In a way, Europe wants to punish Ireland for its entrepreneurial stance. Jedward are similar; just like low tax rates, they have a strong US influence – their first hit was a Vanilla Ice cover. Moreover, their lead has been followed by other newer euro zone member states, to the extent that Slovakia has also sent a pair of identical twins to Dusseldorf this year, though Daniela and Veronika Nízlová have décolletage as their trademark, rather than ridiculous haircuts.
In short, Ireland has learned a painful lesson about boom and bust in the euro zone recently, one that poses significant challenges for Enda Kenny’s recently elected government.
He needs all the distractions he can get, and a slice of sticky sweet Europop delivered by photogenic twin brothers in an area rich in Irish dominance sounds like just the thing to distract from the country's economic woes – for one weekend at least. – Eurovision, as analysed by Frances Robinson of the Wall Street Journal
The atmosphere in Dublin city is closer to that of Pinochet’s Chile than that of a free Ireland.
– Éirígí chairman Brian Leeson gets into the swing of the royal visit
I definitely won't be putting my name on the list . . . I don't have the funds for a start to mount a campaign. – Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern ruling himself out of the presidential race and conclusively proving politicians do pay attention to opinion polls