The soon to be monikered ‘Woodward and Bernstein’ of the Irish Blogosphere, Gavin Sheridan (Of Tribunal and other corruption blasting central blog, Gavinsblog) and whippersnapper Mark Coughlan (lately of Irishelection.com) last week launched TheStory.ie

… dedicated to sharing documents, combing and combining data and promoting transparency in public life: An experiment in journalism and crowdsourcing hoping to shed light on the government. If you’re spending the Irish taxpayers’ money, you’re on the radar.

They’ve got shovels and they are going digging and have a number of investigations and documentary displays under their belts including Ministerial expenses. Yesterday they threw their eyes over the Comptroller and Auditor General’s report into FAS and have picked up stuff not highlighted in the newspaper coverage.

You’ll find online spreadsheets regarding donations to political parties and TD’s, graphs and other infromation hosted for people to review and comment on.

Through the power of FOI’s and donated documentation there is a lot of interesting reading on the site. Up to now they have put their own hands into their pockets to cover FOI’s and company registration office fees. It is definitely worth throwing them a few bob if you have it as one never knows what next they might show up and they are doing it not to earn to but to tell the real story.

I hear that some in fourth estate are not very amused poor souls. Oh dear a blog that might be interesting to read for data and analysis, another one to join Irisheconomy.ie in being a trend setter in 2009. Congratulations and I’m looking forward to the first Storygate.

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