For graphic design within the graphic arts industry, Punt Nua (English: New Pound) (sign: PN£) is a parody currency and internet meme devised by Irish graphic designer, Con Kennedy.[1]

First published on the social media website, Twitter[2] in early December 2011, within hours of publishing, the images became a viral sensation. Overnight, articles featuring the proposed designs for Punt Nua appeared in the Irish Independent[3] and in the Carlow People.[4] In the following days, Irish and international media picked up and ran with the story due to the notoriety of the people featured on the design of notes.

Concept and origins

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Kennedy attributes the concept of Punt Nua was upon hearing numerous reports in the Irish media[5] of a possible return to the Irish Pound after a possible exit from the Euro and decided to devise his own interpretation of what the new currency may look like.[6]

The designs for the notes featured those who Kennedy and many in Ireland, believed were responsible for Ireland's economic problems and possible exit form the single currency.[7][8]

Design

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The designs of Punt Nua featured key figures from Irish political life and banking sector that are synonymous with Ireland's economic meltdown and bank insolvencies:

The Half uncial typeface used on the proposed designs for Punt Nua was designed by Kennedy in the 1990s.[9]

Media coverage

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Irish media

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The notes received great interest from Irish current affairs and light entertainment programmes and was featured on 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]

International media

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Coverage of Punt Nua extended to intentional media such as Forbes.com,[16] Stone & Strom Investment Managers[17] Finnish television station YLE[18] and Sydney's Irish Echo.[19] Punt Nua also feature on the World Irish diaspora website as one of the top ten Irish events of 2011.[20]

References

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  1. ^ "Con Kennedy Visual Communications | News | Punt Nua". Conkennedy.ie. Archived from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  2. ^ "Introducing an Punt Nua. With the demise of the EURO insight,... on Twitpic". Twitpic.com. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  3. ^ Become a fan. "Irish designer comes up with a cheeky take on images for Punt Nua if Euro collapses". Irish Independent. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  4. ^ Entertainment. "Lecturer causes currency sensation". Carlowpeople.ie. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  5. ^ "RTÉ.ie Radio1: Liveline – Thursday 8th December 2011". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. Archived from the original on 18 September 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  6. ^ "Gossip | Fancy a Butchers at Our New Currency? | Reviewed by". entertainment.ie. 9 December 2011. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ "#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.
  9. ^ "Con Kennedy". Luc.devroye.org. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  10. ^ "Punt Nua Design featured on The Saturday Show". 8 February 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012 – via YouTube.
  11. ^ "Punt Nua designs featured on The Daily Show". Retrieved 31 July 2012 – via YouTube.
  12. ^ "Punt Nua featured on LiveLine". 8 February 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012 – via YouTube.
  13. ^ "Punt Nua designs featured on Tonight with Vincent Browne". Retrieved 31 July 2012 – via YouTube.
  14. ^ "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.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ "Wayback Machine has not archived that URL". Forbes. Retrieved 12 September 2023.[dead link]
  17. ^ "Irish designer comes up with a cheeky take on images for Punt Nua if Euro collapses « Stone & Strom". Stonestrom.com. Archived from the original on 14 July 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  18. ^ "Punt Nua designs featured on Finnish TV". Retrieved 31 July 2012 – via YouTube.
  19. ^ "#PuntNua featured in Sydney's Irish Echo. Thanks to @laz... on Twitpic". Twitpic.com. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  20. ^ "Reeling in the Year, WorldIrish". Worldirish.com. 29 December 2011. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
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