Column

Anton Savage: Only in Ireland do topical tropes come and go with the weather

A favoured cliché of the moment is that certain subjects are never talked about, despite celebrities and other ‘experts’ banging on about their lived experience ad infinitum – until we simply stop listening

A favoured cliché of the moment is that certain subjects are never talked about

The Irish are partial to a pithy phrase that theoretically conveys a universal truth. For many years, our favourite was “only in Ireland”. The most common usage was accompanied by a roll of the eyes and an exasperated snort. It was often deployed in response to political shenanigans or systemic failure. A TD claims expenses for trips to the Dáil while being on holiday: “Huh, only in Ireland.” A patient has to wait 18 months ...