OPINION: Why this act will be a YouTube flop

A soft sigh of relief has settled gently across County Kildare, leaving even nature's lightest leaves unruffled.

Nobody was trampled underfoot that we’re aware of and no crush injuries were sustained in the stampede to get a seat for this gig.

And grateful we must be that no casualties at all were reported as the latest thing to hit YouTube appeared before us.

You're too late for the first instalment which went on official release on June 24.

But settle now and quit your howling and wailing; because the next show is only a short few weeks away.

And there’ll be more after that because this is the gift that keeps on giving.

Roll up, roll up, for the July version which promises to be bigger and better than ever.

Grab yourself a small barrel of popcorn and a compostable cup of fluorescent-blue slush puppie fortified with enough sugar to sweeten up Donald Trump.

There will be more motions, questions, replies and responses.

For the first show we had to content ourselves with a few morsels.

One was a talk about the need for a policy to ensure the equitable and optimum delivery (with adequate resources) of recreation and amenity capital investment for the next five years.

Just when you started complaining about the dearth of live theatre in our digital age, Kildare County Council has started showing its monthly meetings on YouTube.

And better still, what you see and hear is happening in real time.

This is no rehearsal, baby.

And it comes just in time for all those legions of Swifties wondering how they will ever keep themselves digitally entertained until her next  coming.

There must  concerns within KCC about just how viral these productions could go.

Because before each meeting there's a solemn announcement of a list of dos and don’ts.

No camera, communication, screen or sound capturing technology can be used to record any part of the meeting - without prior approval. Anyone who tries will be asked to leave the meeting.

Those attending are advised “you may be subject to audio and video capture.” 

Yes, capture.

There is, of course, a more serious side to this. 

It’s about enhancing the transparency of local government - in an era of fake news and conspiracy theories. 

Those of you who bothered to vote in Kildare’s local elections recently - and less than half of you did - might want to see your nominated politicians in action, so to speak.

The YouTube gig means you don’t have to show up in person at the public gallery in the council chamber to see what’s going on. 

The fact is few people bother anyway.

And the rest of us would rather mow the lawn.