Monday, August 25, 2008

Ireland's Minister for Hardship

Classic Irish comedy from the 1970s . . .

. . .But first some background. Here is comedian Eamonn Morrissey as the "Minister for Hardship", which was a humourous impersonation of Liam Cosgrave, our Taoiseach from 1973 to 1977. Back in those days, inflation was in double-digit figures; but also significant was the fact that most people in the country had only one television channel at home, RTE. And one of their most popular programmes was the humorous Hall's Pictorial Weekly.

This weekly programme was introduced and the sketches were linked by journalist and broadcaster Frank Hall, seen here introducing and closing this piece.

I believe this sketch was written and broadcast shortly after a rather "tight" Budget.

Enjoy!