“Declan Burke is his own genre. The Lammisters dazzles, beguiles and transcends. Virtuoso from start to finish.” – Eoin McNamee “This bourbon-smooth riot of jazz-age excess, high satire and Wodehouse flamboyance is a pitch-perfect bullseye of comic brilliance.” – Irish Independent Books of the Year 2019 “This rapid-fire novel deserves a place on any bookshelf that grants asylum to PG Wodehouse, Flann O’Brien or Kyril Bonfiglioli.” – Eoin Colfer, Guardian Best Books of the Year 2019 “The funniest book of the year.” – Sunday Independent “Declan Burke is one funny bastard. The Lammisters ... conducts a forensic analysis on the anatomy of a story.” – Liz Nugent “Burke’s exuberant prose takes centre stage … He plays with language like a jazz soloist stretching the boundaries of musical theory.” – Totally Dublin “A mega-meta smorgasbord of inventive language ... linguistic verve not just on every page but every line.Irish Times “Above all, The Lammisters gives the impression of a writer enjoying himself. And so, dear reader, should you.” – Sunday Times “A triumph of absurdity, which burlesques the literary canon from Shakespeare, Pope and Austen to Flann O’Brien … The Lammisters is very clever indeed.” – The Guardian

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Mr and Mrs Grand Vizier Would Like To Announce ...


A Minister for Propaganda Elf writes: Mr and Mrs Grand Vizier would like to announce the arrival of Princess Lily (above, right) at 5.20pm on Wednesday March 26th, weighing 8lbs 12ozs, and looking remarkably like her mother at the same age if Grandad Vizier is to be believed. She currently possesses a fine pair of lungs, a grand head of dark curly hair, and her father’s heart. Further updates will follow, albeit erratically, as the Grand Vizier is suffering badly from 'Recent Father Syndrome', so please bear with us, as the normal useless service will resume shortly, aka just as soon as we can stop posting pics of Sleeping Beauty ...

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh, what wonderful news, and what a beautiful little fairy princess. I am so happy for you and Mrs G.V. Lily is such a lovely name. I do hope that mother and baby are well and happy, and that Mr G.V. continues to be suitably ecstatic.
My very best wishes to all of your new family.
Maxine.

Gerard Brennan said...

CONGRATULATIONS!

You going to take a day off now?

gb

Peter Rozovsky said...

Have a drink on me! And when Lily is old enough, I'll buy her one, too. Congratulations!
==============
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/

Unknown said...

What a little beauty! Gorgeous, she is. Congrats to you and well done to mammy - that's a big baba!

Anonymous said...

Congrats, dude.

Ray Banks said...

Oh, you snuffly fool, Burke. Don't you realise that all you've done is given me another family member to kidnap?

(exit stage left, cackling, and then a brief return)

Congratulations. Thought I do hope Lily doesn't take after either of her namesakes and become home to a frog. Or even worse, SING!

Now take some time off, Grand Vizier. We can refrain from any dirty protests in your absence just this once.

Uriah Robinson said...

She is gorgeous.
Well done to the Grand Vizier family and all the best to Princess Lily.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! Hope all continues to go well.

Sandra Ruttan said...

Congratulations Dec! Great to hear she arrived safe and sound and all are doing well.

Anonymous said...

Magnificent news, Dec!! Congrats to the two of you and a big "welcome to the world!!!" to Lily.

One forecast is certain: schedules at CAP Central will be eratic for at least the next 18 months. Take as much time as needed, amigo. Just be sure to let us know where and when the traditional "head wetting" will be.

Fellow Daddy!

Mick

Patricia said...

Mazel tov!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! She's beautiful. My best wishes to you all too.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations sir and madam-and a lovely little Lily she is.

Declan Burke said...

Thanks a million folks, we really appreciate the kind words. It certainly feels like the most wonderful time of my life ... Cheers, Dec

J. Kingston Pierce said...

Good going, Dec. I'm glad to hear that mother and daughter are doing well, and father is in the expected state of bewilderment. It's time for you to take a step back from blogging, I think. You'll be glad to have spent the extra time with your family, instead.

Cheers,
Jeff

JT Ellison said...

Dec,
Many, many congrats to you and Aileen!
Lily is adorable!
xo,
JT

Donna said...

Aw Dec, I'm sitting here with a big smile on my face. Huge congrats to you and Aileen and a snuggly warm hug for baby Lily, who looks absolutely gorgeous.

Unknown said...

fab news and what a beauty! congrats to you both on yr new bundle, she WILL now be the boss so be prepared for much heart lurching!
speak to the happy mama soon.
x

Karen (Euro Crime) said...

Just caught up with the good news. Best wishes to you all :-).

Lrakyawnoc said...

Congrats to the two of ye, Dec, on the new arrival! She looks great :-)

Karlos

Dana King said...

Many congratulations! I remember the days immediately after the birth of my daughter as the truly happiest time of my life. I envy, but do not begrudge. Gaining pleasure from children - yours, mine, anyone's - is the one infinitely renewable resource.

Unknown said...

Oh, my goodness, what a lovely addition to the royal Vizier family!! :)

Congratulations and three cheers for the Mum and Dad! ... if Lily has her father's heart, of course she is a princess. :)

Anonymous said...

Declan, I don't know why you're the one getting all the praise - it was Aileen who did all the hard work!
Congrats to you both and may the gods watch over Lily May.
Sam Millar

Linkmeister said...

Aloha, Lily!

It's not too early to start planning a baby luau for her first birthday. That's a big big deal out here, with lots of guests and traditional island food (kalua pig, laulau, poki etc.).

Anonymous said...

A few more pics of Sleeping Beauty, please! (I thought she was Princess Lily?)

I need to go "aahhhh!" a little bit longer.

Peter Rozovsky said...

Look at all these comments! Having a baby is a great way to get one's traffic up. This is a marketing device whose full potential has yet to be explored.
==============
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

Well, Peter, will you make the next sacrifice, then? I'm not doing this again. That's what makes Lily so special; I can ooh and aahh and enjoy myself, and not a nappy to be changed.

Ali Karim said...

Super news -

Best wishes to mom too!

Enjoy, they grow fast!

Ali

Eolaí gan Fhéile said...

Lovely. Just lovely.

Congrats.

Unknown said...

Congratulations, Dec! You do realize that you will never create any work that compares? Lily is beautiful. I remember my first child - also a daughter - a few years ago now :) - I just sat and looked at her for hours, it seemed - I couldn't believe the magic of her long eyelashes, the transparency of her tiny fingernails, her little heart-shaped mouth ... see what you've done, Dec (the magic never leaves)

So, congratulations to mom and dad and hugs to Lily.

Slan, Pat.