Kevin Myers

Kevin Myers is a controversial Irish journalist and commentator. He is a regular contributor to the Irish Times newspaper, writing the An Irishman's Diary column several times weekly. He also writes for the Daily Telegraph in the UK. His articles usually offer a caustic right-wing criticism of liberal and left-wing opinion, although he writes humourous and satirical articles as well.

His outspoken opinions are often in distinct contrast to the liberal, social democratic editorial position of the Irish Times, which has led to conflict with the editors. For example, in early January 2005, the Irish Times refused to publish a column in which he accused the Provisional IRA of responsibility for the Northern Bank robbery. (The column was later published by the Daily Telegraph [1], and subsequent revelations by the police investigation into the robbery seem to have proved Myers right.)

In February 2005, he attracted widespread criticism for an Irish Times column in which he referred to illegitimate children as "bastards":

[H]ow many girls - and we’re largely talking about teenagers here - consciously embark upon a career of mothering bastards because it seems a good way of getting money and accommodation from the State? Ah. You didn’t like the term bastard? No, I didn’t think you would.

He subsequently apologised for the offence caused by the article.

Other targets of his criticism have included Travellers, Sinn Féin and the Provisional IRA, and the Northern Ireland peace process.

Other work

He was presenter of the Challenging Times television quiz show on RTÉ during the 1990s. In 2000, he published a collection of his An Irishman's Diary columns (ISBN 1-85-182575-4). In 2003, he published a novel Banks of Green Willow (ISBN 0-68-402013-0) which received mixed reviews.

External links

Text of the infamous 'bastards' column