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The Siege of Constantinople - just one event that was shorter than talks to form a government.
55 Days
Ancient cities have fallen in the same length of time the government has been talking
Political party talks are taking longer than the siege of Constantinople.
TALKS TO FORM a government have entered the 55th day and the country is beginning to droop.
So here at TheJournal.ie, we’ve been inspired to look at seven things that were actually achieved within a similar time frame. Instead of, you know, just talking.
1. Take the siege of Constantinople. Back in 1453, the ancient Roman city was besieged by an invading army of the Ottoman Empire, led by a 21-year-old sultan.
After 53 days, the city fell to the Ottomans and it was all over.
No such luck in 2016 Ireland.
2. Then there’s the renowned Russian author Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Back in 1866 he wrote his novel The Gambler in just 26 days – less than half the length of time the political parties have been talking for.
Dostoyevsky did this while writing Crime And Punishment at the same time. We’re beginning to know how he felt.
3. For as long as the parties have been talking about a new leader, Australia had a prime minister sworn in and then ousted in 1941.
Arthur Fadden, the country’s 13th leader, was under no illusions he wouldn’t last very long as the country was in political turmoil at the time. He only lasted for 40 days.
4. Legendary band The Beatles tended to spend months in the recording studio, but in 1965 they recorded their sixth album, Rubber Soul, in just 35 days. That’s a sound we don’t mind listening to on repeat.
5. Whether you consider the film Wayne’s World to be an achievement or not is entirely up to you, but it was filmed in 34 days. The country’s political negotiations have been continuing for exactly three weeks longer than that. Just saying.
6. The Breakfast Club was also filmed in less than two months in 1984. Over 30 years later it’s still a cult classic.
It’s extremely doubtful the Irish government talks of 2016 will produce the same nostalgia in 2046. But just in case, we’ll leave it to you to determine which politicians get to play the roles of “a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess or a criminal”.
7. Finally, it might be hard to believe now but back in the heady summer days of 1996, Richie Kavanagh’s hit ‘Aon Focal Eile’ stayed in the charts for a whopping 49 days.
They’ve had a lot more than “aon focal” in the last 55 days, but it’s sobering to think the political parties have already beaten Kavanagh’s record.
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