Campaign songs. Are they a bad idea?

At this stage, people have already heard some of our political candidates' attempts at campaign songs. We have Mannix Flynn and his Dublin rap song, but since then I've come across these two beauties. Independent candidate for Limerick, John Dillon has one, while Maman Poulet discovered Dublin South Central candidate, Michael Conaghan, was ripping off the Rubberbandits' hit 'Horse Outside'.





Although most of the campaign songs haven't been met well, especially in Conaghan's case, could they do serious damage to a campaign? Once a dodgy tune comes into the equation, does policy and enthusiasm go out the window?
Perhaps candidates would have been better off to adopt the American style of campaign song and use an already popular song, with the artist's consent, of course.

Campaign songs. Are they a bad idea?

Rappin' Mannix Flynn

I'm not sure what came over Independent Dublin candidate, Mannix Flynn. In some attempt to get down with the kids, Flynn performs a little rap on Balcony TV to entice his constituents to give him their number one vote. Flynn, who does come across as a genuinely lovely and hard working man, his rap will definitely meet so disapproving clucks.

Rappin' Mannix Flynn

Insight into: Scientology in Ireland

It's a dreary Saturday morning and I was just buzzed into the Church of Scientology in Dublin. I'm physically shaking after the stories I've been told outside by former scientologist, Peter Griffiths. He tells me that they call all journalists `merchants of chaos', and make up rumours about those that write negative stories about their `Religion'. Today probably wasn't the best day to be wearing my Journalism and New Media class hoody. I could picture naive people being led up these stairs by scientologists to complete their free personality test, the first step in joining the church, which is widely regarded as a dangerous cult. Next thing I heard a voice from the top of the stairs boom down at me: "Stop, stay there. I saw you outside with the protestors."

Earlier that morning I head met with members of Anonymous, a group who make it their mission to warn people of the dangers of Scientology. After seven years as a Scientologist, Peter is now more than aware of the true nature of the group. Sitting on a chair right across the street from the Church, Peter tells me that his brother has been a Scientologist for the past 20 years and, by rule of the Church, is not permitted to communicate with him.

"When I left staff I got declared a suppressive person, which in Scientology is the worst thing you can be. It means you are anti-scientology, so there must be something wrong with you. The reality is that anyone who leaves the church and speaks out against the Church is called a suppressive person. Psychiatry is called a suppressive group. Medicine is a suppressive group. The French Judicial system will undoubtedly be dubbed suppressive, because they're on trial in France."

Despite the Church's new opinion on Peter, his brother is still planning to meet him this September. Peter admits that he does try and talk his brother out of the religion, but claims you cannot talk a person out of Scientology.

"You can never convince them that you're right and they're wrong. You ask them to honestly look at what they have observed in Scientology and do they actually see that anyone has these powers that they are supposed to have, like an improved memory.

"In fact, one thing you are supposed to do if you take part in the Scientology Dianetics course is stop wearing glasses. If you take a look it the Scientology office, you will see that most of the wear glasses. It's just crazy." At this point, Peter noticed a number of Scientologists staring out the window at us, including the woman who I would later encounter. While I got nervous, because of all the stories I have heard, the protestors waved, many of them with their identities safe and secure behind V for Vendetta masks. "Look at them Scilons staring down at us. That's just a nickname we have for the Scientologists. We also call them Ronbots and Rondroids [after Scientology creator, L. Ron Hubbard]. They probably don't even know we give them nicknames." After the Scientologists got back to their day's activities, Peter told me about his exit from the Church of Scientology.

"I was an active Scientologist for seven years and then another 13 years went by where I didn't actively participate in any Scientology, but I still thought that they were the good guys.

"Then a friend of mine came to a protest outside the Church in 2008. I asked him why he was doing that because they are the good guys. He said that they are not the good guys and told me to go online and see for myself. I started to do that and found out that all the things that I thought were true about Scientology and L. Ron Hubbard were all lies."

The Anonymous group come equipped to every protest with some of the very equipment Scientologists use to lure in naive candidates. One such gadget is the Electrometer, which looks like a device from an early episode of Doctor Who. Peter instructed me to sit down in front of the device and hold onto two grips, which resembles tin cans, which were connected to the Electrometer by crocodile clips. When the machine was turned on, Peter pinched me on my right arm, and the meter jumped forward, then settled down again.

I was then instructed to think about being pinched, which led to the meter jumping again.

"Scientologists prey on peoples' emotions. During a stress test the Scientologist asks `what were you thinking of?' and the candidate says `my dead father' and starts crying and they have yet another member to get cash out of."

At this point, I think it's fair to get the right of reply from the scientologists, after all, once a month Anonymous get all the attention.

So, I'm buzzed in, shaking and climbing up the steps when a short, angry lady calls down to me: "Stop, stay there. I saw you outside with the protestors." It is very clear I have already gotten on the wrong side of Scientologists. I start to go on the charm offensive, saying I got their side of the story and would like get theirs. She makes a scowling face at me and tells me that the PR man is out and will not be back for the day. She does, however, give me a Dianetics leaflet with the contact number, before telling me to get out. I am later told that this individual is a member of the Sea Org, an international group of leading Scientologists that devote their lives to their religion.

On my way back, I walk by the protestors and thank them. Peter shakes my hand and says: "Scientology is on its way out. People are realising it's a very dangerous cult, and it's only a matter of time before the whole thing falls apart." For more information on Anonymous visit: www.anoneire.ning.com

Insight into: Scientology in Ireland

Free for all

A price war that has erupted between Ryanair and Irish Rail could see an increase in Cork business tourism. Irish Rail is exploring the possibility of offering free tickets on the Cork - Dublin route, after Ryanair began offering its customers one-way flights from Cork to Dublin for €10, including taxes and charges. Irish Rail has already started offering commuters on the Galway - Dublin route free fares, only charging €2 for online booking
The company says it will consider introducing free fares on the Cork – Dublin route if the scheme proved successful.
The possibility of free fares to Cork could work wonders for Cork’s business tourism, which has been identified as having major potential for the Munster region. However, regional air travel subsidies may be one target for Government cutbacks in next month’s Budget
Programme Manager at Cork Marketing Partnership, Liz McAvoy said that the more options people have of coming to Cork, the more likely they are to come.
“We’re delighted to hear that Irish Rail are considering this initiative. The more competition there is the better. We need to get as much connectivity as possible. The customer needs choice. We all rely on it.
“This is very good news from a Cork perspective. Any promotion that entices people who may not usually be interested in coming to Cork to come is a good thing, whether it is by rail, air, ferry or road.”
Cork Convention Bureau has already taken steps to get more business tourism from abroad with a week-long drive in the UK.
The County Mayor, Jim Daly and Lord Mayor of Cork, Michael O’Connell are leading the week-long UK hunt for business tourism to Cork.
General Manager of Cork Convention Bureau, Evelyn O’Sullivan said that there are plenty of opportunities for Cork to benefit from business tourism.
“With over 55 direct access routes from the UK and Europe and the value and selection to be had in our regional venues, Cork is a very attractive proposition to UK and European buyers; we just need to communicate this directly to them, which is why this event is so important.”
Cork Convention Bureau’s Honorary Chairman, Seamus Heaney said he is happy that transport agencies are offering cheap Cork transportation.
“Anything that gives cheaper access routes to Cork will be hugely beneficial, whether it is air transport or rail transport.
“We hope that the people that are attracted to visit Cork with the cheaper fares will become regulars to the city and will enjoy the city as a clean, varied and friendly destination.”
Mr Heaney also said that the Cork Convention Bureau’s UK visit is going well so far.
“We have been getting very good feedback from the drive so far. I think we will see the benefits of this trip will be seen for years.
“We are very grateful to Cork County and City Councils as well. The fact that we can send our mayors to the UK for the week shows that Cork is serious about attracting business tourism.”

Free for all

Insight into: Fameseeking

FOR ten years, a certain show has caused infinite controversy. It has created stars and ruined people’s lives. It gave us all an insight into the mindset of the craziest people in Britain.Now, that show has been put down.That show is Big Brother, and with only one year left to go there was only one thing to do to see how these eccentric personalities are really picked: Audition for the most hated show on television.
The auditions were only starting up when my friend Tighearnan and I meandered into the RDS. We waited in the queue, along with former Big Brother tartlet, Noirin, who seemed to take a shining to yours truly. When the photographers wanted picture, she grabbed on to me and another hapless loser and posed. She then managed to trip on top of me. For the duration of my time with the reality TV loser, I couldn’t help but think of the amount of magazine I saw her nude in. Classy bird, our Noirin.
After around half an hour in the queue, Tig and I begun our team building exericises. We were split into two teams and had to complete a number of harmless tasks, like over-under and passing the balls without the use of our hands. However, the losing team had to complete an embarrassing forfeit, like pretend to be a farm animal or do the Single Ladies dance, glee style.
After this, the real work began. We were split into groups of eight and given a partner. We had to get as much info from the person about themselves and then tell it to the group. I was paired with Becky, a 22-year-old Airport Security worker from Ballymun, who used to work in Mountjoy with her twin sister, who also tagged along to the auditions. From then, we had to rank ourselves in how much we deserve to get on the show. I told the group about my encounter with the scientologists, my recent break-up and all those interesting things about my life. I managed to come second in the group, which I’m not sure is a good thing.
Following this, came the difficult dealings. We had to pick two people from the group to be ‘evicted’ from the auditions. We chose a loud-mouth woman, who cheated on her fiancé of six years with his best friend and a guy who was barely able to speak and was shaking quite a lot. The motor mouth woman was not impressed and began to say how we were all boring and she was the star. However, it was all a big joke. The skank and the quiet guy were still in with a show of being a Big Brother 11 housemate.
Then came the news of who, if any, progressed to round 2. This was decided by one of the producers, who would give a stamp on the person’s hand, which featured the infamous Big Brother Eye. So as the stamp came out, we all had to stick our wrists out in front of us. I found myself being nervous. I really wanted to see what was up next, behind that mysterious black curtain, where the successful candidates were gathering. So next thing people were getting stamped and then wham; a big eye stamp appeared on my hand. I was though round one, but unfortunately for Tighearnan, the day was done. The only other successful candidates from our line was the cheating loud-mouth and a 23-year-old devout Christian virgin, who had never been kissed, which leads me to ask what the hell is wrong with me?
So then, the three of us were rushed behind the black curtain of mystery. There we faced round 2: a seven-page questionnaire of extremely personal information and a contract to sell our rights away. I read through the contract which stated that we could not hold liable for embarrassment and they could use our character. My journalistic integrity signed my life away to Endemol UK and Channel 4.
Next came the questionnaire, which such gems as ‘where’s the strangest place you had sex?’, ‘what do you not want to talk about today?’ and ‘what’s the biggest lie you ever told?’ I was honest and filled out the form like I would any legitimate survey. A producer read through it, which would then told me if I was abnormal enough to go on to round three. She gave me the thumbs up and I was rushed upstairs to wait for a video interview in a mock up diary room.
Another producer led me into the room, where a bog-standard seat, black curtains, a big camera and a pleasant woman met me. She asked me about my answers to the questionnaire, and I answered her as humorously and eccentrically as I could.
After this I was led to yet another waiting area. I then met the stereotypical English producer I was expecting. He thanked me for coming, but said that it was the end of the road for me. I breathed a little sigh of relief, I may be odd, but at least I’m not that odd.
So, come Summertime, when Davina McCall is ushering in the last batch of wannabees, I’m hoping a little Irish Christian virgin goes in there. I have no idea how far he got, but he seemed like an interesting and friendly young fella, who was actually genuinely interested in going onto the show, and not just taking the proverbial, like Tighearnan and I. However, for her own sake, I hope the cheater is kept away from that house. She would be eaten alive by crowds baying for her blood, and, frankly, maybe she deserves it. I find the fact that she tried to use her infidelity as a springboard to become a z-list celebrity absolutely despicable. Imagine how crap that guy would feel, watching his ex boasting about that on international TV.
Nevertheless, whether you loved or hated Big Brother, this time next year it will be but a distant memory, to be replaced, undoubtedly, by another reality show. So, I may not be going into the most infamous house in Britain, but I’m sure there’ll be plenty of people ready to humiliate themselves for the nation’s amusement before the house closes their doors for good.

Insight into: Fameseeking