Aidan O’Brien recently sent out his 4,000th winner. Yes, that figure includes both Flat and National Hunt. We know, too, that he has seemingly endless resources of the Coolmore ‘syndicate’ backing, no need to labour on the point. Simply because, no matter how impeccably bred a steed may be, their pedigree will count for damn… Read More Not all change is good
Over the years, I’ve been very fortunate to meet a host of top sports stars, and befriend quite a few of them. Regular ingesters of content from this keyboard will know the list well. Or some of them. Colm O’Rourke, Graham Geragthy, Noel Meade, Jim Bolger, Trevor Brennan, Sean O’Brien, Peter O’Mahony and Michael Carruth.… Read More Each sport must compete for market share
What old style life hacks can you remember from when you were growing up? For example, I know there was a method of mending a puncture on a bike (or wheelchair!) involving washing up liquid. The same substance was also deployed to counteract a disease in rose bushes which I think was called blackspot. Vinegar… Read More The engine can only be fixed with the proper tools
Con Houlihan, after one of the epic Dublin/Kerry encounters of the 1970s, began his summation of the event thus: “House private, no flowers please’. Now read on… The strange opening was a nod to Con’s “Friend Girl” Harriet Duffin who was a Dub. On the said occasion, his would be the happy half of their… Read More There are none so blind as those who don’t want to see
In what I think was 2002, the notion landed to get da tickets for the Fairyhouse Easter Festival as a birthday present. Apart from the fact that the day we went was the coldest day I was ever at a sporting event anywhere, the other abiding memory is if Gordon Elliot taking a mount in… Read More The star pupil has taken over career guidance
In what I think was 2002, the notion landed to get da tickets for the Fairyhouse Easter Festival as a birthday present. Apart from the fact that the day we went was the coldest day I was ever at a sporting event anywhere, the other abiding memory is if Gordon Elliot taking a mount in… Read More The star pupil has taken over career guidance
“Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country”.The utterance of the above quote by John F. Kennedy is one of those occurrences in world history that,not only will you instantly recognise it,those who were around at the time will probably be able to tell you where… Read More J. F. K’s famous words localised
When St Peter’s College, Dunboyne opened in 1994, I was involved in the formation of the first Gaelic football teams to represent the school. In the first matches the school ever played, both lads and ladies teams took to the field decked out in red t-shirts procured hastily from Dunnes Stores. By the time both… Read More There’s only one form of protest they understand
The tragic and untimely passing of young Jack De Bromhead last autumn shook the nation and well beyond to the core. No matter who you are, or whether you have any knowledge of or interest in racing, the thought of a kid dying – in any circumstances but especially doing something he knew and loved… Read More It’s their world, we just live in it
Did you ever watch somebody, sporting or otherwise, and just get an inkling straight away they were destined for stardom? Off the top of my head I could name a plethora, quite a few of them close to home. Graham Geraghty and Emma Duggan are two that jump off the page. On a larger scale,… Read More Watching, admiring, hoping