Sport

And Qatar win the 2022 World Cup…

| Readers 8

Astonishing victory. Spent some money Snazzy new stadia.. And a good idea: To ensure a lasting impression, Qatar 2022 have proposed that post-World Cup, many modular components of the stadiums no longer needed will be dismantled and shipped to other countries in order to promote football development. ..might need to work a bit on that world ranking..although it’s one way to qualify. Congratulations. DewiWelsh Nationalist. Rugby Fan. Know a bit about History and Railways…

S4C – The only place to watch the Rugby

| Readers 19

Astonishing – Murray v Nadal? THE BBC was forced to apologise yesterday after it was heavily criticised for not showing the opening seven minutes of Saturday’s match between Wales and the All Blacks. The broadcaster’s decision to stick with Andy Murray’s tennis match against Rafael Nadal on BBC2 meant many fans did not get to see Stephen Jones’ kick which took Wales into the lead in the first minute. The decision was condemned by politicians and Wales-based BBC staff are …

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The All Blacks can’t play in the snow..

| Readers 4

I hope… The New Zealand Herald think it’s a done deal… Graham Henry wants to smash Wales -that’s not nice.. Stringer is back – Argentina ain’t a rollover… DewiWelsh Nationalist. Rugby Fan. Know a bit about History and Railways…

Glentoran – goal of the year….

| Readers 15

Matty Burrows’ wonder goal against Portadown has been shortlisted for the Ballon d’Or-Puskas award. No wonder – it’s astonishing. ……and this one wasn’t bad… DewiWelsh Nationalist. Rugby Fan. Know a bit about History and Railways…

Autumn Internationals

| Readers 6

Has anyone else a bad feeling about these?

Here’s the fixtures:

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GAA: the Nation’s desire to live her own life, to govern her own affairs.

| Readers 123

A question in the Assembly from Michelle McIlveen to Nelson McCausland suggested that Unionists are effectively barred from joining the GAA. While I’m delighted another DUP member has taken the time to read the GAA Official Guide, something many members have never done, I’m surprised they seem surprised to find an Irish cultural and sporting organisation doesn’t have a Unionist ethos. Both McIlveen and McCausland call for the GAA to change its rules. For those of us with experience of …

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All Ireland football? No. Our wee Province.

| Readers 10

Lets get parochial. It seems only a few weeks ago Cork took Sam back to the Rebel County – maybe because it was just a few weeks ago? However, from now on down Down fans (mourning Mournemen?) and the rest of us get to forget the defeats and look forward to next year. Provincial football draws were made tonight! As Slugger is clearly an Ulster blog, I’ll only note the fixtures for the Anglo-Celt cup: Preliminary: Donegal v Antrim 1st …

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Welsh Language in the Heartland

| Readers 95

There is increasing evidence of the decline of the Welsh language as a lingua franca of areas traditionally thought of as Welsh speaking, coupled with a marked increase in the use of the language in more Anglicised areas. It’s a fairly easy phenomena to understand – as the % speakers fall below 75 to 70%  it is normal for the languages of institutions such as the WI, Cricket Clubs, Young Farmers etc etc to change their primary language.

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That’s the end of that

| Readers 11

Back in July Chris noted the CAS dismissal of the IFA case over Daniel Kearns representing the Republic. At that point only a brief press release was available. As this finally ends any doubts on player eligibility and for completeness – here, at last, is the full CAS judgement and the arguments presented. Blank

Stand Up for the Ulsterman

| Readers 16

Graeme McDowell keeps his nerve….and here’s what he has to say. Super stuff. DewiWelsh Nationalist. Rugby Fan. Know a bit about History and Railways…

Croeso i Montgomerieshire…

| Readers 7

Things hotting up nicely for the weekend. Catherine and Katherine introduced golfers, wives and 13,000 others to Welsh song at a gala last night. Tiger has been here before – not sure he enjoyed it much though… – Nice quote from his caddie for that week in 1995, when beset by food poisoning he tried to help him out – “In fairness to Woods, Griffiths reveals he saw the illness close up. “He was pretty rough and I gave him a …

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IFA: Court case for Irish, ‘understanding’ for English

| Readers 8

One thing Slugger loves is a blog on football allegiances, so here you go… Today English teenager Adam Barton withdrew from the northern ireland football squad facing Italy and the Faroe Islands in the European qualifiers. Yesterday the north’s manager had declared: If players don’t want to represent Northern Ireland, it doesn’t matter how good or how bad they are, that’s up to them and good luck to them. It’s not a problem for Northern Ireland. “I focus on the …

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In praise of the county of Down…

| Readers 10

Today is All Ireland final day, and Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh’s last post. He did his first big GAA match (a Railway Cup final between Munster and Leinster) in 1949 at the age of 19, as he filled the shoes of the late Mícheál Ó hEithir… It also the day Down get to test out their special invulnerability suits (5 finals, 5 wins). I doubt any of them will be banking on getting a helping hand from history today, but without …

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Ulster the “Man City” of the Magners…

| Readers 6

Hmm – Mr Humphreys -“We believe we’ve recruited very well this year and I believe this is the best Ulster squad that’s been assembled.” – that’s confidence for you.

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Can’t keep water from leaking into the news – this time it’s a late pool

| Readers 87
Artist's impression of interior of Bangor's planned Olympic-sized swimming pool

At long last, construction is due to start on the beleaguered plan to build an Olympic sized swimming pool in Bangor, providing a training facility the right length for talented and ambitious local swimmers. News outlets this morning were awash with details that Farrans had won the £38m contract, which includes £15m from the water-themed Executive. The BBC report that “construction on the new facility is due to begin before the end of August. It is expected to open by …

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GAA back door route is not fair to Tyrone (and Kerry)…

| Readers 25

Mickey Harte’s just been on Morning Ireland bemoaning the fact that Tyrone and Kerry are now out of the All Ireland championship, and suggesting it’s not fair that as Ulster Champions Tyrone barely got to enjoy their win, when they were dropped out from winning the bigger prize. Yet, Sean Moran writing in the Irish Times notes that the almost ten year old ‘back door route’, far from handicapping the stronger teams has exaggerated their dominance: …the purpose of the …

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Photograph of the day – Floral Tribute

| Readers 5

The pedant in me thinks that the plastic tip should have been taken off the pool cue. Then again it seems apt somehow. Moochin PhotomanPhotographer and visual artist based in Belfast. I have facilitated community based workshops with groups as diverse as visually impaired individuals in Dungannn, Travellers across Northern Ireland, Young Offenders and many community groups across Belfast. My work has exhibited extensively here in Northern Ireland in group and individual shows and has been shown in North America …

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2010 Tour de France’s defining moment

| Readers 8

Obviously different people have different ideas about what a “decent spectator sport looks like…” But if, like me, you’ve been following this year’s Tour de France you’ll no doubt agree with Steve Wilson’s praise for ITV4’s excellent coverage. It’s been eventful too, and not just for being seven-times Tour winner Lance Armstrong’s final hurrah.  From the prologue in Rotterdam across the cobblestones of Belgium and northern France, and over the punishing peaks of the Pyrénées this year’s course has seen plenty of action. If all goes to …

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