The Dubliner Magazine

The Incredible World of Jason O’Callaghan

The new new journalism: ex-hack Jason O’Callaghan interviews his alter-ego, wedding singer Jason O’Callaghan

So why, after what you call a successful career in the Irish media, did you give it all up to become a wedding singer?
After years of writing about talentless, brain-dead so-called stars I woke up one day and realised I had more talent and brains than every one of them. I could sing and people wanted to hear me. Once the money started to come in I said goodbye to the press for good.
You’re more talented than the stars you wrote about? That’s a bold claim.
I know, but it’s true. Just take a look at Big Brother, You’re a Star, The X Factor. Need I say more?

The Dubliner’s Dublin – Kilmainham

Not to be confused with Kilmaine, a village in Mayo with a population of 150. Kilmainham (population c. 9,000) is in newly-fashionable Dublin 8, a mile or two from the city centre. It contains several buildings of significance including the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham Gaol, St Patrick’s Hospital and Dr Steeven’s Hospital.

10 things I hate about Women

10. Treachery

Nasty thing, being a traitor to your sex, but isn’t that what women are famous for? Turning their backs on the Sisters in order to snigger with that sworn enemy, Man? Cosying up to the source of power instead of trying to resist it? And after all, who but a traitor would agree to write a series like this?

10 things I hate about Men

10. Self-loathing

For the last nine issues of this magazine I have listed reasons why my gender is repulsive. I thought it would be fun, but I became depressed and conflicted. Then I got a bit thirsty... Afterwards I kind of flailed around a bit, like when you can’t get comfortable in bed and lose your temper with your duvet.

The Dubliner meets the New Yorker

Interview by Conn Corrigan

New york is the media capital of the the world, and David Remnick is right at its centre. From the 20th floor of the Condé Nast building at 4 Times Square, the New Yorker editor points out the spectacular view of the Manhattan skyline. We see the Reuters building a couple of blocks away and the green roof of the old New York Times building.
“No one questions the New Yorker’s standing as the top American magazine,” says John Koblin, media reporter with the New York Observer, “and that’s in large part because of what Remnick has done.”

Yes! We Can!...Waffle

Max McGuinness on Barack Obama's distressing fence-sitting on Iraq.

Barack Obama added to his increasing reputation for opportunism with an op-ed in yesterday's New York Times, which both fudges and reiterates his commitment to withdraw US troops from Iraq within 16 months of taking office.

The Democratic candidate begins by disingenuously seizing on comments made last week by Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki: "The call by Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki for a timetable for the removal of American troops from Iraq presents an enormous opportunity. We should seize this moment to begin the phased redeployment of combat troops that I have long advocated, and that is needed for long-term success in Iraq and the security interests of the United States."

 Obama, like everyone else who has given two minutes thought to this, knows that Maliki's vague declaration is itself a tactical ploy, designed to fend off the challenge from his extremist domestic rival Moqtada Al Sadr in upcoming provincial elections. Indeed, as the BBC has reported, Maliki never even said the word "withdrawal". What he actually said was: "The direction is towards either a memorandum of understanding on their evacuation, or a memorandum of understanding on programming their presence." The word "presence" was later replaced with "withdrawal" in a press release sent out by Maliki's office, inverting the sense of what he said, and no-one seems certain which is the authoritative version.

Barak Obama: Muslim Terrorist, Communist Pirate or Sagat from Streetfighter II?

The New Yorker has come under serious fire for printing a satirical cartoon of the prophet Obama.

In a clear satire on various media scare stories, their cover depicts Obama as a radical Islamist – complete with Taliban clothing, portrait of Bin Laden and burning American flag. For good measure, his wife is depicted as a 1970s Black Power terrorist with an AK-47. 

US media scaremongering about Obama has been scattered and absurd - in other words, absolutely rife for satirical mockery. John Stewart on The Daily Show has dubbed the phenomenon “Baracknaphobia”.

My Dublin

Sebastian Hamilton

Outdoors The Island. Portmarnock. Royal Dublin...any golf course, really. You get a 10k walk, fresh air, chat with the lads, a few pints – and you can call it sport! Brilliant. Otherwise, Herbert Park at lunchtime and Sandymount Strand after work. Very good for the soul. (And yes, tabloid journalists have those.)

Nikki Walsh

Single women in their thirties are the lucky ones. And while I’m at it: marriage is the death of romance.

Last month’s cover of The Dubliner read: ‘Marry that Loser. Why Irish women should settle for second best.’ Inside, Lori Gottlieb urged women to marry in their twenties so they wouldn’t find themselves single in later years.

Victoria Smurfit

From London to Dublin: the journey of a confused, weeping but ultimately rather happy mum-to-be.

Pregnancy is the closest a woman comes to knowing what it’s like to be a man with an erection. (Stay with me.) In both cases, the eight pints of blood that normally course all around the body are suddenly engaged in One Major Activity.

Max McGuinness

The hijab is a symbol of oppression, and it should be banned from our schools. But so should all religion.

In 2004, French president Jacques Chirac – the most corrupt, opportunistic and hypocritical of them all – took a stand. He banned the display of ostentatious religious symbols in public schools. Henceforth, anyone who shows up for class in France wearing a visible crucifix, yarmulke, niqab, burqa, hijab or a pendant depicting a favourite witch doctor will be called to see the headmaster and asked to remove their particular piece of god garb or go home.

Editors Letter

Trevor White introduces the August issue of the magazine

It’s best of Dublin time. This year the feature has special resonance, as the capital is due to undergo shock treatment. What will it look like this time next year? Will the ventures we champion survive a recession? And what of culture? Are we doomed? Or will Dublin emerge a stronger, more vibrant city than it is today?
The magazine has a role in fostering debate around such questions.