It's ten years to the day since Jack Dorsey (now known as @Jack) typed the momentous and world-changing words 'just setting up my twttr' into his computer.
Since then, twitter has bequeathed many gifts and delights to sports fans.
1. James McClean's constant establishment and re-establishment of a twitter presence
The magically disappearing and re-appearing twitter account of James McClean. He quits twitter with the same regularity with which others quit smoking.
2. Stephen Jones calling Irish supporters 'dickheads' and abusing them for having no followers
Stephen Jones does not regard twitter as a forum worthy of a considered back and forth on the merits and demerits of his Sunday Times columns.
His assailers must be prepared to be called a twerp spouting drivel and be abused for their lack of followers.
The vast majority of Irish rugby supporters haven't seen his tweets for many years. He is liberal (sodom and gomorrah liberal) in his deployment of the block button.
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3. Ross O'Carroll Kelly
A vital presence.
Whoever did this needs to be hunted down and brought to justice. pic.twitter.com/h6EpIMisA5
— Ross O'Carroll-Kelly (@RossOCK) March 20, 2015
4. James McClean repeatedly espousing his love of the Wolfe Tones
Back in 2002, the BBC were forced to recognise Irish prowess in the field of online vote-rigging when they had to announce that the Wolfe Tones classic 'A Nation Once Again' had come out on top in a poll to find the world's favourite song.
It is unknown whether James McClean added his voice to the fray. Of course, we know he prefers the Broad Black Brimmer.
People are more inclined to forgive him his Wolfe Tones loving than they are John Delaney, the finest interpreter of the band's material currently working in officialdom.
5. Joe Brolly v Colm Parkinson - repeated skirmishes
Colm tells Joe to keep his chin up on the day of Pat Kenny's shock signing by Newstalk.
You keep the head down and keep working hard @JoeBrolly1993 and we might have something for you sometime #Newstalk
— Colm Parkinson (@Woolberto) July 31, 2013
6. The BTR's - British people reacting to hurling on twitter
2014 was the year of the British twitter reaction. We are aware that many consider this to be a dubious honour to bestow on any year. You see, we bear some responsibility for this phenomenon. We published the first ever British twitter reaction back on June 7th, following the extremely one-sided Kilkenny and Offaly Leinster championship match. It was a post idea that we thought might interest people. This proved to be correct.
The traffic on the post was simply extraordinary. It remains the most popular post in the history of the site. By some distance. Every other online publication quickly followed suit in an effort to capitalise on the Irish public's insatiable desire for finding out what British folk thought of hurling.
Quite what this says about the Irish people and their desire for external validation (particularly from English people), we'll leave up to others to decide.
The inevitable and very understandable backlash to this phenomenon kicked in shortly afterwards. Many publications, including this one, took flak for continually compiling BTR's in the wake of GAA matches that were broadcast on Sky. A sizeable proportion of the population grew to hate the BTR's and were not shy about saying so. However, the haters, no matter how numerous, did not seem to put much of a dent in the traffic on these posts. Clearly, the Irish public did not hate the British Twitter reaction so much that it discouraged them from clicking into it.
7. GAA players cutting loose
There are many instances of Gaelic footballers delighting their followers on twitter, from Philly McMahon informing people that is how we walk in Ballymun, to DIT's Alan Nestor enjoying some quality time in the showers with the Sigerson Cup.
Gary Walsh, who, rather ominously, goes by the twitter handle @psychowalsh, took the unwise decision of directly threatening a journalist with more than 25,000 followers.
It may well be a mark of Parkinson's standing with the current Laois management that no one had a word with Walsh to delete this tweet.
8. James McClean repeatedly annoying those with unionist sympathies
PUP councillor Billy Hutchinson, when opposing the proposal for a joint reception for the Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland teams, spoke at length about a certain footballer (who he didn't name) who he feared might spark protests. He didn't specify but people knew at the same time.
Training finished, gym finished, Derry's officially getting its rightful name back, have a great day folks ?
— James McClean (@JamesMcC14) July 24, 2015
9. Outrage binges after Irish sports people are referred to as British
Cynics are increasingly inclined to believe that UK news outlets are knowingly and mischievously referring to Irish sports people as British in order to generate page clicks from this country.
Rec428 by ivannaseesomebutts
10. Eamon 'Nippler' Keegan
The exploits of the legendary Eamon 'Nippler' Keegan spread via twitter.
In 2012, Ireland were outclassed by the Croatians in Poznan but the nation's honour was redeemed by the stunning opportunism of the runaway winner of the inaugural Balls Man of the Year award.
Read more: Ireland's U21 Player Of The Year Since 1997 - Where Are They Now?
