Irishmen ...

When it comes to humour, and telling jokes at someone’s expense, most nationalities have another nation or race they like to portray as not too bright; a sandwich short of a picnic. Traditionally the English have put the Irish into that category and the Irish gag has been a staple component of many routines down the years.

The fact is the Irish have a wonderful logic all their own. A peculiar view of the world that in business-speak terms might be described as “thinking outside the box”. Let’s face it, the Irish economy has boomed in recent times as they’ve embraced the European Union wholeheartedly, and all the grants and handouts it can bestow, so they are not as daft as we like to portray them. Indeed, many Irishmen have become captains of industry this side of the Irish sea.

Our lightbulb today has two possible ways of being changed. Both involve a reverse logic approach, with the first also throwing in a drunk, that other Irish stereotype, for good measure.

Q: How many Irishmen does it take to change a lightbulb?
A: Two. One to hold the bulb and the other to keep drinking until the room starts spinning.

There is an alternative to this second version where one man holds the bulb and any number of others spin the house round. I quite like this more simple appproach, but underlying both versions is that eccentric view of how the world works. When trying to think up solutions to problems it’s not a bad idea to take a lead from the Irish. You never know what you might come up with.

Q: How many Irishmen does it take to change a lightbulb?
A: Five. One to hold the bulb and the other four to turn the ladder round.