Luck of the Irish me arse! Not only did FIFA change the rules to protect the big teams, but then we drew France and that dirty little thief Henry cheats us out of a place in the World Cup.

I know its small consolation but we’re refunding €110,000 to all those who backed Ireland to qualify for next years Finals as well as refunding €140,000 on tonights game after we pledged to refund all losing first/last goalscorer, correct score & scorecast bets placed on the match if Ireland won the game in 90-minutes.

For those still interested, the latest odds on that football thing happening in South Africa next June are;
9/2 Spain
5/1 Brazil
6/1 England
9/1 Argentina
11/1 Germany
12/1 Holland
14/1 Italy
16/1 France
18/1 Portugal

More importantly we’re offering odds of 5/1 for a video ref to be introduced in time for World Cup 2018.

I’m off to get sick (again)

Posted in Sportsbook | 148 Comments »

What better way to start your day than stealing another man’s wife from a neighbouring village and carrying her back to your gaff where she was, by law, now your property to do with as you please?

This was life back in eighteenth century Finland when men were men and women were, err, stolen. Sadly the P.C. brigade have put their foot down and stamped out this once noble practice but here at Paddy Power we’re on a mission to bring it back

Oh yes, we’re now the proud sponsors of the 2009 Paddy Power Wife Carrying Championship. It all takes place on saturday 25th July as part of the Sneem Family Festival at Sneem, Co. Kerry.

This is the second year that Ireland has participated in this increasingly popular and prestigious international event and the winning couple will represent Ireland at the World Championships in 2010.

The wife carrying course is strictly regulated – 253.5 Metres long, 2 dry obstacles and 1 water obstacle. The wife to be carried may be your own, your neighbours, or found further a field. In fact, couples need not be married at all. The wife must however be over 18 years and weigh a minimum of 49 kilos. If she weighs less, she will be handicapped with a loaded rucksack to reach the minimum weight.

The winner is the couple which reaches the finish line in the fastest time. The only equipment that can be worn is a belt by the carrier. The contestants run the race two at a time, so each heat is a contest in itself.
Betting to follow soon.

Posted in Sportsbook | 3 Comments »

Well done to Richard O’Callaghan whose touching tribute to the King of Pop was unanimously voted the winner of our Michael Jackson competition by our panel of experts.

Richard, we’ll be in contact soon. Well done, you’re a great lad.

Posted in Sportsbook | 54 Comments »

Paddy just couldn’t resist getting his kit off on his way to Royal Ascot. The naked bookie lent a helping hand to Dip in the Nip organiser Máire Garvey to help raise awareness for Ireland’s biggest ever skinny dip next Sunday. The original event was abandoned last month due to concerns over Peeping Toms infiltrating the female only naked swim.

The location of the new beach has been kept a closely guarded secret and sparked betting on which beach would eventually host the charity event in aid of Action Breast Cancer. The secluded setting of Dunmoran Stand in Sligo in the bookies 11/4 favourite. Less likely locations quoted by the bookmaker include Wicklow’s Brittas Bay at 100/1 and Craggy Island beach at 500/1.

All profits from our Skinny Dip betting will be donated to Action Breast Cancer.

Posted in Sportsbook | 12 Comments »

Punters have given Fianna Fáil candidates running in Friday’s European election a unanimous thumbs down in our online poll to find Ireland’s most disliked politician.

The “Eurotrash” poll conducted on this very blog had 1,800 individual votes cast over the past five days.

You were asked to nominate their local candidate they dislike the most running for election in Friday’s European election. In all four electoral constituencies Fianna Fáil had the dubious honour of having candidates top the “unpopularity” poll.

Eoin Ryan attracted 31% of the vote in Dublin with Fianna Fáil party colleague Liam Aylward also securing first place with 30% of the poll in Ireland East. Pat “The Cope” Gallagher was the undisputed poll topper in the North West with an impressive 40% of the vote and Corkonian Brian Crowley was first the post in the South with a 26% share of the unpopular vote.

RESULTS OF PADDY POWER ONLINE POLL

Which of the following candidates running for election in the Dublin constituency for the European Parliament do you dislike the most?

Dublin
31% Eoin Ryan (FF)
26% Proinsias De Rossa (Lab)
15% Gay Mitchell (FG)
12% Mary Lou McDonald, (SF)
6% Eibhlin Byrne (FF)
3% Joe Higgins (SP)
3% Caroline Simons (Lib)
2% Deirdre De Burca (GP)
1% Patricia McKenna (Ind)
1% Emmanuel Sweeney (Ind)

Which of the following candidates running for election in the Ireland East constituency for the European Parliament do you dislike the most?

East
30% Liam Aylward (FF)
20% Mairéad McGuinness (FG)
16% Thomas Byrne (FF)
9% Nessa Childers (Lab)
9% Raymond O’Malley (Lib)
6% Kathleen Funchion (SF)
6% Tomás Sharkey (SF)
3% John Paul Phelan (FG)
1% Micheál E Grealy (Ind)
0% Paddy Garvey (IND)
0% Jim Tallon (Ind)

Which of the following candidates running for election in the North West constituency for the European Parliament do you dislike the most?

North West
40% Pat Gallagher (FF)
24% Declan Ganley (Lib)
10% Jim Higgins (FG)
7% Paschal Mooney (FF)
6% Padraig MacLochlainn (SF)
4% Marian Harkin (Ind)
3% Joe O’Reilly (FG)
1% John Francis Higgins (Ind)
1% Thomas King (Ind)
1% Noel McCullagh (Ind)
1% Michael McNamara (Ind)
1% Susan O’Keeffe (Lab)
1% Fiachra O Luain (Ind)

Which of the following candidates running for election in the Ireland South constituency for the European Parliament do you dislike the most?

South
26% Brian Crowley (FF)
15% Ned O’Keeffe (FF)
14% Sean Kelly (FG)
12% Toireasa Ferris (SF)
10% Dan Boyle (GP)
9% Kathy Sinnott (Ind)
7% Colm Burke (FG)
5% Alan Kelly (Lab)
1% Maurice Sexton (Ind)
1% Alexander Stafford (Ind)

Posted in Sportsbook | 6 Comments »

The problem with elections is that putting a number – any number – next to a politician’s name implies you actually like them. It only encourages them and they end up getting big ideas and in some extreme cases believing they are actually popular.

We’re here to change all that. Now, at last, is the vote that really counts. The vote to determine which of our wonderful politicians is the worst of a pretty bad bunch. I’ve been looking over the ballot papers and I don’t mind telling you that there’s plenty of choice in every constituency. And that’s just Fianna Fail.

Take your time, research the candidates (there’s some real oddballs amongst the independents) and cast your vote. Polls will close on Monday June 1st, and we’ll announce the results on Tuesday. At last – real democracy comes to Ireland!

Dublin

Which of the following candidates running for election in the Dublin constituency to the European Parliament do you dislike the most?

East

Which of the following candidates running for election in the Ireland East constituency to the European Parliament do you dislike the most?

North West

Which of the following candidates running for election in the Ireland North West constituency to the European Parliament do you dislike the most?

South

Which of the following candidates running for election in the Ireland South constituency to the European Parliament do you dislike the most?

Posted in Sportsbook | 72 Comments »

Paddy teamed up with Leinster Captain Leo Cullen and Munster legend Mick Galway today to launch our fundraising initiative for the Stewart Mangan appeal. Paddy’s agreed to donate €2,000 for each try scored in Saturday’s Heineken Cup Semi Final between Leinster and Munster at Croke Park.

In April last year while playing rugby with his club Hammersmith RFC in London, Stuart Mangan (25) suffered a sudden but devastating spinal injury. Sadly this sporting accident left Stuart totally paralyzed from the neck down. Now that Stuart has left hospital he will require 24-hour care for the rest of his life.

If you’d like to learn more about this cause or make a donation, go to www.stuartmangan.org

Posted in Rugby, Sportsbook | 2 Comments »

Actually that’s a complete lie. But now that we’ve got your attention why not try your luck with our CAPTION COMPETITION? That’s right, whoever comes up with the best caption for the thought bubble on the above picture wins a fabulous Paddy Power no expense spared goody bag which includes two tickets to the Paddy Power corporate box for the All Ireland (camoige) Final next September. Winner will be chosen by a panel of Paddy Power humour experts and will notified sometime next week. Gentlemen, start your engines.

Posted in Sportsbook | 84 Comments »

It’s the story that’s shocked a nation and whipped the tabloid press into a frenzy. Yep you’ve guessed it; it’s the story of Alfie Patten, the 12-year old Londoner who allegedly fathered a child.

In a bizarre twist to an already incredible story a DNA test will now be performed to determine whether the boy is actually the father of baby Maisie Roxanne. The test comes after a Sunday newspaper in the UK reported that two other teenage boys have come forward claiming to be the father of the newborn baby girl.

Since the story broke on Sunday we’ve had a few enquires about offering odds on the outcome on this paternity case which is supposed to be happening live on Channel 4 TV, so here goes;

Is Alfie Patten the father of Maisie Roxanne Steadman?

1/5 Yes
3/1 No

In other baby related betting news Octo-Mom, Nadya Suleman, has declared self-imposed celibacy for the next 18-years. Proving that is very little we wont bet on you can have 5/1 that the American mother of fourteen will give birth again.

Will Octo-Mom give birth again?

5/1 Yes
1/10 No

Check out the size of her belly a few weeks ago.

Posted in Sportsbook | Click here to comment »

Yep that’s right folks one of you lucky suckers & a guest will be setting up camp in the luxurious surroundings of the lower stand of the Hogan Stand next Wednesday, 11 February to see Ireland take on Georgia in their latest 2010 World Cup Qualifying match.

And to spoil you rotten we’ll also throw in a free €100 bet on the match and a very special mystery surprise!!!

To be in with a chance of winning we want you to create a terrace chant designed to lure our prodigal midfielder, Stephen Ireland, back to the bosom of the Irish team. The best chant as decided by our panel of football song experts wins the goodies. Here’s one to get you started

Ode to Stephen Ireland
(to the tune of Walking in a Winter Wonderland)

There’s only one Stephen Ireland
One, one, one, Stephen Ireland
He’s got no hair but we don’t care
Walking in an Ireland wonderland

Posted in Sportsbook | 90 Comments »