Category: CHRONICLE COLUMNS
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Leaving the Orchard with a sour taste in the mouth – 11/2/2024
When he had penned his last column for the Sunday Independent, Colm O’Rourke was asked what was his favourite production in the quarter century of musings therein. Without hesitation, the now Meath manager plumped for the piece woven having guided Simonstown Gaels to their first Meath SFC success in 2016. An understandable nomination. Firstly because,…
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Apart from frustrating fans, what does Omerta achieve? – 27/1/24
Over the years on the circuit going to matches, faces become familiar. Fellow fans, folk from other clubs around the county and, in my case, I will always count it as a privilege to be able to say, players, mentors and other members of the press corp. But then, there are those who were once…
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Praising little Jimmy or Julia isn’t in the job description – 20/1/24
A cursory scan down the list confirmed what was already known. One had become surplus to requirements at best, persona non grata at worst. Without as much as an explanation. The really annoying, disheartening thing was this road had been travelled before. But at least on the previous occasion it was down to a personality…
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Some people need to listen to Cyndi Lauper – 13/1/24
“When the working day is done, girls just want to have fun”. Those lyrics alone underline why Cyndi Lauper’s smash hit is such an anthem for female expression. And why, nearly 40 years after its release, there’s still a stampede towards the nearest dancefloor once the familiar rif strikes up. Mind you, judging by the…
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One dream coming true keeps another one alive – 6/1/24
My niece Ciara graduated from university shortly before Christmas. As well as obviously being a very proud day, it brought back many memories. For it was nearly 21 years to the day yours truly rolled up the long hall in the RDS decked out in the usual gown (which kept getting caught under my wheels)…
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An eventful first year with Team Chronicle – 30/12/23
I was in the carpark of the Blanchardstown Centre when taking the call from the Sports Editor of this local institution. A call which, it will be openly admitted, had been yearned for for as long as the one typing finger here knew its way around a keyboard. So it took the sum total of…
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Decency doesn’t have ulterior motives – 23/12/23
As sure as the seagulls followed the trawler, the permanently offended were off the blocks quicker than Usain Bolt with their conspiracy theories. No such thing as acknowledging that John P. McManus is just a genuinely generous person. Decency doesn’t have ulterior motives. The knockers and begrudgers need to do their research. JP McManus has…
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You know what they say about things that look like ducks… 16/12/23
In another Ireland, which thankfully was kicked to touch a long time ago, The Dubliners were a hot topic on pulpits near and far. To the extent that a Bishop in Cork declared it was “A Mortal sin to go and see these bearded, drunken, lude people” and that anyone who did was destined for…
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Ignoring their own selling point – 9/12/23
“The GAA – Where We All Belong”. Really? It would be ventured the remarkable folk around Enfield and Baconstown might politely decline to concur. Liam Gaffney, director of operations in the Wheelchair Shed (I put that name on it myself as I was involved in the design of the viewing platform with Brendan Dempsey and…
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Local apprehension likely following Kenny departure – 2/12/23
Viewed through a certain lens, anybody winning 13 caps at international level, garnering multiple Heineken Cup souvenirs and rearing offspring who also went on to perform on the biggest stage would have had what would constitute a glorious career in rugby. Yet I often wonder does Trevor Brennan ponder what might have been. Warren Gatland’s…