It's that time of year again, folks, when we gaze into our crystal ball to see what the new year has in store for us – the bad, the ugly, and perhaps even a sprinkling of good.
Unlike, you know, the last two years.
January
To mark the 100th anniversary of the year in which the Irish Civil War ended, officials across the island of Ireland, as well as the U.S. and U.K., announce a slate of commemorative events. These are made all the more solemn by the looming prospect of a 32-county united Ireland. The first order of business, though, is to inform people on the island of Ireland, and across the U.S. and U.K., that there was, in fact, an Irish Civil War.
“If you listen close,” one official comments, “they mutter about it in The Banshees of Inisherin. Which is about the only thing that makes sense in that wacko film.”
February
Worried he is not getting enough acting roles because of his famous father, Gabriel-Kane Day-Lewis changes his name to Candy-Kane-Partridge-In-A-Pear-Tree.
March
Northern Ireland special envoy Joe Kennedy keeps a close eye on activists around the world who kick off St. Patrick’s Day by rallying in support of a united Ireland. Tensions rise by nightfall, though, as radicals bicker with moderates, and #waitthesepeoplearereallycatholic? spreads across left-wing social media.
April
Director Martin McDonagh announces he will again be working with Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell, on a biopic about a little-known feud, which turns violent and bloody, between old-time Hollywood stars Abbott & Costello, and Laurel & Hardy. Pressed to explain what The Banshees of Inisherin was really about, McDonagh says, “Something. Probably. But right now, I can’t put my finger on it.”
Also in April, actress Eve Hewson changes her name to Eve Bono. “Why hide the obvious?” she says.
May
Joe Biden announces that he will be running for president in 2024. “I’ve said it before, and I’ll keep saying it. I’m Irish but I’m not stupid. At least until the Democrats can find someone, anyone, out there to do exactly what I’m doing – but, you know, younger.”
June
Eve Hewson returns after the actress’ dad paused during a summer concert to read from his new memoir Surrender – all 576 pages of his new memoir Surrender. “He’s even worse at the dinner table,” Hewson sighs.
July
On the set of their latest movie, Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson are asked if they improvised at all while shooting The Banshees of Inisherin. “Well, you might say we all had a hand in it,” Gleeson says. “Brendan more than meself,” adds Farrell.
August
Done with “dumb Irish” jokes, Joe Biden moves on to “drunk Irish” and “country Irish” jokes. “And my wife Jill is Italian,” he adds, “so wait until you hear what I have to say in the fall!” Biden leads in all presidential polls.
September
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald is pressured to meet with a faction of united Ireland activists. “Yes, they’re Catholics. But the downtrodden kind, you know. Not, like, American Supreme-Court Catholics. With the Latin and the pro-life and all that weird hocus pocus stuff.”
October
Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell announce yet another collaboration, a stage version of My Left Foot. Candy-Kane-Partridge-In-A-Pear-Tree-Day-Lewis has a small role billed as “the other foot.”
November
More secret files are released on the 60th anniversary of JFK's assassination. One note from an FBI agent recounts the time wasted pursuing outlandish theories. “Grassy knoll. Mafia. Castro. Jeez, the only comfort I can take is my firm belief that Americans will never, ever put their faith in theories any crazier than these.”
December
Jill Biden and Michelle Obama announce they are running together for the presidency. “It’s about time!” Joe Biden declares. “Now, have you heard the one about the Galway farmer and the Italian sausage maker?”
Happy New Year!
(On Twitter: @TomDeignan)
*This column first appeared in the December 28 edition of the weekly Irish Voice newspaper, sister publication to IrishCentral.
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