Viral videos of the week: Conor McGregor, the Royal County and World Cup lies

20 Jul 2014

Still from 'The Royal County' by GiddyupSkits on YouTube

We take a look at some of the most-viewed and most-shared videos on the web, including a day in the life of Conor McGregor and a tribute to Meath ahead of the Leinster final.

About 100 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute, 500 years of video watched on Facebook every day, and more than 700 YouTube videos shared on Twitter each minute, ensuring there is always video trending on the web.

With so much video available for viewing, we take a look at some of the viral videos that have caught our eye this week.

North Korea wins group stage in World Cup

As you may have grasped from the headline, this video is telling fibs. This parody news report claims that North Korea was set to face Portugal in the World Cup final following a succession of victories over Japan, the US and China, and even features doctored footage of Kim Jong-un being cheered by crowds watching in Brazil after their semi-final win.

Really, the joke here is on the internet users who thought this was genuinely made to fool North Koreans, when they were the ones being fooled. For the record, the World Cup was broadcast in North Korea, albeit with a 24 to 35-hour delay, so those with a television would have been able to watch the real final between Germany and Argentina.

Uploaded: 11 July 2014

Robbie Keane scores with a long-range blast

Back to football reality now and, though Ireland failed to qualify for the World Cup, we still have Euro 2016 to look forward to – with any luck. A look at this wicked right foot from Robbie Keane in an LA Galaxy match against New England Revolution this past week might just awaken your optimism, too!

Uploaded: 16 July 2014

The Royal County

The World Cup is old news, though, and the Euros are two years away – but in mere hours the GAA Leinster SFC final will be decided in Croke Park as Meath take on Dublin. Whichever team wins today, us Dubs will have to concede defeat on the viral video front as this Lorde-inspired tribute to the Royal County is a clear winner.

Uploaded: 8 July 2014

A day in the life of Conor McGregor

We’re packed to the gills with sport-themed viral videos this week. Last night, Ireland’s Conor McGregor took on Brazilian featherweight Diego Brandao at UFC Fight Night 46 in the O2, Dublin. But, earlier in the week, YouTuber Seán Burke took on McGregor’s persona in a spoof documentary about the dapper MMA star’s pre-match preparations.

Uploaded: 16 July 2014

Epic rap battles of history: artists vs TMNT

In the season three finale of ‘Epic Rap Battles of History’, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles come up against their namesakes: revered Renaissance artists Leonardo da Vinci, Donatello, Michelangelo Buonarroti and Raphael – but are these cultural luminaries a match for the heroes in a half-shell?

Uploaded: 14 July 2014

Girl voice

When he’s not being an actor, musician and sound designer, Matt Bittner has another string to add to his bow: ‘girl voice’. As he explains himself, Bittner asked friend Ryan Clark not to post this video on YouTube, then went to bed and woke up to find he and the teen girl that lives inside his vocal cords had gone viral.

Uploaded: 9 July 2014

Joaquin Phoenix’s forehead (rotated)

Finally, we leave you with this little chuckle that will ensure you never look at actor Joaquin Phoenix the same way again. At least, not if he’s talking to you upside-down.

Uploaded: 17 July 2014

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Elaine Burke is the host of For Tech’s Sake, a co-production from Silicon Republic and The HeadStuff Podcast Network. She was previously the editor of Silicon Republic.

editorial@siliconrepublic.com