I mentioned Richard Waghorne’s new-look website a few days ago – poking fun at the gentleman’s club atmosphere – and now the website is gone. The Irish right’s prodigal son’s return was all too brief.

Was it something I said, or did Richard’s boss in Embassy House throw a wobbler that he was moonlighting online?

Don’t take it to heart, there, Richard. It’s a lovely site. Come out to play again.

Politicians are a gutless, selfish bunch – evinced by their utter willingness to wade in and legislate on matters taboo in Irish society.

Making headlines in Ireland is the case of Miss D, a teenage girl told that her unborn child is anecephalic, meaning that parts of its brain and skull would be so undeveloped at birth, most likely causing it to die within three days. The boiled down facts are that she wanted to travel for an abortion, but was prevented by a combination of the HSE, District Court, and High Court. What really prevented her from travelling to the UK for what can only be described as a human procedure, was political cowardice. [Read more →]

Bands that begin with ‘The’ can go either way. The Flaming Lips pack more heat than a jug of tabasco, but limp-wristed moaners The Thrills are about as thrilling as a head cold.

Dublin rock virtuosos The Immediate are immediately likeable, and are due to launch their album In Towers and Clouds in Australia this week, and there’s a copy of the album winging its way to my desk as we speak. The review will be in the next Echo, but if, like me, you’re impatient and addled with caffeine – click here for a preview. Not sure if they’re coming to Sydney yet, but fingers crossed.

Know of anyone who’s planning on gigging down here? Drop us an email at the Irish Echo and we’ll give them a plug.

Incidentally, the pic I’ve shamelessly nicked here belongs to Aisling O’Neill, a young but brilliant snapper, also from Dublin. Her slightly clunky site is here, but being in the music world, she’s sensibly got herself a Myspace site which is much more bandwith-friendly, and it’s here.

Update: GO AND BUY THIS ALBUM