Bualadh bos.
Given the decades of controversy, tribunals and scandals that has engulfed Irish politics, the electorate wouldn’t believe most politicians if they were asked to spell their own name.
The Department of the Taoiseach has certainly made the headlines over the last 20 years or so. Charles Haughey had the the Moriarty Tribunal to contend with while Bertie ‘The Teflon Taoiseach’ Ahern had the small issue of the Mahon Tribunal on his plate.
All this without even mentioning Brian Cowen or Enda Kenny.
Irish people might be extremely familiar with the spelling of the word ‘Taoiseach’, but it appears that we’re not the only ones.
11-year-old Nihar Janga had to spell the word correctly during the Scripps National Spelling Bee and he absolutely nailed it.
The 5th grader went on to win the title, an accolade that he shared with Jairam Hathwar, but people were amazed at his knowledge of Irish politics.
#speller232 Nihar Janga spelled the word 'taoiseach' (prime minister used in Ireland) correctly #spellingbee
— NationalSpellingBee (@ScrippsBee) May 27, 2016
"Taoiseach, is this an Irish prime minister?" pic.twitter.com/vtH6IcrTRV
— Silvia Killingsworth (@silviakillings) May 27, 2016
Fifth grader got an easy one: Taoiseach. #spellingbee
— Ed O'Keefe (@edatpost) May 27, 2016
"Is this an Irish prime minister?" Nihar Janga asks before spelling "taoiseach." 11-year-old, dude. #NationalSpellingBee
— John Bridges (@JohnBridges) May 27, 2016
This 11-year-old kid just rattled off the definitions of "taoiseach" "biniou" and "melilot" like it was fucking NOTHING #NationalSpellingBee
— John Schneider (@JohnD_Schneider) May 27, 2016
why does this 5th grader on the spelling bee know the definition to the word Taoiseach and i can't even spell tomorrow #spellingbee
— camryn woodworth (@camwoodworth) May 27, 2016
This 11 yr old spelling bee kid just got the word "Taoiseach" and asked "Is this an Irish Prime Minister?" I have done nothing with my life.
— Meagan Jones (@MegEJones) May 27, 2016
This spelling bee is incredible. #taoiseach #isthatanirishprimeminister #hes11
— Matt Ritzmann (@MattRitzmann) May 27, 2016
Elsewhere, some people were taught a valuable lesson about trolling.
Never change, #spellingbee. Never change. pic.twitter.com/QpHcsu7BtM
— John Green (@johngreen) May 27, 2016