Relax, Dublin Port Company is there

I’m still scratching my head over the Dublin Port Company advertising campaign.

The quality of the photo above isn’t great. It’s from Saturday’s Irish Times. You can probably make out the two vikings. The passage of 1200 years has obviously made them more civilised. Their conquering days are but a dim memory now. Shopping is the new blood sport for these two boys as they are laden down with bags after a day out on Grafton street.

“I love this time of year. The solstice, the sales, the scavenging. ‘Tis Mighthy!” says Bruce the Brave on the left.

“Mighty indeed! I just plundered me credit card!” says Dube Dubarry on the right.

All of this to tell us that Dublin port is here, near and delivers the goods. I don’t get it. What do they want from Joe public? A round of a applause and a pat on the head for managing the traffic in and out of the port.

Perhaps I should extend my Christmas card list to the staff to say thanks for… what again? Oh yeah, for being there. If it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be able to dress myself top to toe in Tommy Hilfiger gear this Christmas, so maybe I should give thanks. Maybe they ought to design a little label to go on stuff – “Proudly shipped via Dublin port – don’t forget about us”.

And their “1200 years of service” stuff.. That’s a bit of an exaggeration. According to their own website, they date back 300 years. Someone ought to contact liveline about this, or maybe the advertising standards. That might put an end to the most wasteful ad campaign in the history of Ireland, Dublin or even Dublin Port. It’s there and don’t you dare forget it.