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MICHEÁL MARTIN SAYS he needs to have words with European Commissioner and Fianna Fáil colleague Michael McGrath.
Not to discuss anything serious to do with European affairs, but to ask why Cork City is not listed as a city at the photo station at the EU Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka.
The Taoiseach was attending the global exhibition of cutting-edge technology and industry, taking a tour of the Ireland Pavilion and pavilions operated by the EU and UN.
Sitting down in front of the camera, he was asked to choose where in Ireland he would like his photo superimposed into. He chose the option of ‘cities’.
“You better have Cork,” he joked to one of the pavilion ambassadors.
She laughed, not knowing how seriously this country leader takes his homestead. Only Dublin, she told him.
“Ah for God’s sake, is that all you have, come on. I’ll choose Dublin then. But I must tell Commissioner McGrath,” he said, smiling as he had his photograph taken.
Expo 2025, which is expected to attract 28 million visitors over six months, was jam-packed with visitors today, despite the 33 degree sweltering heat.
Ireland is one of 150 countries participating in the Expo, with the Taoiseach’s visit today forming a key marking on his trip to Japan this week which the main focus has been on promoting trade links between the two countries.
Irish participation in Expo has cost more than €16 million over the past three years, with the pavilion itself accounting for nearly €7 million.
The Taoiseach defended the spend today, telling reporters that trade between Japan and Ireland is €21 billion and it is growing every year.
Ireland is selling more to Japan than the Japanese is to Ireland, he said, stating “you have to look at in that context”.
Any links between the two countries were being gleaned on today.
One Japanese staff member working at the Irish Pavilion is a “culinary expert”, the Taoiseach was told while getting his tour.
The staff member laughed as he told the Taoiseach how he’d spent time in Ireland as a student and had worked in Centra making the Irish food staple ‘the chicken fillet roll’.
Now it’s probably a fair assessment to state that it is highly unlikely the Taoiseach has had ever had a chicken fillet roll, given his notorious health diet, but he laughed along nonetheless.
Showcasing what Ireland has to offer, such as Irish whiskey, was also on the agenda today, with the Taoiseach taking a meeting with Clonakilty Whiskey.
Martin sipped on a ‘White Lady’ gin cocktail that had been made up for him, regaling how there was once a nightclub after the same name in Kinsale that he used to frequent.
Japan is the second largest market in Asia for Irish whiskey and the opportunities are growing. In 2020, 55,000 cases of Irish whiskey were sold to Japan, with 206,000 cases sold last year.
There was also traditional Irish music played today, not only by professionals, but by the Taoiseach today who took to the harp to play what he said was an “experimental piece”.
The day was rounded out with a showing of a new ‘asadora’ known as a morning drama TV series, which the Japanese people watch first thing in the morning.
A staple of Japan’s domestic entertainment industry, they are only around 15 minutes long.
The story of Lafcadio Hearn, who came from Ireland to Japan as a journalist in 1890 and married Koizumi Setsu, is being made into a new dramatisation.
“As you may know, the National Broadcaster NHK are retelling the story of Setsu and Hearn in their popular morning drama series, ‘Baké, Baké, ‘The Ghost Writer’s wife’ later this year,” he said.
The Taoiseach said he hoped the mini-series could be shown in Ireland to foster the links between the two countries.
Rounding out his speech, Martin said Expo proves that by working together great things can be achieved when there is unity of purpose.
“It shows us that time differences, cultural differences, and language barriers can be overcome to create something great. What has been achieved here is truly a beacon of light in these turbulent times,” he said, before raising his glass and toasting:
“To Ireland and Japan, to Unity in diversity. Sláinte, Kampai.”
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Remind anyone of Nero fiddling while Rome burns?
@Philip Kennedy: Regime Change is badly needed in Ireland.
Absolute g0b$h1te
@Deano74: yes making a fool of himself. what can you expect.
Pulling strings all his political life
non Irish guy today get suspended sentence for conning Irish state of over 40,000 in dole money with false passport as he entered illegally,and now got thumbs up to stay and keep getting the dole that Ireland under fffg , could not make this sh@t up
@jn: Impossible, they’re all vetted.
@Eric Gaffney: yeah,ur average garda van explain the supposed vetting. No documentation you can be who you want to be as no fingerprinting or europol participation by many countries. Mcentee scammed everyone with the vetting nonsense and how many have paid the price of criminals and perverts accessing this country and conveniently burying their criminal past only to start with same behaviour here.
Couldn’t make it up at all. Never heard of an Irish person cheating the system,be it here or abroad.
@Dermot Foley: never heard of Irish people getting the dole or free social house in great country of Afghanistan
@jn: If you want to go to Afghanistan fire ahead, I’m sure no-one will stop you, plus they pay rent and work so theyfore if the receive welfare payments then they are entitled, unlike the Irish who refuse to get a job, blame immigrants who oays towards their social welfare and tell them Ireland’s full. They also call themselves citizen journalists.
@Eric Gaffney: They are actually
@Dermot Foley: we have enough scroungers of our own without bringing in others who have no right to be In the country
Ohhh My god if I had a penny for all the strings he pulled for his cronies over the years I’d be a rich man now. Nice picture to look back and say there was one of the best string puller in this country. Especially if youbwhere down by the Lee.
Making the rich guys richer!… drop VRT on car imports for normal people? Naaah.
@Thesaltyurchin: poor resturantours. They are on the bread line. And of course when the vat comes down. Won’t the prices go up. Pukkes.
Disgust just by looking at him
Pity jexwouldnt pull some strings for his own country and get us out of the mess he got us into shameon him
All is missing is his crock of gold. Such gombeen pic. Anything to get japan to move to cork.
May aswel stay over there playing the harp not much use here.
The Gombeen Genma Saotome.
On one hand we have the Irish government implementing policies to make it less affordable for the ordinary Irish citizen to have a couple of pints or a few cans at home, on the other hand they are celebrating the fact that sales of Irish whiskey have massively increased to Japan. Stopping our own from enjoying a few simple pleasures whilst encouraging our Asian friends to top up the Irish economy through the sale of alcohol. You couldn’t make it up.
Trade with Japan is a good thing.
They are also a great bunch of lads.
33 degrees? If you know, you know, its in your face here.
What I would give to stick that harp up Martin’s ho le. Disgust ing human.
Dress him up as a Geisha,hair and all and Bind his feet for the craic
Fantastic, well done Michael Martin. All EU countries need more of this reciprocal trade with other trading blocks to undo the damage being caused by the orange clown. Let’s leave that utter fool behind us and move on to greener pastures and nicer people and administrations.
@Patrice Ahern: which utter fool u talking about Patrick. There’s a nice pic of one of them at the top of this article.
What a gobsh£te. A useless teacher from Cork, champion of the rubber chicken circuit, a member of the gang of miscreants who plunged this country into the worst financial crisis in its history.
Proof indeed that turds float to the top.
Typical, Trump cuts Ukraine loose to be devoured by Russia and the comments are closed
Japan-A proper country.
A great bunch of lads.
Muppet Show
You Irish. Very good. Software.
@Johnny frankson: Very Intellesting.
What an absolute disaster of a leader anyone from anywhere but the irish people
Could that be seen as a far right symbol.
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