THEJOURNAL.IE WOULD like to put it on the record that it apologises profusely to one Vincent Browne of TV3 Studios, Ballymount, Dublin.
We dropped the ball. We are sorry.
Yesterday marked the 68th birthday of the acerbic host (those are the descriptive words used by The Guardian, according to Wikipedia) and we did not mark the occasion.
But like a grovelling boyfriend with a bouquet of petrol station carnations and a box of (hopefully in-date) After Eights, we’re here today to make up for it.
Belated birthday bumps to you, Sir! Please, forgive us. This is your life (or your best telly bits and a funny slideshow):
Was Vin B taking fashion advice from Bertie? Remember this? Photo: Eamonn Farrell/Photocall Ireland.
Fianna Fáil Manifesto Launch 2007
And he obviously wasn't happy with that advice.
Earlier days
In 1992, when Brown was editor at the Sunday Tribune and Magill magazine, he was still giving Bertie a tough time. Image from 11 November 1992, Photocall Ireland
Even earlier days
Fine Gael Minister for Finance Alan Dukes argues a point of a national plan with journalists Paul Tansey and Vincent Browne. Photo: from 2 October 1984; Eamonn Farrell/Photocall Ireland
Look at those sideburns
Sunday Tribune and Magill magazine editor Vincent Browne with Paddy Prenderville (of The Phoenix) in the paper's offices. Undated image from Photocall Ireland
Dapper
Looking rather neat at the 2007 TV3 spring launch. Photo. Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland.
A lady's man
Earlier this year, TV3's Sinead Desmond messes with Vincent Browne at the Convention Centre in Dublin. Photo: Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland
A lady's man
Glenda Gilson also vied for some Vin B time at this year's TV3 spring launch. Photo: Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland
A spare five minutes (ok, twenty minutes) can be gloriously wasted by putting ‘Vincent Browne’ into the YouTube search engine. The resulting list shows the 68-year-old “destroying” numerous people. Despite at least an hour’s research, we could not find any physical destruction being imposed, Dark Knight style, by the broadcaster but we did uncover these gems from the TV3 archives.
First up, Vin B takes on the ECB, schooling it on the traditions of Irish journalism and taxi men.
Although Brown humoured two Fianna Fáil TDs after they gave Brian Cowen a vote of confidence, he made his true feelings perfectly clear live on air afterwards:
One of the TV moments of the 2011 Seanad Election was Vincent “tearing into” candidate Regina O’Connor:
Another year, another politician but we can always rely on Vinny remaining a constant. This time it’s the turn of Leo Varadkar to feel the Browne wrath for not fact-checking his facts:
But sometimes, even Browne has to admit defeat:
Browne has also provided the Aprés Match lads with plenty of material. This one is a particular favourite with our friends at TheScore.ie:
Still, he’s great at what he does, and I don’t think he’s into taking sides even when someone on a panel is of his own political persuasion. He’s gutted FF, FG, Labour people at different times, and of course SF. One thing I can identify with is his impatience with politicians who simply won’t answer a question and who resort to the usual tactic of evading and waffling and trying to smother the original question with diversionary verbiage. I think his tackling of those panelists reflects the feeling of a lot of viewers who, I’m sure, are shrieking encouragement from their coaches as he seeks to extract something they cannot or will not give: a straight answer to a straight question. Admittedly some questions cannot be answered with a yes or no, such as: “Are you ashamed that FF wrecked the country”? But it’s good to hear him ask it…
His dismantling of Lucinda a while back was poetry in motion, surprised it didn’t make the cut. Well worth a look for anyone interested, all over the YouTube machine.
Legend. Only man to tackle the Troika at a press conference. And so much so they don’t do press conferences any more. It really showed us how much we are being shafted for saving the European financial system. Happy bday Vinny.
Though it is an overused term, the word legend really does apply to this man.
He has consistently and courageously challenged those in power, while at the same time highlighting the plight of some of the most marginalised in Irish society.
Time now for the people of his native Broadford to get their act together and erect a statue to their most famous son!!
Happy Birthday Vincent Browne ..your tv show drives me mad sometimes but cant help liking you! Hope you had a wonderful birthday..Well done to The Journal for telling us
Must have lost my last comment! Yes he was listed as one of the Grumpy old men, but in a good way, you should read it! I personally don’t see anything wrong with the ‘Sindo’, in fact I enjoy it, is there something wrong with me?
Lucinda Creighton had one thing handed to her on a plate in one of the videos above: Browne asked her if the govt. had ever sought a debt “write-down”, to which she said “no”, and then showed her a video of the Taoiseach stating he had never sought a debt “write-off”. It diminishes her as a politician in my eyes if she can’t seize the opportunity to tell the difference between “write-down” and “write-off”. Shocking lack of attention to detail.
When the political establishment of this nation decided the citizens could be burned to save bondholders and other assorted kleptoids, Vincent Browne distinguished himself as the ONLY person in the media to express a proper sense of moral outrage.
Happy Birthday, and please wait a few more years before thinking about retirement. We still need that moral outrage on our national stage!
Vincent is entertaining and courageous, but at times it appears he is simply interested in winning a verbal joust rather than tease out the complexities of a specific topic. We may end up amused but not greatly enlightened. I also think he often crosses the boundary between rigorous interviewing and simple rudeness. It really isn’t surprising that many politicians who are not natural debaters don’t want to subject themselves to verbal assault from an expert in rhetoric like Vincent.
Having said all that, I still enjoy watching him in action as many other people do, but his show on TV3 is really all about Vincent baiting another unfortunate politician or expert apart from a few people he obviously likes, like Mick Wallace.
I find it hard to take the man seriously ever since finding out about his love of one Charles Haughey. How he can legitmise the actions of that crook is beyond my comprehension and does nothing for Vincent’s credibility when attacking others.
Happy Birthday Vincent B you have made me laugh and get upset as well , keep up the good work and less of the grumpy and keep at the Politicians and the Troika and the Bankers and everyone else who has upset us…..
I’m in total agreement with Declan Noonan. VB is indeed a rude man, egotistical beyond belief and so irritating you want to spit at the TV. He is arrogant and patronising (am waiting as I type for him to interrupt my diatribe here) and rudely dismisses anything or anybody that doesn’t fit with his personal opinion, although Political journos are supposed to be objective. He does NOT acknowledge the existence of the Irish population who live outside the Pale, or is too lazy to bother with them.
I haven’t watched TV3 at all, let alone VB, since the time he was heartlessly dismissive of “that case in Cork or somewhere like that” when referring to a then very recent tragic murder/suicide that occurred in Waterford (few years ago now). My shoe nearly went through the telly that night in disgust at his attitude – haven’t watched TV3 since, because if they pay the likes of him, I don’t want to view their programming. Simple As.
Belated birthday apologies and sycophantic stuff? Why did you bother!
You’re entitled to your opinion Theresa, though it appears you’re in the minority on this one. Just wondering if you can tell us ONE journalist who tackles issues and politicians the way he does, without bias, without bullshit or any other political agenda set by the media they work for?
Shakespeare’s take on Vinnie – written 400 years ago!
“a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more: it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”
Vincent browne is a rude man. Plain and simple. He should ask the question then shut up and let the person answer. Then it’s up to the listener to make his or her mind up on the person being interviewed. He is not professional at all.
He should do what? He is the advocate for the viewer. In that role, you don’t countenance evasion. Should he allow tangential responses? Allow answers to a question that wasn’t asked? They don’t drag crooked politicians kicking and screaming onto the show. They WANT to go on the show.
If you WANT to go on his show, it is extremely rude to answer, for example, “What is your favorite colour, Brian?” with “Apricot-Pineapple, because I am concerned about the future of Ireland.”
Is that what you want to watch? Banality? Move to America. Aer Lingus flies there daily.
Seamus, I am already living in America and I can tell you that there is some very good interviewers over here. It’s not all banality as you think. I have watched some of them for years asking the right questions without all the drama and getting a answer back and i know when they are not telling the truth.
Remember this?
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