A MEME IS some kind of internet or media based activity or concept that spreads from person to person and reaches a level of mass recognition.
Every country has its own, and Ireland is no exception…
1. Unimpressed Sharon Ní Bheoláin
Born in January 2014, Unimpressed Sharon Ni Bheoláin grew out of the newsreader’s apparent disdain after a report on modern dance.
She was soon meme-ified, and is regularly wheeled out to express disdain, particularly of anything suspected of being above its station or of having notions.
2. Teresa Mannion’s unnecessary journeys and treacherous roads
Sharon’s RTÉ colleague Teresa Mannion went viral worldwide late last year after a particularly dramatic weather report in the midst of Storm Desmond.
She was soon remixed:
Tip jarred:
And painted onto the back of a denim jacket:
3. Sraith Pictiúr
A fairly niche one, but an active meme nonetheless. Sraith Pictiúr are visual aids used in the oral exam of Leaving Cert ordinary level Irish. They also appear to be the bane of many students’ existence.
And they’re just crying out for added commentary…
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4. Six counties/republican memes
A little less cuddly than Teresa, Sharon and co, republican memes have gained in popularity in recent months, taking elements of republicanism and making reference to the six counties of Northern Ireland.
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5. 1916 memes
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Gaining in popularity with the year that’s in it, these memes depend on the happenings and people of the 1916 rising to bring the humour.
Like this one, featuring Eamonn Ceannt:
And this GPO meme:
6. The Man Who Slipped On The Ice
Everyone in Ireland knows who the Man Who Slipped On The Ice is, and yet nobody does.
He’s the mysterious stranger who went on his snot just over six years ago on RTÉ News.
He spawned a spoof documentary:
And is firmly placed in the national consciousness:
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7. Memes as Gaeilge
The Irish language provides a rich seam of puns, particular only to this country.
8. Irish mammies
The concept of Irish mammies provide acres of meme content, via a collection of nationally recognised exaggerated behaviours. It’s spawned books, Twitter accounts, videos, jokes and more.
9. Dev and Big Mick memes
Extremely niche, yet instantly recognisable memes playing on the history of Eamon de Valera and Michael Collins
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