Paris, Henry and a Nation Dumped on its Arse
We recently had the anniversary of “Henry Day”. It passed me by a little, I’ll admit, because there’s plenty of stuff to be worrying about which is probably more important than a silly football match, let alone the anniversary of one.
But then that thought itself reminded me of something I wrote last year after I arrived home from Paris. … Read more...
The match is on!
According to the IRFU anyway… Best wrap up warm!
http://thescore.thejournal.ie/irfu-ireland-v-argentina-match-to-go-ahead-2010-11/
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5jwM9zOrfhQn6kE_iVFqHY3OKFJKg?docId=N0317941290943006226A… Read more...
Will the Irl/Arg match go ahead?
Lots of snow around Ireland today, even here in Dublin, and it’s well below freezing right now (-6 degrees according to the thermometer). I was up very, very early driving back from the airport and happed to be going past the Aviva stadium. Photos below of a few of the main approach routes for the crowd – Bath Avenue, Shelbourne Road and Lansdowne Road itself.… Read more...
The Ireland vs. Argentina Story
Did a short piece on the Ireland/Argentina rivalry for The Score (sports section of The Journal); published today and reprinted below.
The Ireland vs Argentina StoryPoliticians and Senior Public Servants pay exempt from four-year plan?
Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom,
Boom, Boom, Boom,
Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom,
Boom, Boom, Boom
(1917 – S. Baldrick)
The National Recovery Plan was announced today with the collected visages of Brian Cowen, Brian Lenihan and John Gormley on hand for its delivery.
Some of the main points are austerity measures such as reductions in social welfare, reductions in public sector pay for new entrants, increasing student “contributions”, introducing a domestic water charge, a reduction in the minimum wage and other similarly belt-tightening measures.… Read more...
Dear John, why now?
Twitter blew up on Monday morning with rumours that the Greens were pulling out of government. The initial reaction from many was a resigned, muted sigh. It could also, however, have been one of astonishment and even anger.
The previous evening had seen a momentous moment in Irish history, when Ireland’s Taoiseach officially went cap in hand to those with money and asked to be bailed out. … Read more...
Bad image management…
So we had the press conference tonight; B&B Enterprises announcing that we were officially asking for help.
Help for where, exactly? From the screenshot it would appear that we are already merely a province of Europe…
There was a Tricolour on stage, of course, but it was to the extreme left of the podium; its green, white and goldness was visible only to those who tuned in at the very start and end of proceedings. … Read more...
Should the IRFU pay me to go to the Samoa match?
So I’ve been offered a free ticket to the Samoa match tomorrow afternoon by three different people. And I politely refused them all, saying that I’d planned to watch it at home.
But then I got to thinking, if I won’t take a free ticket, would it actually be worth the IRFU’s while to pay me to attend the game?… Read more...
The Irishman’s Shirt
Irishman rises, puts on shirt and tie. He leaves home and travels to work. On arriving at work, Irishman immediately loosens tie and pops open his collar button. Hours later, the Irishman leaves for home, immediately removing shirt and tie upon arrival and casting them aside with contempt.… Read more...
The IRFU blazers didn’t take Economics…
After all the wondering it came down to one number: 35,517, worse than all but the most pessimistic of predictions. A number so meagre that it was left unannounced on the day. It is probably time, however, to be clear about one thing: the attendance problem at last Saturday’s rugby international between Ireland and the World Champion South Africans was not down to charging around €100 for a ticket, nor was it down to “the current economic environment”.… Read more...
