Brought to you by Crunchie.
So much more than just ads.
It's very easy to be cynical about ads. After all, they're put together by people in boardrooms for the purpose of selling us their products.
Nevertheless, there is an art to a good ad. A good ad captures the spirit of its audience, and makes a deep impression in the minds of those who view it.
This is our list of Irish ads that have become a crucial part of the collective Irish psyche.
Finches Orange - Under My Skin
Fanta can keep all of their fancy-dan funny-shaped bottles and elaborate ad campaigns. Back in the '90s, all Ireland needed to be convinced to buy some fizzy orange was a dancing citron serenading a bottle of Finches with a disturbingly literal rendition of Frank Sinatra's 'I've Got You Under My Skin.'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCDCRRVHY84
Financial Regulator - "I don't know what a tracker mortgage is"
This ad probably wouldn't get made today because the "PC brigade" would get so up in arms over how dangerous it is to stand up on a bus. Maybe. Either way, it was pretty iconic to see an ad on TV give a voice to our collective cluelessness when it comes to our financial affairs.
It's worth saying that the real reason this ad wouldn't get made today is because the whole country has extremely painful flashbacks whenever we here words like "financial", "regulator" and "mortgage." We've had some dark times since this ad was made.
What is a tracker mortgage anyway? This ad doesn't even explain it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l74083zafAM
Guinness - Guinness dance
As one of our most notable brands, Guinness have several ads that will live long in the subconscious of any Irish man or woman - but we think that most will agree that this is the very best thing the geniuses at Guinness have ever devised.
All credit to Joe McKinney for his inimitable range of dance moves and facial expressions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAGLstjcLZA
An honourable mention goes to the more recent Arthur's Day ads. Not as fun, but say 'To Martha!' to any Irish person and they'll instantly know what to do next.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfSlhd7tm10
And while we're on Guinness, let's not forget Mr. Fassbender...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Y-UB5wXitw
Carlsberg don't do dreams...
The definitive ad of Ireland's doomed 2002 World Cup campaign. Look at Jason McAteer, dreaming peacefully of a world where Roy Keane is able to control is temper and Mick McCarthy never accuses him of faking an injury. That's all it would have taken us to win that damn tournament.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ls5bzISPGs
Esat Digifone - The Guy From The Bar
This ad gets bonus points because it advertises something that is now second-nature to almost every living human. Esat Digifone were recommending that people who have terrible accents use text messaging to cover up that fact... We're not sure it's great long-term advice, but it made for a wonderful ad.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvbujX4hXOg
Aer Lingus - You're Home
This sentimental Aer Lingus ad from the 1980s could be given a second run out these days, given how many young Irish people have left the country in the last five or six years. We're not sure that would be the best idea, this one is probably a tear-jerker for people who have never even left their village.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYHeuJAEDiQ
ESB - Going Back
Another ad that has seen a return to relevance in the last decade. This one features a dad driving his son home through the Irish countryside while mammy puts the heating on and gets the dinner ready at home. This ad is exactly what De Valera wanted to see happen when he wrote the Constitution.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSlfAOxTTIA
Carlsberg - Not great options, are they?
Johnny Giles, Jack Charlton and Mick McCarthy together have been at the forefront of Irish international football for the past thirty years in one way or another, whether it be playing, managing or top-notch panel-ysing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pM0feqf-OpA
Barry's Tea - New York
Yet another emigration-themed ad, but hey, we have an emigration-themed history. This one extols the virtue of Barry's Tea, and how it becomes more important once you leave Ireland. That is empirically verified, as most ex-pats do claim Barry's to be among the the products they most miss once they leave.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JW2a0hY6_Xo#t=38.214912
Vodafone - Piggy Sue
Vodafone's ad about a little lost piglet captured the hearts and minds of the Irish people in late 2015 and it's message of being kind to animals won't be one we forget in a hurry. Unless there's a plate of bacon in front of us, or something.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2b_2-8GYyQ
Eir - Fionnghuala
This ad for the new Eircom is probably one of the more memorable things about Ireland's disappointing 2015 Rugby World Cup campaign. The old-school Irish chanting is unshakeably catchy and the ad is still going strong. We imagine that Irish people will be mumble-chanting what they think are the words to 'Fionnghuala' for years to come.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hX1pw1cn7fI
The Crunchie Ad - I'm so excited
We don't know about you guys, but we still get the Friday Feeling when we see this classic advert.
*sings* "I'm so excited, I just can't hide it."
https://youtu.be/nOsdS5irjAo
Brought to you by Crunchie - For the mouth that craves the Friday Feeling.
Obey Your Mouth.
