Money Down the Toilet

Irish low-budget airline Ryanair has suggested it is considering charging passengers for using the toilet while flying.

The airline's Chief Executive Michael O'Leary told the BBC “One thing we have looked at in the past and are looking at again is the possibility of maybe putting a coin slot on the toilet door so that people might actually have to spend a pound ($1.43) to spend a penny in future."

And any concerns that those travelling without coins would be inconvenienced were quickly put to the sword as he continued “I don't think there is anybody in history that has got on board a Ryanair aircraft with less than a pound.”

However, airline PR chief Stephen McNamara said in a statement “Michael makes a lot of this stuff up as he goes along and while this has been discussed internally there are no immediate plans to introduce it,” so we're probably safe for the time being.

Irish police have finally solved an ongoing mystery involving a Polish traffic offender named Prawo Jazdy. Having committed over 50 traffic tickets, and having provided a huge number of different addresses, police were unable to pin down this master criminal.

However, an internal police bulletin leaked to the Irish media on Thursday said officers taking details of Polish traffic offenders had been mistakenly using Pravo Jazdy, which is Polish for driver's license, as the holder's name.

The 17th annual Savannah Irish Festival

Savannah's Irish festival, the largest Irish festival in the South, will take place, for the 17th time, from February 13-15, 2009 at the Savannah Civic Center at Montgomery and Oglethorpe Streets in the historic downtown district of Savannah, GA. The festival begins Friday night with a céilidh in the Civic Center Ballroom from 6:30pm - 9:00pm.

On Saturday 14th the festivities run from 10:30am until 8:00pm. On Sunday the festival will begin at 12:00pm and run until 7:00pm.

Keane Fires Ireland to Fortunate Victory

Ireland captain Robbie Keane was quick to admit to his side's good fortune as they recorded a narrow 2-1 over Georgia on Wednesday. Ireland had looked like they were slipping to a disappointing defeat to the Georgians, who had taken an early lead through Iashvilli but the game changed on a controvertial penalty decison in the 73rd minute.

The referee adjudged that Lobjanidze used his arm to control a through-ball by Kevin Doyle, although replays showed that it had been his shoulder. Keane made no mistake from the spot and Ireland were back in it, having been dead and buried. Keane's second goal was a bit more conventional as he scored a diving header, from an inswinging corner, from about 6 yards.

The result puts Ireland level on points with Italy at the top of Group 8.

Irish Victorious at Croke Park

80,000 packed into Croke Park, Dublin to see Ireland claim a magnificent win over a strong France side in a thrilling RBS Six Nations opener.

France took the early initiative but Ireland hit back taking a 13-10 lead in at half-time. The French were playing some dazzling rugby so it was all credit to the fortitude of the Irish as they held on to their lead throughout the match eventually winning 30-21.

This was Ireland's first win over Les Bleus since 2003 and one of the great results in recent times. The Irish team are now hoping that a win over Italy in Rome on Sunday will see their Six Nations bid gather further momentum.

DC prepares for Shamrockfest 2009

Washington DC's biggest Irish festival is gearing up for another big year. Shamrockfest 2009 has 50 bands and DJs on 11 purpose built stages, carnival rides, games and dozens of party areas and will be held at RFK Stadium Festival Grounds on 14th March.

There is also an Irish Village where vistors can visit all their favorite bars and sample a wide range of Irish beers.

The Irish rock festival Oxegen has announced further additions to their prestigious line-up with Snow Patrol, Bloc Party, The Script and Katy Perry joining Kings Of Leon and Blur on the bill. The festival, known as the Fans’ Festival, returns to Punchestown Racecourse, Naas, Co Kildare from 10th-12th July 2009, the site of the successful 2008 event.

In 2008 festival-goers were given the opportunity to choose which bands they wanted to play at Oxegen and their choices were vindicated when fans from around Europe voted the festival as ‘Best European Festival’ at the UK Festival Awards. Oxegen prides itself in being Ireland’s largest 100% CarbonNeutral event – an achievement recognized by The European Festival Association, YOUROPE, who awarded Oxegen their prestigious ‘Green N Clean’ Award. OXEGEN is the first festival in Ireland to receive this award and one of only 18 festivals Europe wide. For further information about Oxegen register at oxegen.ie.

Irish Tribe is here!

Let's join Lady Liberty in raising a glass to the official launch of Irish Tribe apparel. Please check out our designer tees at our main site www.irishtribe.com and, naturally, feel free to buy as many as you like. ;o)

There's only six weeks until St Pat's big day so what better to complement your pint and whiskey than an Irish American original.

Erin Go Bragh!

Another excuse for a pint

2009 sees Guinness celebrate the 250th anniversary of brewing at their renowned St James’s Gate Brewery in Dublin. Guinness founder Arthur Guinness leased St James’s Gate back in 1759, for a period of 9000 years, and the site has been the home of Guinness ever since. Diageo, which own Guinness, announced that there will be a year-long global celebrations throughout 2009 there as a way to say ‘thank you’ to Arthur Guinness and to Dublin for 250 years of brewing there and to look forward to the next 250 years. Those lucky enough to be able to visit can discover what goes into the making of each and every pint and experience every detail of the world renowned Guinness product, including learning how to pull the perfect pint like a master.