BY RONAN McSHERRY
IT is time to unfurl the Tyrone flags again because we have made the cut for the first all-Ireland edition of Monopoly due to be produced for the Christmas market.
After a national online vote, the O'Neill county takes its place on the board between the Telecom and Jail squares. Whether that is Maghaberry prison or Mountjoy jail is not specified.
In all, 22 counties as well as the four provinces will feature on the innovative new version of the famous game. The board will also feature the old favourites 'Community Chest,' 'Chance' and Income Tax, although the makers baulked at including an under-the-table 'brown envelope' bonus square in keeping with contemporary Irish politics.
While it is not the time to gloat, the omission of neighbours Derry will cause much angst across the Oak Leaf county. Five Ulster counties are on the board – Tyrone, Cavan, Fermanagh, Donegal and Down; which means there is also deep disappointment for Antrim, Armagh and Monaghan.
VALUED
Curiously, Tyrone is valued at 1.4million Euro which may be more than twice the value of Donegal (600,000 Euro) but pales in price compared to Fermanagh 1.8million Euro and the wee county Louth at 2.8 million Euro. Roscommon is the most valuable site costing four million Euro with Westmeath the equivalent of the Old Kent Road, also at a measly 600,000 euro. Apparently, the values were determined by the number of votes cast for each.
Not for the first time, people will be trying to avoid paying income tax and stamp duty as they make their way around the counties of Ireland while also hoping to avoid jail.
The new version of the famous board game is sure to be a big hit and even includes a free parking square. However, it will be interesting to see if the Chance or Community cards have included the bane of Tyrone folk in recent years – the dreaded "clampers".
Monopoly is the world's best selling board game; it is licensed or sold in 80 countries and is produced in 26 languages. The new all-Ireland version is likely to fly off the shelves in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
