The best and worst of the last ten years

2000-2009
2 Decadend Decadend
December 2009

A note from
the editors Contents
By Connor Moloney, Suzanne Byrne, 3 Media
Wiebke Begere & Rossa Mullally
The rise of reality TV, social network websites

4 Politics
9/11 remembered, key moments in Irish politics

5 Environment
Climate change, the extinction of the Bee

6-7 Fashion

T
he first decade of the new millennium Sex and the city, fashion returns to the White House
is coming to an end. And what a
decade its been - from bust to boom,
from boom to bust, from Bertie to Brian, from
broke to broker and from Bush to Barack. 8 Economy
2010 is now fast approaching and we’ve
probably seen more than we needed to… The credit crunch, the rental market
More than any other event the
horrific terror attack of 9/11 casts a
shadow over the decade, resulting in
9 Society
two wars that are still being fought. One hundred thousand Irish welcomes?
We’ve also witnessed calamitous disasters
such as the Tsunami in South East
Asia and Hurricane Katrina. These last
disasters highlighted growing concerns
10 Film
about climate change as for the first The decade of the remake
people began to feel the impact of human
interference with our environment.
The same way our environment has 11 Sports This publication was
changed, we’ve seen this change reflected produced by Griffith
in the political landscape and nowhere Ireland’s most memorable sporting events College Students 2009
more than in this country, which leaves
the decade among the worst affected by
the recent global financial meltdown.
But cheer up: it’s not all bad! Editors
Connor Moloney, Suzanne Byrne, Wiebke Begere, Rossa Mullally
We’ve also seen positive changes such as the
banning of size zero models, rents falling at Sub-Editors
Connor Moloney, Suzanne Byrne, Wiebke Begere, Breffni O’Dwyer, Ruth Ní Eidhin, Lisa Counihan,
double-double digit rates and unforgettable Anne Marie Dolan
moments in music, politics and sports.
Design and Layout
It is impossible to distill all these moments Connor Moloney, Suzanne Byrne, Wiebke Begere, Fiona Burke, Breffni O’Dwyer, Ania Majewska, Carys Sanders
into one publication, but we’ve been
reeling in the years and have captured Contributors
Connor Moloney, Suzanne Byrne, Wiebke Begere, Rossa Mullally, Fiona Burke, Breffni O’Dwyer, Ruth Ní Eidhin, Lisa
the essence of the decade. So this way Counihan, Ania Majewska, Carys Sanders
for the noughties in all its glory, from
With Special Thanks To
reality TV to virtual reality. Enjoy… Ryan Brennan and Gary Gill
 Decadend Media 3
December 2009

Keeping it real
genre.  Big Brother their fifteen minutes of
The exploded onto our fame.
Decade screens in 2000 and
changed the viewing
The plethora of reality
TV shows that now
that habits of a generation.
The initial series
dominate media
schedules would seem
brought was our first ever to indicate that there
opportunity to become are thousands upon
us Reality voyeurs in the lives of thousands of ‘real’
eleven strangers, 24/7.  people happy to put
And we were hooked. themselves forward
By Lisa Counihan
In 2002 more British as sacrificial lambs on Big Brother is
people registered their the altar of reality TV watching you...

W
votes on the series in their quest for fame
e call
(14.2 million votes) and fortune.
ourselves of cost curtailment, were neither aware of
t h e than placed a ballot for Whether it’s watching
media moguls will nor cared about a year
“X Factorettes.”  the Labour Party at the shows in the
Embarrassing, but 2005 general election company of others, It has be more than happy ago.
to continue with this And we look likely to
true! Every Saturday (9.5 million votes). or generating debate almost cheap entertainment,
night a group of at the lunch table, it stay interested too - X
Ten years on, the
has almost become
become which generates not Factor 2009 gets over
normally intelligent first Big Brother only advertising
women turn into contestants appear socially limiting to be socially revenue but
14 million viewers
unaware of who was weekly.
gibbering simpletons naïve and somewhat
voted off the X Factor,
limiting to incremental coffers
as we share a bottle ‘normal.’ There is no doubt
be unaware from premium voting
of wine, and become or to be devoid of an that for years to come
Programme makers lines.
sucked into the opinion on who should who was volumes of research
have tried to draw us have been fired from They will undoubtedly
intellectual void that is will be devoted to
reality TV.
in with an increasingly The Apprentice. voted off the receive the support the phenomenon.
bizarre range of of the print media,
It is almost a decade characters, which So what is the likely X Factor As Cheryl Cole said
who thrive on selling “I’m off to indulge
since our first seem prepared to go future of reality TV?
papers on the back of my guilty pleasure
experience of this to any lengths for In the growing ethos
exposés of people we

Facebook: the global pandemic of the decade

on any given day. It expelled from Harvard an initiative called There are two aims to a page where couples
By Fiona Burke is one of the fastest- University but the Facebook Platform, the game: the lying that met through the

F
acebook has growing and best- charges were dropped. inviting third-party down should be as site can write their
been one of known sites on the Facebook then began software developers public as possible “success stories” and
the major internet. to spread through to create programs for and involve as many post photos of their
social developments The company was schools and colleges the site. people as possible. loved-up selves!
of this decade. The founded by Mark in America. It is now This lead to the Pictures have been Facebook is the
social networking Zuckerberg in 2004. a global phenomenon creation of hundreds of published of members newest virus that
site has 350 million The development of for people of all ages. social applications on lying down on ironing has taken hold of
active users with 50% the site nearly resulted In May 2007, Facebook, from games boards, cars, inside a the world, infecting
logging in to the site in Zuckerberg being Facebook unveiled to photo sharing tools. jet engine and even citizens in every
This resulted in further on top of a life-size country along the
explosion of activity sculpture of a bear. way. There are more
on the site. Facebook also has a than 70 translations
The Lying Down number of groups to available on the site.
Game has been one help single people The average user has
of the most unusual find that special 130 friends and spends
crazes to sweep across someone. These almost an hour per day
Facebook. groups range from perusing the website.
It’s current normal to completely Not only has it
membership is nearly outrageous; Dating infiltrated computers
80,000 and it describes in the City, Bringing worldwide but it is
itself as ‘Parkour... Sexy Back, and Booty now quite literally in
for those who cant be Call to name a few. people’s pockets, with
arsed’. The most popular more than 65 million
The aim of the game of these sites at the users now accessing
is for its users to post moment, Are You the website through
photos of themselves Interested? has a their mobile phones…
in a variety of odd whopping 13million there is no end to the
places lying down. users. There is even power of Facebook.
Participant of the Lying Down Game
4 Politics Decadend
December 2009

One morning in September

likely to run into the an un-winnable war.
hundreds of thousands. In fact the situation in
Increasingly, it looks Afghanistan is now so
likely that both the US bad that the Chief US
and UK will end up military commander in
pulling out of Iraq in
the near future. They On that
are over extended and
have ultimately failed
fateful day
in their stated mission almost 3000
of installing a peaceful people from
democracy in Iraq.
The likely outcome 51 different
of this will be a civil countries
war within Iraq as
each ethnic group
lost their
scramble to fill the lives
power vacuum created
by a withdrawal.
The situation in
Afghanistan looks Afghanistan, General
even bleaker. After Stanley Mc Chrystal
an initial early victory, stated in September
The 9/11 attacks were a devastating moment in history that sent shockwaves to every corner of the Earth. the Taliban has made that more troops are
a slow and steady needed immediately
changed the world almost 3000 people then Iraq in 2003.
By Rossa Mullally comeback and now or the war will be lost.
and affected the lives from 51 different Today both countries
controls many areas Even those who
of millions ever since. countries lost their are two of the most
of the countryside. believe that the war

I
The images of the lives and over 6000 violent and lawless
t was a glorious Even in areas where can be won recognise
American Airlines were injured. This places on earth.
morning, the type the Taliban are not that it could take up
Flight 11 and United was a truly global As a result of these
that promised strong, there are local to 20 years to do so.
Airlines Flight 175 tragedy, but it was operations more than
endless possibilities Warlords who are All of this misery and
as they hit the towers only the beginning. 4,000 Americans are
for the day ahead. intent on running the suffering is a direct
of the World Trade Riding the wave now dead, along with
On this morning the show and who are result of the events
Centre, were made of patriotism in approximately 800
brilliant blue sky willing and capable that took place on
even more spectacular the United States soldiers from over
and perfect weather to fight anyone who that glorious morning
by the serene blue following the 30 countries. The
conditions served only stands in their way. in September. It
sky that served as attacks, the US civilian casualties in
as a surreal backdrop It is slowly becoming was the moment that
their backdrop. military invaded first Iraq and Afghanistan
to the events that apparent that this is defined the decade.
On that fateful day Afghanistan and are unknown, but are

29.04.07 comissioning, con- by many as a move ple of Ireland was

Key dates in a decade firmed that the IRA against the increasing rejected by 53.9%
Taoiseach Ber-
of Irish current affairs tie Ahern takes an had completed its de- level of immigration of voters, only to be
early trip to Áras an commissioning. The into Ireland. passed after a second
people”- Bertie Ahern report was welcomed vote. The Lisbon Trea-
By Ruth Ni Eidhin announcing his immi-
Uachtarán on a Sun- 26.09.02
day morning to dis- by both the Irish and ty superseded the Nice
nent departure from The publication of the
solve the 29th Dáil. British governments agreement in 2009
the office of Taoiseach second interim report
Despite being per- and acknowledged as after a similar second
08.11.08 after 11 years in the into the “The Tribunal
ceived as a bad move a significant step to- referendum was suc-
office. Reflections on of Inquiry Into Cer-
After two decades at by a government on wards lasting peace on cessful.
his time in office were tain Planning Matters
the heart of Irish poli- the back foot, Fianna this island.
overshadowed by his and Payment” found
tics, the Progressive Fáil and their coalition 11.06.04 former TD Ray Burke
ongoing entanglement
Democrats gave up partners were returned The 2004 citizenship guilty of having made
with the Mahon Tri-
the fight at the end of yet again to form the referendum changed corrupt payments.
bunal.
2008, after disastrous 30th Dáil on June 14th the conditions for au- Burke was subse-
general election cam- 14.03.08 2007. tomatic Irish citizen- quently jailed, and lat-
paign the previous The ESRI predicts 26.09.05 ship to specify that at er developments also
year saw the party lose that growth in Ireland least one of a child’s contributed to Bertie
six of its eight seats in “The day the gun
for 2008 would be at parents had to be an Ahern’s resignation as
the Dail. was taken out of Irish
the lowest level since Irish citizen or entitled Taoiseach five years
politics”. With these
02.04.08 1988 and that no new to Irish citizenship. later.
words, General John
jobs would be added The referendum was
“The decision I am de Chastalain, chair 07.06.01
to the Irish economy opposed by the Irish
announcing today… of the Independent The first Nice Treaty
for the first time since Council for Civil Lib-
is solely motivated by Commission on De- presented to the peo-
1991. erties, and was seen
what is best for the
 Decadend Environment 5
December 2009

Environmental disaster?
up of greenhouse
By Carys Sanders
gases in the earth’s
atmosphere, trapping

S
infrared rays from
o, this decade the sun that would
it was finally normally be reflected
confirmed that back into space,
yes, we are in fact and instead sending
DOOMED! And them back down
naturally it is largely to earth. The most
down to mankind, significant greenhouse
so we can’t really gas that seems to be
grumble about it contributing to this
either. Forget the phenomenon is carbon
recession, what use dioxide, or CO2, a
is an economic boom gas produced through
when half of the fossil fuel burning.
country is several feet
B a s i c a l l y, We s t e r n
under seawater and
society has been
the other half is slowly
churning out a hefty
roasting on the shores
amount of CO2
of Athlone-on-Sea??
pretty much since the Industrial skyline
The dreaded words
Industrial Revolution energy and fossil fuel Ireland might end up begins to melt. Given Gore’s presentation on
‘climate change’ have
began over 200 years that you use in your with a Mediterranean vast populations climate change in the
crept into common
ago. The fact that daily life, the higher climate), the results all over the world film ‘An Inconvenient
parlance, particularly
CO2 takes hundreds your carbon footprint. on a worldwide scale are concentrated in Truth’ brought
in the last few years,
of years to break don’t sound so good. coastal areas, major the science and
and now exist to instil The predicted
down from the earth’s cities may no longer predictions to a mass
guilt and fear into our consequences of this
atmosphere makes exist and people audience. Natural
very hearts whenever are that the earth’s
we do something as
it an even greater
surface temperature
The dread- could be forced to disasters such as the
concern for scientists.
simple as switch on a
Simple necessities will continue to rise ed words ‘cli- retreat towards higher 2004 Tsunami, and
light, or try to enjoy if greenhouse gas land. More intense the devastation caused
eating steak (because
taken for granted mate change’ storms and increased by 2005’s Hurricane
such as driving to emissions continue
do you have any idea
the shops on a rainy to grow as they have have crept desertification of land Katrina brought the
how much fuel and been doing. Science are other predicted images of the death,
energy go into the
afternoon all play their into common side effects of the chaos and desperation
part in contributing also predicts that
meat industry??!). even a slight increase parlance earth’s temperature that natural disasters
to CO2 emissions, rising. can cause into our
Climate science has and thus the phrase in the earth’s surface
temperature could The issue of ‘climate homes and our minds.
been evaluating the ‘carbon footprint’ was
evidence that suggests invented to represent have noticeable and change’ has moved The message is that
that the surface the amount of CO2 devastating effects One major concern is from being a concern this is the kind of
temperature of the emissions each on the planet. Whilst that sea levels will rise of relatively few devastation we might
earth is rising, and the individual produces in on paper, the idea significantly as sea ice to a main political eventually have to get
likelihood that this their daily lives. So, of warming sounds in Arctic and Antarctic preoccupation in used to in the future.
is a result of a build- for instance, the more quite good (after all, regions warms up and recent years. Al

Isle Bee Damned

By Carys Sanders
In recent years, bee populations have been rather
mysteriously diminishing both in Ireland and
many other countries.Whilst the Honey Bee is
now believed to be under attack from the Varroa
mite, several bumble bee species are also under
threat of extinction. One believed cause of this
is the widespread cutting down of hedgerows
in recent years as Ireland’s countryside has
undergone urban development. Other causes to
population losses include bad weather, and a lack
of bee friendly flowers and plants in gardens and
wild.Scientists are working to isolate the parasite
that is wiping out honey bee colonies, and in the
UK breeding programmes are being considered
to reduce further losses, and encourage the native
Black Honey Bee which is generally hardier
than other subspecies.The work is crucial. The
importance of Bees should not be underestimated
as thye play an important role in pollinating crops
and plants. Even Albert Einstein is alleged to
have said; “If the bee disappeared off the surface
of the globe then man would only have four years
of life left”.
 Decadend
6 Fashion December 2009

The Decade in Sex and The City... Not t

A look at some of the wardrobe w
Fashion Patricia Field
By Breffni O’Dwyer

Fashion returns to the

Whitehouse
and it certainly stead to become the
was a momentous most fashionable
occasion, I however first lady since the
harboured a secret enigmatic Jackie O.
joy at the return
of fashion to the
White House!
With simple shifts
appearing to be her
wardrobe staple
and her ability to
wear bold prints
and colours in the
While for most unassuming
some Obama’s manner, Michele
Presidential Obama is setting
victory was the herself in good
highlight of 2008,

The Highstreet/Designer
Collaboration
The rise of M&S, by far the
designer/highstreet most successful
collaborations retailer is the
took flight during unstoppable H&M.
the noughties. A They boast

A
product of Sex and collaborations with s Vogue was to the wardrob
the City? Perhaps, Mathew Williamson, Carrie Bradshaw, the official w
with women Comme Des Garcon so too has Sex and than once! H
everywhere lusting and most recently, the City been to women the purpose
after the designer Jimmy Choo. everywhere for the last I’ll keep to t
packed wardrobes So if you fancy a decade; the fashion of the six ser
of the fabulous splash of designer bible! The stylish quartet Where to sta
foursome, it seems a gear but can’t afford
From Kate Moss for not only changed the first look m
natural progression the pricetag hit the
Topshop to Patricia way a generation talk simple, whi
to offer a more highstreet quick!
Fields’s range for about sex, they became wonderful Patricia Field. seen on Carr
affordable range.
the cornerstone for The adventurous stylist opening title

They said it would never fashionistas around the

world while doing so. The
never failed to impress
with each episodes
tulle skirt and
both in the so
mastermind behind each wardrobe. From the block pastel shade
happen ... individual look was the colour power dressing of the effortless
Never say never the 80s was met Samantha, the fashion of the show.
folks! We thought with trepidation forward, adventurous In saying
the Dynasty days of however the style seen on Carrie, the wild side
disproportionately futuristic shoulders conservative “girl next definitely do
large shoulder seen on the Balmain door” attire of Charlotte, a back seat
pads were dead runways have now to the tailored corporate show, the sl
and gone, never to been embraced look donned by Miranda. esque cat su
be resurrected, but with open arms. Every style and taste was unwavering
alas the fashion With great catered for. by Samantha
wheels have h i g h s t r e e t I could give a running jumps to mi
truned and the recreations, commentary, beginning all the sex
look resurfaces anyone can step right back at the pilot, of there, a hea
with a twist. back two decades, all the wonderful looks of lingerie
At first this and look great
created by Field. I will throughout
throw back to while doing so.
admit to reading through also.
 Decadend
December 2009 Fashion 7

to mention “The Field”! Vintage is back in Vogue

wonders created by stylist
Another noughties high end designer
fashion craze is the pieces with quirky
rise in popularity one offs makes
of vintage clothing. vintage clothing
I’ll tip my hat once even more alluring.
again to Patricia Vintage and sec-
Field and say she ond hand clothing
definitely influ- stores are popping
enced the trend. up all over Dublin
Her clever mix of with Oxfam getting
a vintage drop eve-
ry Friday morning.
There are bargins
to be had and lit-
tle gems waiting to
be found around
the city so get go-
ing, who knows
what you’ll find.

Boho
Phoenix from the Chic
flames Boho chic was the
look of the early
noughties. With
The decade for Kate Moss
flowy peasant
skirts and sandals
fashion scene to the vibe was laid
the sensationalised
back cool. We
exposé of her
saw Sienna Miller
cocaine habit, the
noughties have
come into her own
proved challenging with the style.
for the supermodel.
However, it seems
Moss has resumed
her position on her
be section on A nod to the wedding the first series right pedestal, boasting
website more gowns sent from Heaven; through to the movie was a hugely successful
However, for Charlotte’s Vera Wang a really classic piece. clothes line for
of this piece dream which she walked Along with her simple Topshop, being
the best bits down the aisle in for her little wedding suit which the face of Hérmes
Perhaps Kate and warding off
ries. first wedding. she teamed with the now
Moss would like the threat to her
art? Well the And who could forget icon blue satin jewel
to forget some of throne in the shape
must be the the dress that left every encrusted Manolos.
the last decade. of new modelling
imsical look girl seeing green in Sex Patricia Field, we salute With challenges sensations; Lily Cole The look was
rie during the and The City the Movie; you! to her position and Agyness Deyn. seen stateside
es. The foamy the Vivienne as top of the UK
d simple vest W e s t w o o d with stylist
oftest of soft masterpiece Rachel Zoe
es epitomise donned by Carrie u n l e a s h i n g
sly chic style when she was an army of A
stood up on her list celebs in
that, the wedding day. freeflowing
of fashion Vintage clothing dresses, blonde
oes not take came into its tresses, folk
t in the hit own on the show jewelery and the
lashed punk- too, with Carrie all important over
uit worn with acting as master sized sunnies.
confidence of the field by H o w e v e r ,
a in series 5 mixing high end Londoners stayed
ind. And for designer gear true to the
kittens out with little gems Camden market
althy dollop from vintage mantra and opted
was served stores. for a less styled
the 6 series The full length version of the
fur worn from famous look.
8 Economy Decadend
December 2009
During the boom years nothing seemed too expensive, nothing seemed beyond reach- but then the market crashed
From boom to bust
Ireland leaves the decade among the worst of the worst and is now facing ruin
offering, and he could
By Connor Moloney
rent it out to cover the
high interest monthly
A
few years repayments. All he had
to do was wait a year
ago a friend
or two for the value to
of mine was
telling me he had just go up before selling at
a tidy profit.
bought a brand new
apartment in north- Then, bust. The sudden
east Dublin as an collapse was really not
investment property. that sudden at all. The
The friend was in his “credit crunch” as it
mid-twenties, and was called before it
working a fairly low became the “economic
income job. I asked crisis”, started being
how he could afford bandied about as a
it. No worries, he said, term in late 2007, and
his mortgage, was one some financial service
of the new “100%” companies here had
ones banks were started laying staff off
Rents falling at
double-digit rates
The latest Daft.ie
By Wiebke Begere
analysis found that
the typical student
The end of the first renting a double-room
decade of the new in Dublin city-centre
millennium is nearing can expect to save
and there is great news about €1000 over the
not only for new and course of the coming
returning students, but academic year,
for all tenants around compared to last year.
the country- rents From the late 1990s to
are falling at double- the summer of 2002,
digit rates around the rents were on the
country in Ireland. constant up. Then the
Daft Economist
Ronan Lyons
on Rent...
Rents peaked in early
2008 and based on
July figures, the largest
falls in rents in Dublin
since then have been
in Dublin city centre
and South County
Dublin. The north
city area has seen the
smallest fall in the
capital, although even
there the fall has been
over 20%. Dublin is
a more liquid market,
so expect Dublin to
turn first, whenever
it happens. It would
be my expectation
that rents in Munster
and Connacht face
a different 5-year
trajectory to Dublin.
After all, rents in those
areas also increased
by far less during
the boom years too.
At the moment, the
long before scenes that everything would everything we thought sheer number of
of despairing stock be fine and a credit was ours but never properties available
brokers became the system that wanted, really was, was only to rent means that
for desperation’s sake, a loan, a credit card there is competition
to milk the golden cow or an overdraft away. is among landlords,
If I hadn’t dry. The banks, buoyed pushing rents down.
seen such At an economic by such modern This competition is
debate last year, MEP goals as “competing” likely to persist in the
riches I Joe Higgins recalled and “market share”, capital at least for the
could live his upbringing “At offered something for next six months and
with being feeding time for the everyone. Incredibly, in some parts of the
pigs, we would have the idea that we country a good deal
poor to take a stick to the shouldn’t really be longer. Or at least
greediest snouts,” he able to afford this that’s what things look
noted, before adding never occurred to like now - no doubt
pointedly, “there was them either. the market has more
order of the day on certainly no stick in As the song goes, “If surprises in store!
sky news. We had a evidence over the last I hadn’t seen such
government to tell us, ten years.” riches I could live with Interview conducted
for popularities sake, Everything we wanted, being poor.” by Wiebke Begere
unthinkable happened:
Rental values had
growth rate since the
index started tracking
been increasing since rents back at the
the end of 2004, beginning of 2002.
though it wasn’t until But once again in only
the middle of 2005 a decade, the rental
that the pace of growth market went from
really picked up. boom to bust.
From 2005 onwards The primary reason
analysis of the rental rents are falling is due
market showed rental to increased supply.
values continuing to The total number of
increase steadily right properties available to
across the country, rent has risen steadily
with the annual rate of over the last two years,
growth reaching 10.5 suggesting much more
per cent in February competition among
2007 - the fastest landlords.
 Decadend
December2009 Society 9

One hundred thousand Irish welcomes?

By Ania Majewska
An injection of new blood has led to massive changes in Irish society

A
wards however, a sig-
foreign man nificant transformation
asked another took place and immi-
man in Dublin gration began to occur
pub while they were on a massive scale.
drinking Guinness at Two magic words:
the bar: “Where are Celtic Tiger. Ireland’s
you from?” “Where employment rate in-
am I from? I’m creased by almost 30
Irish!” per cent in the five
No Irish person would years between 1996
have been asked a and 2001.
similar question even
fifteen years ago in
Ireland. At that time Two magic
the country was ethi-
cally, culturally and
words: Celtic
religiously, one of the Tiger The sudden economic boom brought about a huge demand for new workers
most homogeneous in just four million, saw workers have helped in their home coun- people say that Ireland
the whole of the EU. 50,000 immigrants ar- to fill the job vacancies tries. Despite fears, now looks better and
Things have changed. At that time the Irish riving annually. Due indigeous workers did the newcomers did not has had new life in-
Ireland has a very economy became one to the sudden econom- not want. displace Irish workers jected into it.
long emigration his- of the most opulent in ic boom in 2003 and Despite the fact they and there was no rise However, some here-
tory. There are around Europe. This brought 2004, Ireland experi- were receiving the in unemployment. people maintain that
80 million Irish peo- attention from citizens enced a huge demand minimum wage, they The effects of im- Ireland lost its spirit,
ple across the world, not only of Europe, for workers. There were happy to hold migration changed tradition and culture
whilst in Ireland there but countries around were plenty ofjobs on to these positions Ireland socially, de- and some may argue:
are only around 4 mil- the world. Ireland, - but not enough peo- as these wages were mographically and was it worth it?
lion. From 1996 on- with a population of ple. Incoming migrant still much higher than even culturally. Some

A religious conversion Saints for a

Recession
1.St. Matthew. Patron
The sins of the fathers still dominate the faith saint of bankers, finan-
landscape cial managers, stock-
hearing about it for history, beginning to still barely figures in brokers and the Reces-
the first time. Hearing visibly change. The the narrative of reli- sion.
Christine Buckley, her 2006 census showed gion in Ireland, which 2. St Joseph: Patron
voice shaking and fin- that Islam had be- continues to be domi- saint of workers,
ger jabbing with fresh come the third most nated by our truly pe- home-sales and those
anger over the wounds culiar brand of Catho- in arrears on their
that had never fully lic worship. mortgages.
closed. So when
Islam had 3. St Elizabeth of Hun-
Anger at the church reached breaking point The fact that the recent
one thinks of religion become the gary: The homeless,
row over withdrawal
lives with a pledge in Ireland this is what responsibilities include
By Suzanne Byrne third most of subsidies to Prot-
to follow the path of tends to still immedi- those with in-law prob-
estant schools gar-
Christ. In the years ately spring to mind. populous lems; those ridiculed
nered so many column
In May of this year before its publication, for their piety and
abuse within the Cath-
The apocalyptic fall religion inches clearly reveals
falsely accused people.
the Ryan Commission from grace of the great we’re still have trou-
report into sex abuse olic Church had on 4. St Cajetan:
Irish Catholic tradi- ble seeing Protestants
within religious insti- and off monopolised Patron saint of the un-
tion over the last 30 as one of our own,
tutions was published national conversation, populous religion in employed.
years had ended in a never mind Muslims.
to a tidal wave of raw to the extent that talk- the country revealing 5. St Monica: Alcohol-
crash land. But this With the decade
emotion and anger in ing about it had almost a 70 % increase to ics. Pious Monica was
grim and all too fa- ending with the re-
Irish society. And in become a cliché. Me- 32,500 compared to not an alcoholic herself
miliar picture does not emergence, at a time
November came the dia coverage of the is- the previous census in – her pagan husband
tell the whole story of recession, of the
Murphy report. The sue ebbed and flowed 2001, which counted was.
of religion in Ireland phenomenon of reli-
two documents,which as new cases emerged, 19,147. When the fig- 6. Fiacre is patron of
in the last ten years. gious visions many
made headlines around but it was as if we had ures were published in cab drivers: the men
As Ireland was faced had thought was con-
the world, contained accommodated our- 2007 the phenomenon and women who know
with the phenomenon signed to history, we
unflinching accounts selves to the horrors as of the growing Islamic exactly why the reces-
not of emigration but still have quite a way
of unfathomable sav- part of what we were. population was duly sion happened and how
immigration, the reli- to go in re-imagining
ageries perpetrated by noted in the media and to get out of it...
But when these re- gious/faith landscape ourselves as a modern
men and women who ports came out, it was of Irish society was, a number of features
multicultural society.
had begun their adult almost as if we were for the first time in its followed. However, it
10 Movies Decadend
December 2009

I know what films you made last summer

with the horror genre, makes are not a new

we’ve had remakes of thing, and not neces-
Haloween, we await sarily the worst thing
a series of Friday the in the world, but car-
13th remakes, and bon copies are. Which
somewhere in between brings us back to the
we were subjected to horror genre and the
A look back at a decade when directors the majesty of “Fred- utter waste that was
finally threw in the towel, lodged their die vs Jason”, a film The Omen (2006) - a
creativity in the bank, picked up the pieces so unneccessary that film so unaware of
it may tip “Alien vs its own heathenism
and repeated themselves over and over Predator” off the lea- that it simply reshot
and over and... derboard for the sheer almost every scene
stupidity of the set- from the original.
up. Who will win out The sad fact is that the
Scary Movie. It may Did Last Friday the Saw VI can get a cin- in the end? Film ex- the list of nominees for
By Ruth Ní Eidhin ecutives everywhere.

I
not have been very Thirtieeth’ (2000) may ema release, surely “Best Original Screen-
clever, but it was cer- not have reached the we can make at least Whatever about re- play” must be dwin-
n a country where tainly funny. The film commercial heights of one more too?” In the making the films dling, while truly great
we still go to the worked because of scary movie, but you decade that is about that gave you night- and original films have
cinema to watch the extremes it went have to credit them to pass us by, film- mares the first time spent the last decade
films, the M word has to to parody Scream’s with a very obvious makers didn’t restrict around, this decade’s being drowned out
never captured the postmodern take on sense of humour about themselves to satiris- habit of interfer- by unnecessary, un-
public imagination in the horror genre. ing the work of oth- ing with perfectly memorable tripe. The
the way it has on the ers in a range of ever good originals would biggest films of this
The clichés high-
far side of the Atlantic. more ridiculous se- leave any film buff’s decade have been re-
lighted by the Scream Into this
Add it to the end of quels - they satirised mind utterly boggled. makes, sequels or at
films themselves were
a film title, however, void of themselves. Anyone a minimum based on
taken to new and ever What possessed any
and our enthusiasm who didn’t groan at books that have al-
seems to match theirs.
more ridiculous levels, originality, producer to think
with the inevitable and the very idea of Saw Terminator need- ready sold hundreds
Scary Movie, released stepped in II must have given up of millions of copies.
no doubt desired ef- ed to be salvaged?
in September 2000, fect - as of 2009 there one last at the point of Saw V.
Batman’s rejuvenator If there is a light at the
was a watershed for the have been four sequels The reality is that end of this dreary tun-
modern film industry.
sinner may have been forgiv-
with a fifth on the way. these films continued en thus far but really nel, it is in the original-
Based on the 1996 Spin-offs to other to draw in crowds - that lenience depends ity and variety creep-
film ‘Scream’, Scary genres followed, with admittedly the ‘new on how many more se- ing into new forms of
Movie brought satire, their own project. spenders’ of the dec- animation, the reliable
Date, Epic, Disas- quels they try to drag
of a sort, to a new gen- ter and even Dance Scream itself has ade, Saturday night out of the franchise. ‘big actors’ who are
eration whose interest Movie filling our spawned two fur- teenagers with €20 to still willing to make
It wasn’t all bad - after
in low-level humour screens with increas- ther sequels to com- spend on a single tick- small films, and the
all, what woman (or
was about to cause a ingly banal jokes over plete the trilogy. et - so the quality and resurgence of small
man) could blame the
major cultural shift the coming years. This year, the grape- originality of releases cinemas as ‘cultural
man who cast George
in cinematic tastes. vine reports that ceased to register. centres’ that may yet
The most self-refer- Clooney in the role of
Nearly a decade on, Scream 4 is in the Into this void of origi- see 21st century cin-
ential title in the his- Frank Sinatra in the
it’s easy to forget the works, illustrating the nality stepped one ema being redeemed
tory of film, ‘Shriek new Ocean’s Eleven?
most significant fea- decade’s great movie- last sinner. The Clas- over the coming dec-
If You Know What I The point being, re-
ture of the original making maxim, “If sic Remake. Staying ades. We can but hope.
 Decadend Sport 11
December 2009

The Good, The Bad and The Bubbly

The Saipan Incident The Death of George Munster and Padraig Harrington’s The Grand Slam
By Connor Moloney
2002 Best Leinster’s Heineken First Open win 2009
Roy Keane expected 2005 Cup Success 2007 It almost didn’t hap-
We kicked Ireland to win the Undoubtedly these 2006, 2008 & 2009 The first Irishman pen. After following
2002 World Cup. By isles finest ever foot- Nowhere has Irish since 1947 to win the a disastrous World
every ball, felt the time it began, he baller, George Best coveted Claret Jug, Cup with a dismal
Rugby’s acesendecny
every tackle, had left the squad, finally succumbed to been more evident besting Sergio Gar- showing in the 2008
shared every very publicly derid- long-term health prob- than in Europe’s pre- cia in a truly gripping championship, argu-
triumph and ing the FAI, his team- lems midway through mier club competition. play-off, Padraig Har- ably the most gifted
mates, and manager the decade. His talent Munster provided the rington’s success was generation of rugby
felt the pain of Mick McCarthy. ultimately faded early perhaps surprising at players this country
first victory, beating
each loss. Public opinion on under the weight of Biarritz 23-19 in The the time. His career had ever seen looked
For sport in Saipan remains di- his personal demons, Millennium Stadium. prior to that day at as though their time
this country, vided even now, and but the winger still They won it again Carnoustie had been might be up. A new
the resulting fall-out enjoyed 10 seasons at in 2008, in the proc- very much that of the coach in Declan Kid-
this decade has Manchester United, perennial nearly man: ney, however, together
has become Irish ess setting the gold
seen as many winning two league undoubtedly talented, with exciting young
football’s version of standard for provincial
highs and lows the Beatles breaking titles, and a European rugby, a fact that long but never quite seiz- talents such as Tommy
as ever. From up, with Roy playing cup along the way. irked their often un- ing his moment. Two Bowe and Rob Kear-
the acerbic Lennon While years of alco- derachieving rivals in further major titles ney, seemed to give the
tantrums to
to Mick’s bland Mc- hol abuse overshad- Dublin 4. However, in later, he is seen as pos- likes of O’Connell and
tries, trophys owed his foootballing sibly the one golfer O’Driscoll renewed
Cartney. Bertie Ahern 2009 Leinster finally
to tragedies, offered himself as a achievements, 25,000 struck back, defeating in today’s game who purpose. Finally ful-
here of some mediator in the dis- mourners still gath- Leicester Tigers 19-16 can rival Tiger Woods. filling their promise,
of the best, pute, it spawned a sell- ered at his funeral in at Murrayfield to final- Harrington’s place as a heartstopping 17-15
out stage play; bloody Stormont, determined ly claim the trophy for one of Ireland’s great- win over Wales in the
and the worst, to remember the best est individual sports- final game delivered
hell, Jason McAteer themselves. As they
moments even had a newspaper of the man. The final continue to dominate, men is now assured. If Ireland’s first Grand
that have column at the height message of Best him- their annual derbies he can tame Tiger, he Slam since 1948. A
helped define of it. An Altamont for self was cautionary: fast becoming the may yet go down as thoroughly deserved
the Italia ’90 genera- at his request pictures sport‘s Classico, it’s the best. triumph befitting a tru-
Irish sport in from his deathbed ly great team.
tion. no wonder everyone
the past ten were published baring in Ireland seems to be
years... the headline: “Don’t a rugby fan now.
Die Like Me”.