Ireland’s austerity measures and spending cuts is a model that all European countries should adopt – or is it?

About three years ago, Ireland was granted 85 billion Euros by the Eurogroup and the IMF. As a part of the deal, the government of Ireland was obliged to take over all liabilities of the country’s banks to prevent an economic collapse.

Later, on a panel of the premiers, the current Prime Minister of Finland Jyrki Tapani Katainen said: “The Irish model is the one we all need. I don’t see that we have any choice… there is no short cut to heaven.” For some time now, Ireland’s implementation of the austerity package has been considered a role model for the rest of the Eurozone.

By measures which include increasing the state pension age and cutting public sector jobs and pay, Ireland turned 10 years of budget deficits into a surplus. David Begg, the general secretary of the Irish Confederation of Trade Unions, says: “We were the poster child for globalisation. Now we are the poster child for austerity.”

Recently, the Financial Times called Ireland’s minister of finance one of the best in Europe. Irish banks can borrow again on the open market, and the interest rates on sovereign bonds are rapidly falling. Indeed, that can be an indicator of the faith international capital has in the country’s future.

Added to this, Ireland is still a heaven for international companies searching for low taxes. On one hand the austerity measures seem to be working. The country’s budget deficit fell, unemployment rate is also slightly down. What is even more important: Ireland has avoided downgrades by Fitch and S&P, unlike many others.

But despite S&P reaffirming Ireland’s ‘BBB’ rating, it did not change its negative outlook. The agency explained that negative outlook is justified by the high risks to the stability of the financial sector and “uncertain growth prospects.” At the same time, according to Fitch, negative outlook also persist in countries like Belgium, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain and not least the United Kingdom.

So let us not forget that Europe is in deep need of a success story. The truth is, it is not all sunshine and rainbows. The economy is still weak, the growth the country is experiencing now is mostly due to the substantial fall in the labor cost.

Due to the small domestic market, almost all manufacturers are exporting to the Eurozone, the United Kingdom and the United States. Those destinations have the big problems of their own and probably even more to come.

Without further substantial economic growth, it will be impossible to reduce the government deficit and debt in the future. And without further reforms, the crisis could start all over again.

Image Courtesy :  Jpmpinmontreal

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Eight pimps were arrested May 29, 2012 and May 30, 2012 in one of the largest brothel raids in Ireland’s history. The raid, known as “Operation Quest” consisted of searching 140 houses, apartments and flats in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Three women were removed from the raid who were considered possible victims of human trafficking.

Three women were arrested and sentenced in the Northern Ireland raids. Sandra Polewska, Milena Tarnowska, and Marta Kozakowska are all Polish nationals who have received suspended two-month prison sentences after all three plead guilty to running a brothel in Belfast and possession of criminal property. The human trafficking charges have not been brought up against anyone as of yet.

Kozakowska received an extra month to her suspended sentence after pleading guilty to obstruction of justice. Kozakowska swallowed a phone SIM card when police first raided her apartment in order to keep her client information secret.

According to the “IrishTimes.com,” the brothel run by these three Polish nationals was considered “unsophisticated.” It is unclear as to the hierarchy of the brothel and which one of the women, if any of the three, were considered in charge of everything. Instead the three seemed to work together to run the brothel but also acted as prostitutes.

Two other women were arrested in the Northern Ireland raids but were released on bail pending further inquiries. Two women and one man were arrested in the Republic of Ireland, but two of the three have been released without charges. No prostitutes were arrested during the raids because they are considered exploited victims rather than criminals.

In addition to sexual items and condoms around $4,229 were confiscated from the Northern Ireland raids.

The operation was a joint effort of Garda, Serious and Organized Crime Agency, Europol, UK Border Agency and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). A Garda spokesperson claimed, “during the investigation to date it has been established that prostitution is organized on a cross-border basis and today’s joint operation was specifically aimed at individuals and groups intent on making profits from vulnerable members of society across the island of Ireland.”

According to the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities, Northern Ireland is the fastest growing sex industry in the United Kingdom. Denise Charlton, CEO of the Immigrant Council stated, “as a member of the Turn Off the Red Light Campaign, a coalition of more than 50 organizations, we want to see the Government act by making it illegal to pay for sex. It is this discrepancy in Irish law which has allowed the brothels to flourish and brought human rights abuses to our communities.”

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Despite Group B containing the likes of Germany, Portugal and Holland, Group C will also show off a number of young stars in Poland and Ukraine this summer. Current holders as well as World Cup winners Spain are the favorites, but they’ll face stiff competition from Italy, Ireland and Croatia in what promises to be a close group.

Jordi Alba (Valencia & Spain)

He is Barcelona through and through, apart from the fact he plays for Valencia. The talented left-back grew up in Catalonia and played for the Barca youth team, but Alba has come to be noticed with his defensive and attacking performances for Valencia in the last couple of years. He’s still only 23 and seems almost certain for a move to Barcelona sooner rather than later.

His international career has only just begun going though, Alba has made 3 appearances for the national team starting last year, but with left-back possibly the only position Spain lacks a definite starter in, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Alba in that position when Spain kicks off against Italy in June.

Iker Muniain (Athletic Club & Spain)

The little 19-year old is being touted as the next big thing, Muniain’s name was known before this season, but two performances against Manchester United in the Europa League really brought him to prominence. He’s not a prolific goal scorer but the winger is creative and quick. He won’t be a starter for Spain this summer, and he might not even make the squad such is the talent flowing through the Spanish ranks, but he made his international debut this year and definitely has a shot at boarding the plane in a few months.

Javi Martinez (Athletic Club & Spain)

Another one of Athletic’s prodigies, Javi Martinez is a little ahead of Iker Muniain. The 23-year old has already made over 100 appearances for the La Liga side and captained the Spanish U21 side to the U21 European Championship title last summer. The defensive midfielder has been strongly linked with a move to the Premier League and seems destined to become a top midfielder.

His international career is also ahead of Muniain. He’s only made 7 caps, but he made his debut back in 2010, and, like Muniain, may not even make the plane this summer. Cesc Fabregas, Xavi, Iniesta, Xabi Alonso & Sergio Busquets is tough competition to get in on but if Martinez does go to the EURO’s this summer, he’s sure to do himself justice.

Fabio Borini (AS Roma & Italy)

Similar to Portugal, there’s not a great deal of youth flowing through the current Italy squad, but if there is one man who could make an impact in a side looking to recover from an embarrassing World Cup campaign, it’s Fabio Borini. The 21-year old never really got a chance to impress at Chelsea, but he has had 9 goals in 19 appearances for Roma this season and has put himself in contention for the Italy squad this summer.

His impact didn’t go unnoticed by his national side, and Borini made his senior debut for Italy this year against the USA. Like others mentioned so far, Borini’s not certain to be on the plane to Eastern Europe this summer, but if Italy are to look towards a more youthful approach, Borini might be the man.

James McClean (Sunderland & Ireland)

Here’s a name who might be more familiar to the majority of readers. Premier League winger, James McClean, has a real chance of going to the EURO’s this summer. He was bought last summer but didn’t make an appearance until Steve Bruce was sacked, making his debut shortly after 2012 began well for McClean. He started his first game on January 1st, and impressed in the victory over Manchester City.

Since then, McClean has gone on to give many defenders issues and has been key to Sunderland’s climb up the table. Like Borini, McClean has gotten one international cap but has put himself in contention and Ireland would be unwise not to take a chance on him this summer.

Sime Vrsaljko (Dinamo & Croatia)

Football Manager fans rejoice! Vrsaljko may be unheard of in real life to many, but in Croatia he and a few other young players have been making waves and giving themselves a chance at a spot in the squad for this summers tournament. Vrsaljko is one of them. The Dinamo right-back has made 45 appearances for his club and this season has broken into the Croatia squad on three occasions.

He’s definitely one for the future but there’s no reason why Sime can’t make the plane this summer, along with a few other starlets.

Milan Badelj (Dinamo & Croatia)

Milan Badelj is 23 but still has a big future ahead of him. The creativity at the hub of Dinamo’s domestic success, Badelj has already surpassed 150 appearances for his club, and has 30 goals to show for it. Like his younger team-mate, Badelj also has three caps for Croatia, but playing further up the field he’s already scored his first goal for the national side.

Badelj is another one of those who could be on the fringes of the squad this summer, but like many other teams, Croatia could look towards youth sooner rather than later, and if they do, Badelj & Vrsaljko may be at the very top of the list.

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As the internationally celebrated holiday St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner, the only question left to ask is; where will you be celebrating? All across the globe this March 17, bars will be packed, streets filled with enthusiastic celebrators and roads filled with entertaining parades.

New York City is known for its enormous and grand parade, Boston for its Paddy’s day atmosphere, Chicago for its green river and of course Dublin, Ireland for creating the holiday.

This holiday is one of the biggest celebrations of the year with more than 100 St. Patrick’s Day parades being held across America each year. This is a holiday where Americans spend $4.5 billion, but where are the best places to spend this money?

NEW YORK

New York is home to the biggest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the world. With over two million spectators NYC is undoubtedly one of the best cities to celebrate this Irish holiday. This year the parade will commence at 11am at 44th street and will march up 5th avenue to 83rd street.

There will also be plenty of places to celebrate with a pint in hand. Several organizations are hosting bar crawl tour across the city, some tours even starting Friday night and finishing Sunday afternoon. Prices for the bar tours are averaging $12 a head.

If you would rather find your own bars to celebrate, here are a few that are celebrating in style; Mc Sorleys Old Ale House, Pig n Whistle, The Baggot Inn, Eamon Doran’s and Murphy’s Law. And if you want to join the firemen and police officers after they have marched in the parade for a drink, head to Jeremy’s Ale House.

BOSTON

The first ever recorded parade was hosted in Boston by the Irish Society of Boston in 1737. As Boston is the home to many Irish-Americans and is the most Irish state in America, the city transforms into an all day celebration filled with beer festivals, drunken shenanigans and of course lots of ‘craic’.

If your looking to honor St. Patrick himself in the adopted Irish city, here are some of Boston’s best St. Paddy’s Day parties; McFadden’s, Dillon’s and Murphy’s Law. An Tua Nua will be providing Irish dancers along with Irish bands and a traditional Irish dinner menu.

DUBLIN

If you are lucky enough to celebrate the holiday in the city where it all began you will be celebrating the day with over a million other people. Dublin City lights up with heritage, patriotism and festiveness with an added unbelievable atmosphere.

This national holiday brings families together to participate in and watch the parade and also enjoy the annual festive carnival that runs all day long. After the parade finishes many spectators continue the celebration in one or more of the 1,000 pubs that surround the city.

Some of the most atmospheric places to join in the celebration are Dublin’s traditional tourist areas, Temple Bar and South Williams Street. If you want to go the extra mile you can make an attempt at ‘The Baggot Mile’. This challenge refers to a strip of pubs along Baggot Street, located in the city centre. To complete the challenge one must have at least one drink in each pub, staying no longer than 30 minuets in each and only being allowed only one bathroom break per bar.

Like every March 17, this St. Patrick’s Day will definitely be a day to remember for some, or a day trying to remember for others. A holiday that was originally known as a religious holiday celebration is now seen as the biggest party of the year. Why? Because the Irish know how to have a good time. Slainte!

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Oscar-winning actor George Clooney has a surprising relationship with the ill-fated RMS Titanic, as will be revealed in an upcoming documentary.

It has been said that Sarah Clooney, a distant relative from County Laois, was the person responsible for making the carpets which lined the ship, and that Clooney will learn more about her story when he makes a visit to Ireland later this in year. His familial link will be detailed in Gabriel Murray’s documentary “George Clooney’s Irish Roots — The Real Descendants”, a pun on his latest film release.

The Belfast Telegraph first reported on this story, explaining that:

Sarah Clooney worked in the carpet factory in Abbeyleix owned by Ivo de Vesci. She had originally come from Dunamaggin, Co Kilkenny but moved to Abbeyleix after her family were evicted from their land.

Sarah kept in contact with the famous actor’s aunt, Rosemary Clooney, and the pair shared correspondence over many years.

It is worth noting that several members of Clooney’s family have achieved notoriety in their own right. Aside from his aforementioned aunt who won both an Emmy and a Grammy award during her career, his father Nick Clooney has run for Congress while his cousin Miguel Ferrer has starred in such films as Robocop and Mulan.

As for Clooney’s Irish ancestors, the documentary, which is expected to finish production in the coming months, will provide further insight into those who have lived – and who still do – in Ireland. Alleged “parish records” have been discovered, in which full details of Clooney’s ancestry are noted, however, the exact extent of this information will not be revealed until Murray’s documentary airs later this year.

Incidentally, Clooney had told The Irish Examiner as recently as last October that he had plans of partaking in a bike tour across Ireland at some point in 2012, on the recommendation of U2 frontman Bono. Clooney said:

It’s finally happening … I ran into Bono here in Toronto, who was in town for the documentary about U2 and he’s as much of a bike nut as I am. He started telling me about lots of cool places I should check out, so I’ve committed to going there in April.

In the meantime, Clooney has plenty of professional business to keep him occupied as he attempts to win his second Oscar for Best Actor with the critically-acclaimed film The Descendants. Clooney has already won a Golden Globe and a Critic’s Choice Award this year for his role in the film as a man in the midst of his family’s collapse, and so it would seem fitting that he will dive right into his own personal family story once Hollywood’s 2012 awards season is at an end.

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The fact that this Toonari girl is Irish had nothing to do with the amazing experience I had at O’Keefe’s Tavern & Restaurant in Clearwater Florida. O’Keefes was established in 1961 by Bill O’Keefe. When he died in 1969, Joe Smith took over. During this time, O’Keefe’s added on the new addition known as the “Cedar Room.”

In the early 1970s, a car ran through O’Keefe’s, demolishing everything inside. One thing that was ruined was the painting of a naked woman, rumored to be Bill O’Keefe’s wife, which still hangs in the “Tap Room.” The painting was torn at woman’s belly button and a band aid covers her “scar.”

This alone adds a plethora of character to the restaurant. The Duquesnay family has owned and operated the restaurant since they bought it in the 1980s. The small annual St Patrick’s Day celebrations at O’Keefes have become some of the largest private parties in America. With over two tons of corned beef and many semi-trucks of green beer, the party keeps getting bigger and better year after year!

A few dedicated food creators and kitchen managers have been with O’Keefe’s since 1978, relaying a silent message to the public about how wonderful this location is.

With amazing prices and everything from appetizers, such as fried pickles, Irish puffs, and potato skins to delectable entrees, O’Keef’s has got it all. The menu has wings, rubens, hot browns, potato soup – and it goes on for days. Steak, chicken, burgers, pastas, seafood, meatloaf, wraps, dozens of sandwiches, salads, sides,and mouthwatering desserts leave the diner in Irish awe.

Live Irish music, a great bar, outdoor seating, and indoor private booths, each with it’s own television set makes O’Keefes one of the best family owned locations around. The servers were funny, fast, very informed, professional. Some may even performed an Irish jig right at the table, complete with heal clicks and a smile.

O’Keefe’s is an Irish culinary delight guaranteed to please with its great atmosphere, food, and service. O’ Keefe’s is perfect for family, casual outings, or exciting dates so don’t wait! Get out and enjoy Toonari’s pick for this weeks mouthgasimic experience! It is the best of irish food without all the salt, so put on your green shirt, and riverdance over to O’Keefe’s.

O’Keefe’s is located at 1219 S Fort Harrison Ave, Clearwater, FL 33756. It is open Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m, and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Image Courtesy of  http://okeefestavernonline.com

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A ban on donations of blood made by gay men, which was established during the AIDS crisis 25 years ago, is to be dropped by England, Scotland and Wales. Blood banks in England, Scotland and Wales will allow gay men to give blood, beginning November 7. The UK Department of Health made this announcement Thursday.

On their website, UK National Health Services Blood and Transport (NHSBT), included the criterion that must be met in order for a gay man to donate blood. “The change means that in future only men who have had anal or oral sex with another man in the past 12 months, with or without a condom, will be asked not to donate blood.”

This also includes men who have sex with anyone whose been injected with drugs, whose been with a prostitute, or who has had a sexual encounter with a man who has slept with another man. Men whose last sexual contact with another man was more than 12 months ago will now be approved to donate blood.

According to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), the ban was put into place in the 1980’s in an effort to avoid the risk of HIV contamination. The new guidelines came after a review conducted by the UK Department of Health reported that “evidence no longer supported the permanent exclusion of men who have had sex with men.

The Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs (SaBTO) studied the latest details on relevant sexual contact in relation to the safety of donating blood. The Committee’s review examined the risk of infection being transmitted through blood and the ability to test donated blood for diseases before reaching their conclusion that new guidelines could safety been instituted.

Dr. Lorna Williamson, the Medical and Research Direct of NHS Blood and Transplant, said in a statement that “We welcome this review and its conclusions.  It gives us an opportunity to broaden our donor acceptance on the basis of the latest scientific evidence. “

In 2010, a federal committee recommended maintaining the policy preventing gay men from donating blood in the U.S. Acccording to CNN, this decision provoked “disappointment and anger from gay activist groups.”

“The committee’s decision today not only leaves a discriminatory practice in place, it also puts lives at risk,” said Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, in a statement responding to the 2010 ruling. Meanwhile, some groups continue to use the ban to justify their demonization of gays.

Just a month ago, Bryan Fishcher, Director of Issues Analysis for the American Family Association (AFA), commented about the blood ban on the AFA website. “I think this is one of the reasons where our argument is infallible…is the danger that homosexual contact imposes to human health.

I gave blood here several weeks ago and I was asked three times…have you as a male ever had sex with another male one time since 1977. If I had answered yes, I would not have been able to give blood.

The risk to the nation’s blood supply is so severe that the risk that active homosexuals pose to the nation’s health, to the nation’s blood supply is so severe that if a man has had sex even one solitary time since 1977 – cannot donate blood. That, ladies and gentleman, tells you all you need to know.”

North Ireland is also considering the new policies adopted by England, Scotland, and Wales and the recent findings of the NHSBT. It is expected that North Ireland will make a decision on the guidelines of gay men donating blood soon.

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U2 lead singer Bono denied the reports that he had been taken to hospital after complaining of chest pain while on holiday in the south of France. Singer’s spokeswoman claims he is in “good health” and his hospital visit was just a routine checkup.

Various websites published a story that Bono had been rushed to a hospital by his wife Ali Hewson, after she became concerned about him suffering from palpitations and chest pains. The 51-year old did go to the Princess Grace Memorial hospital in Monacoon Wednesday August 17, and the Irish Independent claimed he was examined by a leading heart specialist and ordered to get some rest.

Irish Central website claimed that he had undergone a battery of tests before being discharged, quoting an insider saying, “as I understand it he was seen by a doctor. He is okay now but he got a fright.” Bono’s health scare was first reported by the broadsheet newspaper, Irish Independent.

It’s clear now that the reports are false and it’s also confirmed that the only health problems Bono had were in the form of a back injury, which he obtained while he was on a record-breaking world tour in 2010. “Despite press stories to the contrary, Bono has not suffered a recent health scare.

Reports of his being rushed to hospital for emergency treatment are untrue. Bono is in good health and enjoying a family holiday in the south of France,” the spokeswoman for Bono said in a statement to Reuters. Bono was later spotted relaxing in Monaco’s nightspot, Saas Café, with his wife, Julian Lennon and Irish designer John Rocha on Friday, August 19.

The group was forced to cancel several gigs in 2010 and pulled out of the Glastonbury music festival in England when Bono injured his back while rehearsing in Germany for the tour. He recovered in time to resume the gruelling schedule and the band returned to perform on the main stage at Glastonbury this summer.

U2 recently wrapped up their mammoth 360° world tour in Canada. The jaunt grossed a record-breaking $736,137,344 (£448 million). The success of the 360° Tour, which began in Barcelona on June 30, 2009, has been attributed to the band’s ground-breaking 360-degree production, which can increase the capacity of stadiums by as much as 25 percent.

Meanwhile, U2 are donating $7.2m to support the education system in their native Ireland following the hardship measures introduced in the aftermath to the world banking crisis. The cash will be provided over the course of the next four years and will mainly be used to buy music equipment and pay music teachers wages.

The head of Music Generation, a U2- affiliated charity, Rosaleen Molloy, says: “While we have a very rich musical culture and heritage, access to music tuition is like a geographic lottery. There is an assumption that music is being provided in mainstream schools- while the reality is it’s not.

The band had been looking for a way to invest and support music education in Ireland; they want to give something back.”
Featureflash / Shutterstock.com

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Soon after the so-called end of the depression period in the global economy, at a time when the global economy started a weak recovery, a more complex economic phenomenon emerged as the next bellwether to world economy.

Since 2009, the European economy has been struggling with slow economic growth rate and indomitable debt crisis that led to political disturbance in some countries of Europe. The crisis has dragged these economics back in to recession.

Years of heavy, unprecedented government spending in Greece and other countries of the Euro zone, led governments to go beyond available budgetary resources, and rely solely on borrowing to finance expenditures. This produced a series of risks to these economies and financial systems as a whole.

Leading economists warned that European debt crisis could spread across the continent in a major blow to the single currency system; further, the International Monetary Fund said turmoil in Greece, Ireland and Portugal may engulf the wider Euro zone despite billions of Euros already spent in emergency aid so far.

In an attempt to reduce dangerously rising levels of debt and forced and deep painful cuts in public expenditure — less government spending — drove up unemployment and put several nations back into recession. Many economists around the world claim that such immediate spending cuts are self-defeating in nature.

After much struggle in 2010 the EU and IMF combined to offer Greece a bailout package of 110 Billion Euros, followed by a broader contingency fund of 500 billion Euros. But the new loans came with the effect of austerity measures that apparently demanded a ceiling on public expenditure leading to widespread protests and political uncertainty in Ireland and Portugal.

Recently, the prime minister of Portugal said the government decided to ask the European Commission for financial help. According to economists, Portugal needs financial aid to the size of 80 Billion Euros.

After Greece and Ireland, Portugal became the third financially troubled country in the Euro zone to request financial assistance from Europe’s Bailout Fund and the IMF.

The era of financial trauma in the Euro zone began in December 2009, after newly elected Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou announced that his predecessors had hidden the actual size of the massive budget deficit. In a bid to regain the lost confidence in the region, the IMF urged European leaders to fix the banking problems and slash national deficits that have undoubtly led to stringent austerity measures.

Economists also say that strong policy responses so far that led to the weakening of Greek, Irish and Portuguese economies have contained the fear to some degree. However, markets are uncertain about the Greece capacity to pay back its debt of 285 million pounds, or $463.95.

As of now, Greece has more than 300 billion Euros of debt constituting to a sum of 140 percent of its total GDP. Recently, the EU and IMF Agreed to a 110 billion Euro bailout. According to Jose Manuel of the European Central Bank, a default would have extreme adverse consequences for the Greek economy.

Knud Nielsen / Shutterstock.com

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The only premiering Tribeca film initially viewable from Europe was, perhaps ironically, European. The Irish director, Thomas Hefferon, delivered ‘The Heist’ alongside his competing short film ‘Switch’. Hefferon has before been selected for the Festival competition with his short film ‘The Confession’ and had ‘The Pool’ premiere at Tribeca last year. The Heist had the privilege of serving as a global sneak peak for the online Tribeca audience just before the actual event kicked off.

The movie is a 9 minute short comedy shot mainly from the insides of a parked car. Three amateur bank-robbers are making a last run-through of their plan, but quickly realize that the robbing business is a complicated affair.

The leader is Francis, played by Sean Flanagan, whose feeble leading skills are seriously strained as he attempts to reason with the other two characters. It seems obvious that Francis is far from intelligent, but at least he stands out as the most sensible in the group. Nicky, the guy on the left played by Donal Gallery, reminds you of every skinny bloke with the backbone of an earthworm ever to be portrayed in modern cinema. He comes off as simpleminded; almost childish, with a distinct feminine inclination for sulking. However, he is not the one causing the most problems in the tiny vehicle; that would be Dave.

Like my boyfriend use to say; “there’s always a Dave.” In this case, Dave is a Neanderthal of a man, clearly failing to realize the seriousness of the act he is about to commit, and with a serious case of the munchies. Within the feature’s 9 minute time frame, Dave manages to fizzle the momentum for the gang repeatedly with his outrageous requests.

The movie got plenty of positive feedback in the comment section while it was still viewable. Those in favor found the ‘verbal slapstick’ – exaggerated idiocy exceeding the boundaries of common sense, highly entertaining, and enjoyed the failure of the gang to pull off a ‘proper’ heist. I personally have to join the haters. Though it is clearly meant as a lighthearted take on bank robbers, having watched movies such as The Town, nominated at this years Academy Awards, you probably have no problem imagining that being victimized in a robbery is no picnic. What bothers me, however, is neither the crime nor the pending human consequences – it’s the characters.

For a character-driven short film, this is a problem. Why the writer chose to make the characters as shallow as the bottom of a water bottle I don’t know, but the result left me with a strange feeling of defeat, and funny enough, recognition. First of all, even when we agree that the collected IQ of the car come closest to 150, it is hard for me to believe that empathy is a foreign country to men of their un-profession. On the other hand, if we agree to relinquish their moral scruples, surely they must have fears and doubts about their impending action. But this is left untouched, denying the introduction of interesting characters. Secondly, as a native Dane, I found the dialogue oddly familiar. Tar-black humor that relishes in illogical, yet conceivable problematics. My research confirms that the writer is a Dane named Troels Jacob Hundtofte, and my guess is that he’s no stranger to modern Danish action comedy. He seems, however, a stranger to the fact that direct adaptation often ruins the intension. Being stranded on the beaches of an average cast, the already hampered dialogue is left to fend for itself and ends up being forced and uncomfortable. Since Hefferon obviously has drawn inspiration from the work of British gangster prodigy, Guy Richie, The Heist ends up as the awkward child of two offbeat genres.

Overall, the story was tame and uninteresting and could have been dealt with in a 5-lined joke. My only thumps-up is for the technical achievements – the film is well shot, well editing and the setup itself works. But in the end, what was meant as comic relief didn’t move me beyond thinking that I could be doing something else with my day.

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Also this year and also the United States got ready for the usual celebration of Saint Patrick’s Day. A festivity that can be seen as the symbol of the Irish community which lives in the US. March has been even recognized as the Irish-American Heritage Month in the 90′s by the US Congress because of the celebration of this feast.

In fact the origin of this feast goes back to Ireland where St. Patrick’s Day is being celebrated as a religious holiday to honour one of the patron saints of Ireland. The first official celebrations occurred in the 17th century and since then have never stopped.

The reason why it is being celebrated in numerous countries around the world,has to be found in the exodus of Irish emigrants to many countries as United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina and others in various continents,which is also called “Irish diaspora”.

St. Patrick’s Day is celebration is fixed on the 17th of March, not only in Ireland where is an official public holiday, but also in other countries as well as US. The cities where the largest Irish communities live are the ones where the celebrations of this feast started earlier and where are currently the greatest. Boston was the first in the world to have a St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the 18th century,due to the presence of a large number of Irish immigrants which wanted to make by this way social and political statements about their difficulty of receiving an equal treatment in the work places as well as in society.

Nowadays parades are held in many cities with a high rate of Irish-American population including Chicago, New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Seattle, New Orleans, Detroit, Baltimore, San Francisco and more. Following the Irish tradition which associate the green colour to St. Patrick’s Day – the legend tells that the saint used the shamrock for explaining the doctrine of Holy Trinity to the Irish people who weren’t Christian – to celebrate the people in US, either Irish and not Irish, use this colour dressing in green clothing and consuming food and drinks that are naturally or just dyed green.

In many cities the green colour is used also to dye the waters of rivers, canals, fountains, traffic stripes and so on. Even if in the US St. Patrick’s Day is not a public holiday it is largely celebrated. Although regardless of the Irish heritage and the cultural and historical background in this day many people go to clubs and restaurants where Irish theme parties are organized using as predominant colour the traditional green. Alcohol is strongly tied to this feast’s celebrations, it can’t be a good St. Patrick’s Day party if you don’t drink a lot.

The sense of heritage among the Irish immigrants and the people who have Irish ancestry in United States has been always very strong. The bonds with the Irish culture and tradition are represented also by this feast,which could be seen as the symbol of the Irish community in US. The annual celebration of St. Patrick’s Day is a good occasion for celebrating also the “Irishness” in all its forms.

If you go to a party in this day while wearing something green and, above all, before to get drunk remember that it’s the symbol of the Irish community and a reminder of the Irish immigration to the United States.

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