself and Jenny the Donkey reunited for a couple of Squarespace ads where Barry flung laptops around like a paperboy on steroids. Who knew that the people of 1900’s Ireland could have benefitted from a suite of easy-to-use website building tools? In one memorable scene, Barry and Jenny stroll through town, tossing laptops at people. A young lad can be seen following them and calling out, “Hey, Squarespace man!”
The Irish youngster in question was none other than Sheamie Garrihy, who became a fan favourite with his unforgettable performance on the 2024 Late Late Toy Show. The segments were as bananas as they sound but Barry shone as a lovable Irish charmer, not afraid to poke fun at himself. Hats off to you Barry! Also, important to note, no animals or gravesites were harmed during filming! If you know, you know!
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Hopscotch & Happiness: Waterford’s Playful Communities Return!
Waterford City and County Council is bringing back its Playful Communities initiative for a second year, encouraging kids (and fun-loving adults) to get outside and reclaim their streets for play. Local groups can now apply to take part, helping to turn neighbourhoods into hubs of hopscotch, skipping ropes, and the occasional competitive round of kerbs.
Mayor Jason Murphy launched the initiative at Carrickphierish Community Sports Hub, highlighting how outdoor play strengthens community bonds and gets people away from their screens, at least until it’s time to post TikToks of the best jump rope fails! He hopes even more neighbourhoods will join in this year.
Of course, outdoor fun in Ireland comes with its own challenges, mainly the unpredictable weather. One minute, you're playing in the sunshine, the next, you're slip-sliding through an impromptu rainstorm. But hey, dodging puddles just adds an extra level of difficulty!
Gobnait Festival Weekend was Buzzing!
In the quaint village of Ballyvourney, Co. Cork, the annual St. Gobnait Festival took place over the weekend. This is where Gobnaits from near and far gather to celebrate their name and honour their patron saint. This year’s turnout was buzzing—literally—since St. Gobnait is the patron saint of bees and beekeepers!
The festival included honey-tasting, metal crafting, street bowling, and a Best Bee costume contest. Seeing a swarm of Gobnaits lobbing balls down the road is truly a sight to behold! The highlight was the “Gobnait Gathering,” an attempt to set the record for the largest congregation of Gobnaits ever.
Local businesses got in on the fun, offering discounts to anyone named Gobnait, and the village bakery created a signature “Gobnait Honey Cake”. With the tradition growing stronger each year, Ballyvourney may soon become the global hive for all things Gobnait!
That’s your lot folks! Proof that joy, laughter, and a bit of Irish madness are alive and well across the country. Now, who’s up for a game of tip the can? Or how about some street bowling perhaps?
Topics: Ireland
Paul Farrelly