Tag: Fine Gael

  • Why would you do it?

    Why would you do it?

    More than a quarter century ago, I tentatively rolled my wheels into organised politics for the first time. Primarily because the Local and European elections of 1999 were literally one month after my 18th birthday and thus my first opportunity to vote. Four years before that, the late John Bruton took over as Taoiseach –…

  • Doing it in such a way that people cannot but notice

    Doing it in such a way that people cannot but notice

    In honour of International Womens Day, we here and BTS head office look at some of those who have made sporting strides on the local, national and international stage… NINA CARBERRY (WALSH) MEP: The only possible place this celebratory journey could  begin. Enshrined her name in Irish sporting history when becoming the first lady rider…

  • Caffeine, a calculator, a cart load of nostalgia and a catastrophic lack of sleep

    Caffeine, a calculator, a cart load of nostalgia and a catastrophic lack of sleep

    That, ladies and gents, is an armchair view of and a survival kit for the rigors of an Irish General Election. He says as he begins keyboarding this piece at 2:28am on a Monday night/Tuesday morning. All a guilty pleasure. In one of life’s great contradictions, you’d have thought the introduction of E-Voting machines would’ve…

  • Last vestiges of decency lost in pit of squaller

    Last vestiges of decency lost in pit of squaller

    There are certain things in life where, generally speaking, there’s no allowance for middle ground. The most obvious example of that being party politics. Largely speaking, you were either Fianna Fail or Fine Gael and there were very clear lines in the sand pertaining to same and they weren’t for crossing. Though in truth there…

  • Humble Messiah O’Mahony’s  greatness lay in his quiet approach

    Humble Messiah O’Mahony’s  greatness lay in his quiet approach

    Joe Brolly tells a story about  the late former Derry manager Eamonn Coleman pulling a newspaper cutting out of his back pocket minutes before the team were due to take the field for a crunch Ulster SFC encounter. The cutting was an ‘article’ in which a player – possibly Tony Scullion but I can’t swear…

  • Dynasties re-ignited, some others broken and bullsh** bubbles burst

    Dynasties re-ignited, some others broken and bullsh** bubbles burst

    Politics can be a dangerous business.  There was a time the threat only came from nosey curiosity, jealousy and political point scoring. Now, though, there is a clear and present danger to not only politicians themselves, but their spouses, families and homes. Already this year we have seen bomb scares at the home of Justice…

  • The seismic Irish political development of the current era

    The seismic Irish political development of the current era

    There are occurrences in world history which – no matter how long may have passed since them – (a) you will never forget where you were when they happened and (b) will remain part of public discourse long after they actually happen. Now, part a of the above may not apply in this case, but…

  • John Bruton

    John Bruton

    I have absolutely no doubt some eyes will pop out of heads – certainly locally and perhaps further afield – that what appears hereafter was produced by the occupant of this seat. Now read on… That’s OK. However, there could never be a better or more apt illustration of the foibles of judging a book…

  • This Lad owes his spot in the Press Box to AFR

    This Lad owes his spot in the Press Box to AFR

    This corner has often opined that an idle mind is a dangerous thing. Speaking wholly from personal experience, it can be a grave threat to one’s mental stability. On that score, An Fear Rua never had any such worries. Now read on… Liam Cahill slipped quietly out of the world last week. From what I…

  • Fields of Gold – Previously posted in 2006

    Fields of Gold – Previously posted in 2006

    FOGRA: The below was the first non-GAA related piece I ever sent to the late Liam Cahill for his much loved and sadly missed website http://www.anfearrua.com Never for a minute thinking he would print it. But he did, and not only did it open up a whole new avenue of writing for me, it stands as a…