Back in the mists of thirteen years ago there was Tara TV…
I see that the RTÉ Player is now downloadable from the Apple App Store, giving access in the UK to Irish TV shows.
Thirteen years ago, I was working in Dublin for a now-deceased TV station called Tara TV which broadcast Irish programmes to the UK.
Today, in 2000, there was a Tara TV staff outing to Shelbourne Park, the dog-racing track in Dublin.
Someone told me that, when you go greyhound racing, you should always bet on the black dogs. Sure enough, in the first five races, four had black dogs running. Three came 1st; one came 2nd.
I had not bet on them.
On that day thirteen years ago, someone also told me that God had been chatting to a chum (Yes, God has a chum) and explained that he was very happy with the balanced world he had created. There were dry bits and wet bits. There were hot bits and cold bits. There were nice bits and nasty bits. Everywhere there was light and shade equally balanced.
“I’m particularly keen on that green bit down there,” God explained to his chum. “That’s Ireland. Beautiful countryside. Nice people. Good sense of humour. Lovely music. Laid back and gentle. I’m very happy with them.”
“But,” his chum said, “I thought you said everything was balanced. How come everything is so idyllic in Ireland?”
“Ah well,” says God, “you should see the wankers I put on the island next to them.”
