While the rest of Ireland is collectively cowed due to the recession, at least the twins are keeping their heads high
While the rest of Ireland is collectively bent over all bowed and cowed due to the seemingly never-ending recession, at least Jedward are still keeping their heads and their hair high. The twins from west Dublin have become the Republic's court jesters, cheering their nation up with their hyperactive on-screen antics and unflappable optimism. For the double act that survived the harpoon tongue of Simon Cowell and went on to make millions, 2011 has been an outstanding year. The boys were part of the warm-up act for the thousands gathered at Dublin's College Green back in May waiting for Barack Obama, and even pressed the flesh with the US president. They were No 1 in Germany and Sweden, and they are currently entertaining children and their parents (oh yes they are!) in the remake of a pantomime now called Jedward and the Beanstalk. On Planet Jedward – their official website – the Irish people can forget their troubles for a while and laugh at the boys' camp self-mockery and their ceaseless energy. By coincidence the blond-haired, blue-eyed Teutonic-looking brothers are spending January in Germany on their deliciously appropriately titled Victory Tour. Given the (apparent) largesse of the German taxpayer to the Irish in terms of the financial bailout, perhaps it's the least Ireland can do, to send two of its most famous sons to the Federal Republic to say thank you to the kind citizens of Stuttgart, Munich and Berlin for all those euros being repatriated to Dublin, Cork and Galway.