AH, SURE YOU have to laugh.

Or else you’d cry.

Here are the Irish people on Twitter with enough biting wit, sharp satire – and occasionally just the sweet release of a cheap gag – that keep us from despairing at the goings-on in the Dáil. If you use Twitter to keep up with Irish politics, then these accounts are must-follows.

Oireachtas Retort – @Oireachtas_RX

Oireachtas Retort “started as a pun and snowballed from there“. Provides incredibly comprehensive Dáil updates with a sarcastic and incisive edge.

Fergal – @Fergal

Current affairs commentary with a legal twist, media analysis and some more in-depth blogging for good measure.

Ruthe Phoenix – @RuthePhoenix

Offbeat tweets with a political slant, and everything in between from writer and funnywoman Ruthe Phoenix.

Eilis O’Hanlon – @eilisohanlon

Eilis is a journalist and novelist – and an outspoken tweeter.

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Fintan O’Toolbox – @FintanOToolbox

A prolific tweeter on religious and political affairs in Ireland. Also involved with Donegal Dollop, more of which anon.

Oisin – @cowabunga_baby

Whimsical, offbeat but often hilarious tweets on Ireland’s knotty issues – mental health, social justice and the welfare debate.

Niamh Puirseil – @NiamhPuirseil

Niamh Puirseil specialises in Irish history, having published several books on topics including the labour movement, but she also frequently takes aim at a diverse range of Irish current affairs.

Donegal Dollop – @DonegalDollop

Donegal Dollop is an Onion-style satirical website – sample headlines include “New Study Links Fluoride to Ginger Hair”, “YES and NO Camps United on Issue of Bad Grammar in Fiscal Treaty Debate” and “Snoop Dogg To Be Grand Marshall At Gaoth Dobhair St. Patrick’s Day Parade”.

John McGuirk – @john_mcguirk

Talking head and PR bod. Sometimes appears to be professionally controversial.

John Moynes – @JohnMoynes

John Moynes is a writer and comedian. He’s also responsible for a brilliant limerick or two.

Ross O’Carroll-Kelly – @RossOCK

Don’t get enough of Ross in the books? Look no further. His special brand of Irish humour is on Twitter too.

Stephie Lord – @stephie08

Lord is a feminist, activist and gas Twitter user extraordinaire.

Jim Sheridan – @Jim_Sheridan

Jim is a music, film and telly producer, but also specialises in producing brilliantly funny Photoshopped images on Twitter. Gag-heavy, affably silly humour.

Abie Philbin-Bowman – @AbiePB

Abie is a stand-up comedian, writer and broadcaster. Outspoken on plenty of issues, but with a generous helping of wit.

Eleanor Tiernan – @eleanortiernan

Eleanor Tiernan is a stand-up comedian now working in TV, with her own distinctive, oblique take on Irish current affairs.

Le Droit – @LeDroit1

Self-confessed “libertarian superhero”.

(Update – it has come to our attention that Le Droit decided on New Year’s Eve to leave the Twitter political commentary game. That means that the position of online “libertarian superhero” is up for grabs!)

Tara Flynn – @TaraFlynn

Actress, comedian and satirist Flynn has many strings to her bow, not least her great Twitter account. Tweets her parody YouTube videos, musings on Irish political goings-on and anything else that catches her eye.

Waterford Whispers – @ColmWhispers

A stinging satirical new site launched and run by writer Colm Williamson – with stories so close to the bone, we’ve all seen them mistaken for real the odd time on Facebook. Sample headline: “Coppers Announce €6.8 Million Profit As Gonorrhoea Cases Soar By 33%”.

Paddy Cullivan – @paddycullivan

Paddy Cullivan is a columnist, writer and part of the Camembert Quartet. Also finds a home in musical comedy, but seems just as comfortable tweeting gags about the Dáil.

Who’s your favourite political commentator on the tweet machine? If you missed anyone out, let us know in the comments.

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