‘Let’s elect Blindboy to the Park’
HE is best known as one half of satirist duo The Rubberbandits.
But Blindboy Boatclub has been widely praised for his eloquent and thoughtful appearance on the Late Late Show on Friday night – with some even suggesting he run for office.
The RTÉ chat show hosted a panel discussion on the commemoration of 1916 with broadcaster Ivan Yates, writer Martina Devlin, artist Robert Ballagh and Blindboy Boatclub.
Regular viewers could be excused for wondering why a man wearing a plastic bag on his head had been invited to take part in a serious discussion about an important topic.
But the Limerick comedian – who had written and performed in a RTÉ documentary about 1916 which was broadcast on New Year’s Eve – spoke intelligently and passionately about the problems faced by his peers.
‘My generation can’t afford houses, my generation can’t afford to have children, my generation are either leaving the country or jumping in rivers, that’s my generation,’ he said.
He pointed out that the people who fought in the Rising had been roughly his age but had a sense of idealism about the future that is missing today.
‘We’ve just got despair and confusion,’ he said.
It was argued that 1916 was a good example that the status quo could be changed.
He replied: ‘We don’t know who our enemy is – that’s the problem.’
The comedian was widely praised for his appearance on the show, with many people on social media praising him as the most interesting guest on the panel.
Elaine O’Neill tweeted: ‘People saying it’s disrespectful of Blindboy to wear a bag talking about 1916. But he talks more sense than the suit wearers.’
Maria Nev said: ‘Blindboy is a great boy. Ignore the plastic bags, listen to what he’s saying.’
Jay Hartigan tweeted: ‘Blindboy for president! Speaking the truth as always.’
Dorothy Jones said: ‘Wish Blindboy was Taoiseach. Clever, clever chap.’
The comedian received criticism
‘Ignore the plastic bag... just listen to what he says’
for his choice of attire on the show, which included a T-shirt, a gold chain and his trademark ‘plastic bag’ mask.
The Rubberbandits yesterday tweeted: ‘Gowls complaining bout Blindboy wearing a bag during a serious discussion, who see no absurdity in a judges’ wigs or a priest’s vestments.’
The Limerick hip-hop comedy duo shot to fame in 2010 when the video for their song Horse Outside went viral on YouTube.
The Rubberbandits Guide To 1916 aired on New Year’s Eve on RTÉ and featured a humorous look at Irish history, from Brian Boru to independence.
Blindboy said they made the programme because he found history in school to be ‘boring’ and ‘solemn’.