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    You are at:Home » News » Craic » Top 10 things 90s kids loved about Dustin the turkey
    Craic Culture

    Top 10 things 90s kids loved about Dustin the turkey

    Grainne KavanaghBy Grainne KavanaghSeptember 21, 2021No Comments5 Mins Read
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    In our biased opinion, we feel the 90s were definitely one of the most magical eras in Ireland. This was partly thanks to cheery characters like Dustin the turkey.

    Let us paint a picture of the 90s for you: the school bell rings, and you stuff all your gel pens into your pencil case for home time. You leg it home as fast as you can to catch the greatest TV programme of all time: The Den. 

    And who was at the forefront of our love for The Den? The legend that is Dustin, of course. From his constant slagging to his many business ideas, he always had us entertained. Read on to find out the top ten things every 90s kid loved about Dustin the turkey.

    10. His business ethic – a bird full of ideas

    One of the things we loved about Dustin the turkey was his business ethic.
    Credit: Facebook / @TheHappyPear

    Dustin the turkey had his wing in many pies; a builder by trade, he was always a bird for earning an extra few bob on the side.

    Who remembers the time when he ran a taxi rank out of The Den house? Or the time he opened a chipper right on set?

    9. His way with the birds – he knew how to sweet talk a woman

    He had a way with the birds.
    Credit: YouTube Screenshot / Evoke Today

    The women of Ireland could never resist Dustin, and we’re not surprised; he is one smooth talker.

    He has had romantic histories with the likes of Sharon Ní Bheoláin, Rosanna Davison, and Vogue Williams, to name but a few. We are mad jealous of them.

    8. His constant slagging – a lovable rogue

    We loved Dustin the turkey's constant slagging.
    Credit: Facebook / @walkinmyshoes

    It’s fair to say that nobody was safe from Dustin’s bad-mouthing.

    Dustin was fearless in his insults, from Ann Doyle to Twink, Gay Byrne, and even past president Mary Robinson. He was genuinely untouchable in the 90s.

    7. He was a politician – leader of the Poultry Party

    He was leader of the Poultry Party.
    Credit: Facebook / @teambyrnemx

    Few may remember Dustin the turkey’s run for general election back in the 90s. Still, his campaign had some impressive manifesto points worth mentioning.

    Our favourite was his ‘Bring the DART to Dingle’ campaign – inspiring!

    In his own words, “I’m right-wing and left-wing cos I’m a bird obviously”, he just wanted everyone to be happy, really.

    6. His dance moves – rarely seen but always enjoyed

    We loved Dustin the turkey's dance moves.
    Credit: Facebook / @StPatricksMHS

    Dustin’s signature dance move was, of course, the Flap Flaps.

    Still, he seldom did it as he believed everyone laughed at him… well, we did laugh, but we promise we were laughing with him. We’d never laugh at Dustin; why would we laugh at an icon?

    5. Sneaking on to the Toy Show – where there’s a will, there’s a way

    He was always sneaking onto the Toy Show.
    Credit: YouTube Screenshot / RTÉ – IRELAND’S NATIONAL PUBLIC SERVICE MEDIA

    The Toy Show was and still is a staple in every Irish child’s Christmas routine.

    Dustin loved the Toy Show, but presenter Gay Byrne found Dustin too rude for the impressionable children watching. This didn’t stop Dustin, however, who always found a way to boycott the show.

    4. He was never afraid to stand up for his rights – a voice for the voiceless

    One of the things we loved about Dustin the turkey is that he always stood up for his rights.
    Credit: Instagram / @thesqtallaght

    When Pat Kenny became the host of The Late Late Show, he cracked down on the rules and upped Toy Show security, ending Dustin the turkey’s reign of sabotaging the Toy Show.

    This led to Dustin hosting a big protest outside of RTE studios. We supported him every step of the way.

    3. He is a musical prodigy – too many hits to count

    He was a musical prodigy.
    Credit: Instagram / @thesqtallaght

    There are no ends to Dustin’s musical talents, from his Christmas single, Christmas Tree, to his hit, Funky Ford Cortina, and everything in between.

    He has sung with talents such as Joe Dolan and Bob Geldof. Dolan and Geldof are fortunate to have had the help of such a talent to help boost their careers; we hadn’t heard of either of them before Dustin discovered them.

    2. He is a Eurovision sensation – Irlande douze pointe

    Dustin the turkey was a Eurovision contestant.
    Credit: Flickr / Daniel Aragay

    Only the children of the 90s could truly appreciate Dustin’s stint as a Eurovision Song Contest singer. While he didn’t place in the competition, he placed in our hearts.

    Some may say his entry made a mockery of the integrity of the competition. We say he embodied everything that Ireland stands for: the craic.

    1. He had a heart of gold at the bones of it all – a turkey for all seasons

    Dustin the turkey had a heart of gold.
    Credit: YouTube Screenshot / Evoke Today

    Beneath his ruffled feathers, rude words, and fart noises, Dustin the turkey wanted the best for everyone (especially himself).

    At the bones of it all, Dustin had a soft heart and had his own anxieties like all of us.

    Christmas was always a hard time for him for obvious reasons, yet he would always help us smile through his own hardships.

    And there you have it. A comprehensive list of why Dustin the turkey is the best thing to come out of Ireland since Cú Chulainn. We believe that if he ran for president now that all the 90s children can vote, he’d win in a landslide.

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    Grainne Kavanagh

    Gráinne is an Irish writer who is utterly obsessed with her country. She grew up in Kilkenny and 'matured' in Waterford, where she got a Bachelor's in Theatre and English. She is now based in Dublin, where she has recently received a Master's Degree in Librarian and Information Studies. Her favourite things to write about include travel, satire, good news, cinema, theatre, and mental health. She previously worked as a film critic for the Waterford News and Star newspaper. Gráinne also works as a pet sitter, so she can usually be found in someone else's home, cuddling their dog.

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