The Reducer is where the people behind Balls.ie cover subjects beyond the world of sport but still of great interest to the Balls.ie reader.
What is Ireland? The question has bedeviled poets, songsmiths and philosophers for millenia. Luckily, insight is much more quantifiable in the digital age.
Recently, we went onto youtube and searched the word 'IRELAND'. We then organised the search according to videos with the most views. This gave us the most viewed 'Ireland' videos out there. The hierarchy of most-viewed Ireland videos tells a story about the damp green place we all occupy, and how the world sees it.
It is not a pretty story.
What is Ireland according to people who watch youtube videos? Step dancing, sentimental dirges, motorbike racing, a decent concert venue, Jedward the dickwads, and most amazingly a place that inspired the greatest hardcore anthem of them all.
10. Feet of Flames - Planet Ireland HD
Upload date: Mar 17, 2011
Views: 6,149,749
Flatley fucking Flatley. 10 minutes of step dancers in Elvis suits, live from London
9. Bryan Adams - Heaven - Live at Slane Castle, Ireland.
Upload date: Dec 4, 2008
Views: 6,433,017 views
For some reason, Bryan Adams prevents embedding from Youtube but you can watch the whole video here. Taken from Adams's gig at Slane in 2000.
8. The music of Ireland: Jigs and reels
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3xeTpgLP5o
Upload date: Mar 13, 2012
Views: 7,680,899 views
47 minutes of jigs and reels - you wouldn't do it to Maggie Thatcher!
7. The Dubliners - Song for Ireland
Upload date: Aug 14, 2007
Views: 7,771,486 views
The best thing about Ireland on this list.
6.- - MOST - EXTREME - SPORT - ♛ - ✔ 200_Mph_320Km/h - Irish Road Racing ✔ UGP_NW200
Upload date: Sep 1, 2012
Views: 7,999,655
Rally people stay together
5. Danny Boy Ireland
Upload date: Aug 30, 2006
Views: 8,241,238
Of course.
4. Ireland: "Lipstick", Jedward - Eurovision Song Contest Semi Final 2011 - BBC Three
Upload date: May 12, 2011
Views: 8,694,846 views
Our great national shame.
3. Metallica - Whiskey In The Jar (Dublin Ireland, 2006)
Upload date: March 16, 2011
Views: 13,785,403 views
From the 2006 RDS gig: everything goes downhill after the sublte nod to Philo.
2. St Patrick's Day Flashmob in Sydney by Tourism Ireland
Upload date: March 16, 2011
Views: 13,785,403 views
Paid for with tax payer money!
1.Dr Peac0ck: 'Trip To Ireland: 18,434,782 views
Upload: July 8, 2015
Views: 18,435,123 views
Holy shit. This hardcore track which was only uploaded 2 years ago has already garnered 18m views. 'Trip to Irealnd' is a heady mix of Frenchcore with diddly-eye. It's a truly atrocious song/video combo that most people outside of the hardcore techno scene will have never heard. The internet is full of weirdos.
