We have a rather complex relationship with ourselves. “You’ll never beat the Irish” is a self-congratulatory chant going back to the Jack Charlton years.

We wear our hearts on our sleeves and hail the great people across the globe of Irish descent. We wear our county colours on Bondi beach and Times Square. And we get very uppity when the British media claim our best actors and sports stars as one of theirs.

But we’re also world beaters at washing our dirty linen in public.

Last week, we did our utmost to make sure the whole world heard about Phil Hogan’s attendance at that golf society dinner, even if it would result in him and his staff losing their jobs in Brussels.

It allowed us to demonstrate once more how we do schadenfreude exceptionally well in Ireland. It appears that a male, middle-aged politician wearing a suit with a big job and pension has no hope in the face of modern Irish groupthink.

Subjective

He’s a model to be taken down, particularly if he is subjectively charged with being arrogant.

I wrote here last week about how disgraceful the whole Golfgate episode was, how it insulted people going through tough times and how it sullied politics.

But what followed in terms of the outrage against Phil Hogan smacked more of this begrudging Irish attitude towards anybody seen to be doing well rather than merely reflecting our genuine anger at what had gone on in Clifden.

It didn’t matter about his key role in the EU at this crucial time. “Take him down,” even if the punishment of resigning might far outweigh the crime. Just shoot and ask questions later.

Yes, he should remain very contrite about breaking the spirit of the law.

His messy contrition after the event exasperated an already fiery situation. But he had no hope in the zero-tolerance era in which we live.

This writer fell into that trap, too, without standing back and taking all evidence into account before passing judgement, even if it did not alter initial conclusions.

But cancel culture does not allow for forgiveness anymore, as highlighted by Bishop Willie Walsh in his letter to the Irish Times.

It was only following Hogan’s resignation that we heard from those who felt it was a step too far, but by then it was too late

Yes, many angry callers contacted Liveline and other programmes. But many people didn’t call in, either. When we are outraged, we will shout it out loud.

It was only following Hogan’s resignation that we heard from those who felt it was a step too far, but by then it was too late.

One side had the debate won before the counter-argument could be made. It’s a salient reminder of the times we live in, where the alternative opinion in the face of anger on an emotive issue can be dismissed without discussion. Daniel Patrick Moynihan said: “You are entitled to your opinions. But you are not entitled to your own facts.” That no longer seems to be the case.

Ultimately, Phil Hogan says he took the decision to resign of his own accord. Time will tell if he made the correct one.

Time will also reveal if a dangerous precedent has been set when it comes to national government tails effectively wagging the EU dog. “You’ll never beat the Irish” - except when we do it to ourselves.

Drinking culture

Health officials who’ve made recommendations in vain to successive governments regarding changing Ireland’s drink culture must be delighted they’re finally being implemented by stealth, with only pubs serving food and kicking people out after 105 minutes allowed to open, while other pubs may stay shut, maybe forever. Meanwhile, the off-licences are doing a roaring trade.