Sounds familiar. Except that in 2011 we are going to the polls with Ireland already in hock to the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund. We are even lower now than the dank depths we sank to, in the worst moments of Jack Lynch’s badly mismanaged tenure. Hard to believe but true…
At the time of writing, it is still not clear when the election will be. February 28th is being mooted as the likeliest date. March 11th was initially mentioned three days ago but, as we know, three days is a long time in Irish politics now! In fact, there are occasions when it seems that three Irish hours is the equivalent of a year in standard time.
What we do know is this: after what has to be the most farcical week ever in Irish politics, the Greens have pulled out of Government. We have a Taoiseach who is not even the leader of his own party. We have a Cabinet of seven Ministers to cover 15 Ministries. Fianna Fáil are running at an astonishing all-time low of 8% in the polls. And no one knows what the fuck is going to happen next! It has to be among the most spectacular implosions ever, in any western democracy. Italy may have seen similar scenes – but even that notoriously volatile political culture has seldom produced such a fantastic fall from grace as that of the current Fianna Fáil administration.
We will come back to all of that next issue, presuming there is still a bit of space before polling day! In the meantime we’ve been enjoying looking through the back pages of Hot Press in preparation for this, the landmark 800th issue of the magazine. Or rather looking through the front pages – because we decided to make this Special Collectors’ Issue a feast of covers, from the first one featuring Rory Gallagher through to the most recent with the rugby star Brian O’Driscoll sticking his middle finger up (to a rugby ball!).
The covers of a magazine like Hot Press provide a very different and often fascinating window into a changing world as it unfolds. There were times when we got it very wrong indeed with what we stuck out front – some of the greater horrors are celebrated in a special What Were We Thinking Of? spread inside. But there are also lots of gems, produced by a sterling group of designers along the way that included (not necessarily in strictly chronological order) in their ranks Tim Booth, who designed the original ‘flame’ logo, our first cover designer Willie Finney, Karl Tsigdinos, Neil McCormick, Ian McColl, David Rooney, Jacqui Doyle, Arthur Mathews, Paul Woodful, Paula Nolan, Niall McCormack, Mikey Crotty, Steve Averill, Simon Roche, James Kelleher, Simon Bailie, Fiachra McCarthy and the current crew of Graham Keogh, David Keane and our main cover designer of recent times, Andrew Duffy.
On occasion, the cover came together under the gun at the last moment in a way that defied gravity, almost. On others, there was a little bit more time for contemplation. But there was always a great sense of fun and adventure seeing what is effectively the ‘face’ of every issue taking shape. The typography, the headlines, the stories that seemed important – these all tell a particular tale about the evolution of a magazine as well as the different propensities and talents of the men and women in charge of art direction, design and editorial thinking at any given time. But they also offer an insight into the changing nature, aesthetic leanings and values of a society in permanent transition – and, as it happens also, into the increasingly important role played by Irish music and Irish musicians in that often blood-curdling yarn.
I’ll say no more. Words, in the context of any publication, can become the enemy of good images, strikingly presented. Let the visual fun begin. And to all our readers and supporters, wherever and whenever you joined us along the way, thanks for staying with us through thick and thin. So far it has been a wonderful journey. Well, in most respects at least!…