Punt Nua (English: 'new pound'; sign: PN£) was a parody currency and internet meme devised by Irish graphic designer, Con Kennedy.[1] First published on Twitter in early December 2011,[2] within hours of publishing, the images became a viral phenomenon. Articles featuring the proposed designs for Punt Nua appeared in the Irish Independent[3] and in the Carlow People.[4] In the following days, several other Irish and international media outlets covered the proposed designs.
Origins and concept
Kennedy developed the concept of 'Punt Nua' after hearing numerous reports in the Irish media[5] of a possible return to the Irish Pound after a possible exit from the Euro. Kennedy, who was a lecturer in Carlow IT at the time,[4] devised his own interpretation of what the new currency may look like.[6]
The designs for the parody notes featured those who Kennedy believed to be responsible for Ireland's economic problems, the post-2008 banking crisis and a possible exit from the single currency.[7][8] This figures from Irish political life and the banking sector, used in the designs, included:
The half uncial typeface used on the proposed designs for Punt Nua was designed by Kennedy in the 1990s.[9]
Media coverage
The notes were covered on several Irish current affairs and light entertainment programmes, including RTÉ's Saturday Night Show,[10] The Daily Show[11] and current affairs programmes, such as Radio 1's Liveline,[12] TV3's Tonight with Vincent Browne,[13] 98FM News[14] and Inside Ireland.[15]
Coverage of Punt Nua extended to international media such as Forbes.com[16] and Finnish television station Yle.[17] Punt Nua was also included, by the WorldIrish.com diaspora website, in a list of viral events from 2011.[18]
An exhibition, titled Punt Nua: Creative Economics, was held in Dublin in June 2012.[19]
References
- ^ "Con Kennedy Visual Communications | News | Punt Nua". Conkennedy.ie. Archived from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
- ^ "Introducing an Punt Nua. With the demise of the EURO insight,... on Twitpic". Twitpic.com. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
- ^ "Irish designer comes up with a cheeky take on images for Punt Nua if Euro collapses". Irish Independent. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
- ^ a b "Lecturer causes currency sensation". Carlowpeople.ie. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
- ^ "RTÉ.ie Radio1: Liveline – Thursday 8th December 2011". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. Archived from the original on 18 September 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
- ^ "Gossip | Fancy a Butchers at Our New Currency? | Reviewed by". entertainment.ie. 9 December 2011. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
- ^ "Irishman develops new Irish currency in case Euro fails". Theamerican.ie. 2 December 2011. Archived from the original on 22 December 2011. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
- ^ "#PuntNua Playfully Proposes New Currency for Ireland, WorldIrish". Worldirish.com. 2 December 2011. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
- ^ "Con Kennedy". Luc.devroye.org. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
- ^ "Punt Nua Design featured on The Saturday Show". 8 February 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Punt Nua designs featured on The Daily Show". Retrieved 31 July 2012 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Punt Nua featured on LiveLine". 8 February 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Punt Nua designs featured on Tonight with Vincent Browne". Retrieved 31 July 2012 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Check Out the 'Punt Nua' Designs « 98FM: Dublin's Best Music Mix". 98fm.com. 2 December 2011. Archived from the original on 5 January 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
- ^ McMackin, Lisa (2 December 2011). "Designer creates tongue-in-cheek Punt nua » Inside Ireland". Insideireland.ie. Archived from the original on 29 May 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
- ^ "Wayback Machine has not archived that URL". Forbes. Retrieved 12 September 2023.[dead link]
- ^ "Punt Nua designs featured on Finnish TV". Retrieved 31 July 2012 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Reeling in the Year, WorldIrish". Worldirish.com. 29 December 2011. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
- ^ "Taking a Punt: Art takes on corruption and recession". thejournal.ie. 2 June 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2025.