From ‘Damned Englishman’ to ‘f**king a**hole’: A history of Ireland in 25 Dáil insults – The Irish Times

A History of Insults in the Dáil

This article from The Irish Times explores the evolution of language used in the Irish parliament, the Dáil Éireann. It highlights a shift from more formal, albeit pointed, criticisms to increasingly coarse and vulgar insults in recent times. The article presents a chronological list of 25 notable insults, spanning from the early 20th century to the present day.

Key Insults and Their Context

• Early insults often involved pointed remarks about political allegiances and perceived betrayals of Ireland.
• Later insults became more personal and often involved accusations of incompetence or moral failings.
• The inclusion of modern insults demonstrates a decline in decorum and an increase in the use of profanity.

The article uses specific examples, such as Arthur Griffith's refusal to engage with an "Englishman," and the increasingly vulgar exchanges between contemporary TDs, to illustrate this shift in parliamentary language. It suggests that while strong disagreements have always been a feature of the Dáil, the nature of those disagreements has become increasingly aggressive and less restrained.

Overall Argument

The central argument is that the language used in the Dáil has become significantly coarser over time, reflecting changes in Irish political culture and decorum. The article does not explicitly offer solutions but implicitly highlights the issue of declining civility in parliamentary discourse. The inclusion of contemporary examples implicitly critiques the current state of debate within the Dáil.