Category: CURRENT AFFAIRS
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Pointless friendlies and dirty point scoring
Only days ago in this space, mention was afforded to the fact that, at the time of typing, there’s still one game of the club soccer season still to be played – the Champions League Final – yet other clubs like Barcelona and Manchester United are already engaging in prep work for next term with…
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Healy-Rae cute hoor-ism cods nobody but themselves
Earlier this week in the Irish Independent, Fionnan Sheehan – who I would have always counted as ridiculously anti Fianna Fail (at best) recounted a tale which Bertie Ahern told me himself at a wedding many moons ago now. It related to a time when the late, great Jackie Healy-Rae was supporting an FF led…
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Greek Farmers take to the roads
My brother is currently living in Greece and recently sent me the above footage of Greek farmers blockading traffic in protest at the same economic realities which have forced their Irish counterparts and hauliers to engage in similar protest activities. As an aside, seeing all the old Deutz DX Series tractors stirred an emotional volcano…
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Come on Ireland – must do better
If you were to stick to the rudiments of teams and individuals representing the nation in major sporting events, with the exceptions of Katie Taylor, Kellie Harrington, Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry and the horse racing set, the above headline remains wholly applicable. Admittedly, the idea of sports persons being ‘role models’ has always been hogwash…
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Change.Org Petition
https://c.org/984yfhhBk6 A most unusual post for me here but one which strikes too much of a chord with me as I’m sure it will with anybody who has a heart. Nobody should have to go through what the family and loved ones of young Grace Lynch have done, are and will do forever more. I…
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Political satire hits the jackpot
Political satirist and comedian Oliver Callan openly admitted during the week that he would have to put both his writing and thinking caps on following Paschal Donohue’s defection to an even bigger, better paid talking shop in Washington. Lord Dimples of Inchicore has long been a central tenet of the Monaghan performer and broadcaster’s long…
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A picture paints a thousand words but may need more to repair
I’m a sucker for pomp and ceremony. Whether it be something like a Royal wedding or funeral over the water – or the trials and tribulations of Andy MW – or a Presidential Inauguration here or in the States. Add being a bit of a political junkie to that mix and Catherine Connolly receiving her…
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Sometimes jest is too close to the bone
On the evening of the day on which I made my Confirmation, April 16th 1994, the late Dermot Morgan was finishing a run of shows at the Olympia Theatre in Dublin. For those of you with less than three decades mileage on this here planet, yes Dermot did exist before Father Ted. Firstly ironically as…
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Democracy might be desirable but it’s not always right
At the outset here, let it be made abundantly clear – I am not anti development. That could hardly be the case when – admittedly tediously slowly – the manner in which disabled access to places has improved tenfold over the last couple of decades. Is it perfect? Not by a long shot – Croke…
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Gavin realises he’s too much the gentleman for dirty wars
MICHEAL MARTIN MAY RECITE THE COLLINS LINE The individual who many describe as the Father Of Our Nation, Michael Collins, famously or infamously, depending on what way you look at it, proclaimed “I may have just signed my own death warrant there” upon agreement of the Treaty which led to the construction of Ireland as…