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THE PERFECT APRIL Fool’s prank is a tricky thing to pull off.
It requires the right mix of humour and believability – a la the BBC’s 1957 ’spaghetti tree’ hoax.
While some business and news organisations might not have been quite believable (did anyone think Argos was going to launch a Mars mission?) others have been bang on the money.
Some of you may even have believed that your comment privileges on TheJournal.ie were about to be rescinded for a time this morning.
Here are some of the Irish efforts that really hit the mark this year…
Supermarket chain Lidl opened bidding with this effort going up on their Twitter page yesterday. This attempt at cashing in on the trend for health foods comes close to being believable – although that photo-shopped Kale in the background is a bit of a give away.
Lidl Ireland / TwitterInject a superfood into your diet this Easter with our Favorina Kale Easter Egg in stores today! #healthy #superfood pic.twitter.com/DBBbTEaffj
— Lidl Ireland (@lidl_ireland) March 31, 2015
The fast-food establishment has been having a bit of a tussle with American chain McDonald’s in recent times over their name – and they’ve incorporated that into their April Fool’s this year.
Now renamed ‘McDonaghs’, the press release from the company makes a few heavy-handed references to their situation – saying that the name change is inspired ‘Ronan McDonagh’, the family beef farmer who was the inspiration for the restaurant.
The Dublin venue probably set a few pulses racing with the announcement that recently departed One Direction member Zayn Malik is set to play a solo acoustic gig at the start of July. Tickets are supposedly currently available from Ticketmaster and support is set to be provided by Brian McFadden.
Suuuuure.
In keeping with the ‘One Direction’ theme, the Irish Post announced very unwelcome news for fans of the band.
Their one Irish member, Niall Horan, is set to quit according to the UK-based publication. Apparently, a ‘source close to the band’ has said that:
Niall feels a bit awkward because there’s now just an empty space between himself and the other boys when they pose for fans.
HB Ice Cream / TwitterAnnouncing the newest addition to the HB family! #HBGoodbyeSerious pic.twitter.com/2BAiu91htY
— HB Ice Cream (@HBIreland) April 1, 2015
Irish Water flavoured ice lollies? Controversial. The company’s Twitter post wasn’t up long before there was plenty of reaction to it.
Lucy Lou / Twitter
Lucy Lou / Twitter / Twitter
CIARA CONWAY TD / Twitter@HBIreland I'd say tis bitter 😄
— CIARA CONWAY she /her (@ciaramconway) April 1, 2015
Centra’s chicken roll is something of a stalwart in the nation’s culinary habits. The ‘sad news’ that they would be withdrawing the product would have been something of a blow.
Centra Ireland / TwitterSad news today.
— Centra Ireland (@CentraIRL) April 1, 2015
The hot chicken roll will no longer be available in Centra stores due to lack of interest.
They quickly realised that certain things shouldn’t be joked about – and issued another Tweet telling their customers that the chicken roll is going nowhere any time soon.
Centra Ireland / TwitterWe would never deprive you of the famous Centra hot chicken roll!
— Centra Ireland (@CentraIRL) April 1, 2015
We just couldn't resist an April Fool's prank ;) pic.twitter.com/XKH2yfP0A6
The State broadcaster made its effort with this suitably Waterford Whisperer-esque headline.
The broadcaster linked their April Fool’s prank with the commemoration of 1916 next year. According to them, parents having children during 2016 will be eligible for a celebration payment of €100 – as long as they call their child Pearse, Clarke or MacDonagh.
The photo website posted some rather incongruous looking pictures on its Twitter page this morning.
Did Barack Obama actually play golf at Gorse Hill when he was over here?
Photos of Dublin / TwitterThe rare image of President @BarackObama playing golf at Gorse hill in Killiney. pic.twitter.com/vuD0FvHCkj
— Photos of Dublin (@PhotosOfDublin) April 1, 2015
You might have heard that you’re going to have to start paying to post comments on TheJournal.ie. It’s a bright new dawn ahead – just a coincidence this got announced today.
Have you been hit with any particularly good April Fool’s hoaxes this year? Let us know in the comments.
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I saw one earlier about there being 12 players on the field for poland for a number of minutes because of a mixed up substitution and that the game would have to be replayed. Thought it was legit until about half way through!
Doubt anyone believed The Journal’s one to be honest!
I did until I started reading the comments!
Their mistake was calling it a paywall in the headline – if it wasn’t for that I’d probably have gotten half way through before realising
Maybe theJournal should start charging for comments guaranteed no trolls then.
Gabbi would be broke
Let’s get one thing straight …. Irish Water and humour will never mix …
No no that’s oil you’re thinking of.
Irish water is an example of the blackest irish humour ever
Irish Water is, in its own right, a joke ;-)
It works with sh..te.
The funniest one today that I saw was Enda and his story about the guy he met with the two pints in his hand .Good one,Enda!
Today fm this morning gave a thousand Euro to some lady for incorrectly guessing a few seconds to a song… I was caught for about 5 minutes after
Was that Michael Jackson and she said it was Ed Sheeran…?
Heard that just as I was leaving. Was very confused.
Did an April Fool write this article since ‘might of’ & ‘would/should of’ appeared?!
It’s obvious thejournal.ie paywall for comments is an April fools joke that yer extending to the end of the night as the reality would be that the only fools would be thejournal.ie when they realise nobody would bother with the site if comments were charged.
Oh, that was a joke?!!
Silly me, thanks Luke!
Luke , brilliant comedy , very witty .
Best Aprils Fool’s I saw was the CEO of Irish Water commenting on the biggest leaks in Ireland ie Dublin City and county plus DunLaoghaire Rathdown Council. Guess who was top man of both these places ???? Before he took the top job in Irish Water.
dont forget eyre square in galway
Living in malta it was “announced” that non nationals will also have to pay an extra tax to our home countries to boost the economy! “Official” documents were dished out and panic ensued… I myself was so enraged I was packing up to move to the middle east!
Interesting
have your say