[Humour] Joke du jour

[jcdenton08]

An undercover agent was sent to an Irish village and told to make contact with their local man called O’Reilly who knew the code phrase “The birds will be flying high tomorrow.”

He asked someone in the street where he could find Mr O’Reilly and got the answer “Well, there’s O’Reilly the butcher, O’Reilly the postman and sure my own name is O’Reilly.”

The agent decided to take a risk and said: “The birds will be flying high tomorrow.”
“Oh! It’s O’Reilly the spy you’re wanting! He’ll be down in the pub.”

 

[Bry Nylon]

It sounds like the operation was probably compromised from the outset if the code phrase was widely know outside of the espionage community.

 

[Questions]

It sounds like the operation was probably compromised from the outset if the code phrase was widely know outside of the espionage community.

Unless the man in the street was the furred man.

 

[Is it PotG?]

I’d be confident that were this mission of importance then more detail about where to find the O’Reilly in question would have been in the brief.
This would prevent and confusion and delay in identifying the correct spy.

 

[KZNSeagull]

There is no way that all those people in the village would have the same name and that a real spy would let everyone know that they were a spy. Where did you hear this story? Don't believe everything you read on Twitter.

 

[ConfusedGloryHunter]

Surely the organisation should have known about the ubiquitous nature of the spy's surname in that region? Sounds like a very amateur outfit if you ask me.

 

[Jimmy Come Lately]

These passphrases need to be things that can more plausibly be dropped into conversation. Suggesting that the birds will be flying high tomorrow against AS Roma would make the agent stand out as having lost his wits.

 

[Tim Over Whelmed]

There are huge GDPR issues, let alone compromises bringing into question the adherence to The Official Secrets Act 1989, I'd say keep well away from the village and the village spy.

 

[Is it PotG?]

Not O’Reilly the builder then?

 

[Bodian]

Oh Really? Don't believe this yarn.

 

[Cotton Socks]

Are you sure the Mr O’Reilly he was talking to wasn't the spy? If he's not a spy how does he know the other Mr O’Reilly was in the pub?

 

[Albion my Albion]

Donald Trump, that's it.

 

[PeterT]

I’m not sure his outfit was the best disguise he could have gone for to remain incognito …..

.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

Surely they would give the Irish spy a different name to one that is a very popular Irish surname? Sounds like the whole operation was doomed to fail from the beginning.

 

[Sirnormangall]

I don’t believe it’s possible to predict whether birds will be flying high, so it’s a highly implausible code phrase and therefore casts doubt on the whole story I’m afraid.

 

[Bodian]

I don’t believe it’s possible to predict whether birds will be flying high, so it’s a highly implausible code phrase and therefore casts doubt on the whole story I’m afraid.

Indeed. And what is 'high'?

 

[jcdenton08]

Having read these replies with interest, I too actually now have some doubt about the veracity of the report in the OP.

My alleged comments were wrong, they were racist, I have rightly apologised for them and that remorse should be accepted. However, there are no plans to return any donations I have received as a result of my post.

 

[Bodian]

However, there are no plans to return any donations I have received as a result of my post.

Just spend them on some spare full-backs.

 

[Sirnormangall]

Indeed. And what is 'high'?

Exactly - one man’s high is another man’s low (and the female view is possibly similar).

I’m further concerned at the veracity of this tale due to its reference to “”butcher” and “postman” - jobs which no longer seem to exist. Having just one of those jobs in a village seems unlikely. Having both jobs in the village AND occupied by people with the same surname is laughable.

 

[Bodian]

Exactly - one man’s high is another man’s low (and the female view is possibly similar).

I’m further concerned at the veracity of this tale due to its reference to “”butcher” and “postman” - jobs which no longer seem to exist. Having just one of those jobs in a village seems unlikely. Having both jobs in the village AND occupied by people with the same surname is laughable.

Postman?? Yes, another dead giveaway - I presume the OP meant to say "postal delivery worker".....