Irish Examiner Irish Examiner

THE DÁIL HAS risen for the summer recess, there are fewer politicians making a show of themselves, and animals, babies and cartoon characters are having their day in the sun.

Welcome to Ireland’s silly season, when hard news becomes slipperier than an angry dolphin, and journalists scrabble to turn anything into a story.

Here’s how it goes…

Morning Ireland begins visibly clutching at straws (and Michael Healy Rae, and the Puck Fair)

In fact silly season has been afflicting Morning Ireland for some time now.

Exhibit A: June 30th

Exhibit B: July 17

There are signs that Radio One is affected across the board

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In fact, Kermy and Miss Piggy’s split make headlines everywhere

The Guardian The Guardian

CNN CNN

Treacherous and homicidal seagulls begin dominating headlines

Irish Independent Irish Independent

TheJournal.ie TheJournal.ie

And it’s not just in Ireland

BBC BBC

Mirror Mirror

Hairy babies. Hairy babies everywhere

@TheMediaTweets @TheMediaTweets

Curry is held up as our Lord and saviour

Dogs take to surfboards

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And an escaped giant inflatable Minion in Dublin makes international headlines

Sydney Morning Herald Sydney Morning Herald

The Telegraph The Telegraph

The Minion is fine, by the way.

It’s not all silly carry on though…

Silver linings.

‘I’m not afraid of the giant Minion’ – we spoke to the man tasked with fixing the beast