Differing from English humour, due to environmental, political and financial prerequisites; Irish humour is known throughout the world.

The Irishman of greatest known wit was probably Oscar Wilde, and yet we still turn out the likes of Ryan Tubridy who if left untethered, would react with blinding speed. Gerry Ryan, unfettered, would be as good a companion, as anyone Irish.

Daniel O Connell , if history is true, was a formidable semanticist within the court of his time.

Pat Rabitte of the Labour party, could assemble a collection or string of words, which would deliver his point as well as surpress potential countermeasures.

Twink and the late Maureen Potter, were nothing to be sniffed at, and in the best possible sense.

In a more regional sense, there used to be a smart alec in every village, who could combine or merge an intellectual retort with embedded humour. And seamlessy, so.

There was little room for argument.

Very few such people are born with this artform, but rather develop it through practice, some patience on the part of others, and a smattering of self-confidence.

The Kerryman is no dumber than the Derryman. The Cork man is not exceptionally bereft of anything good. The poor Cavan man is not much meaner that anyone in Cavan. They take it on the chin, and see it for what it is. Words.  Empty words or temporary sentences, which have no long term effect.

The Irish in general, don't feel any great slight (oral sleight, even) when the butt of a joke. Well not immediately, as one must also expect a belt of a hammer, either before, after or during a rebuttal. Be safe!

For there was a time when we had nothing, but each other for "legal" intercourse. No T.V., little radio (really little), no internet chatrooms, and jokes by text messaging were as far in the future as broadband penetration still is.

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