Years ago the showbands used to play every night of the week in a different part of the country. Sometimes, north, sometimes south. Sometimes in an Catholic area, sometimes Protestant. A friend who used to play in one, told me a possibly apocryphal story about one particular night, when the trombonist hadn’t been needed for the last song. Having been on the road for weeks – possibly months – he grabbed a kip. Then, as the night ended, another band …
Given the reports of leaked NI Executive briefing papers on the Maze stadium assessment noted previously, and the allegations by former Sports Minister Edwin Poots, it’s worth noting the comments of the permanent secretary of the Department of Finance, Leo O’Reilly, in front of the Assembly’s Finance Committe. From the BBC report Mr O’Reilly told assembly members “We can say to departments, as we have said, the information and the way it’s been presented looks unsatisfactory, there’s gaps, there’s inconsistencies, …
You’ll hardly pull £8k on this three year old with the familiar name, but it’s running in the last race at Epsom, has decent form, and is tipped by the Sporting Life. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty
As the Belfast Telegraph reports the 58th FIFA Congress meeting in Sydney has adopted a new Article 16 of the Regulations Governing the Application of the Statutes [pdf file] – see previous dispute over Article 15 noted here. From the Congress Agenda [pdf file] 16 Nationality entitling players to represent more than one Association 1 A player who, under the terms of art. 15, is eligible to represent more than one Association on account of his nationality, may play in …
The Belfast Telegraph has gotten hold of a leaked memo from the Finance Minister, the DUP’s Peter Robinson, which, contrary to the figure quoted in the official report, calculates the cost of a Maze stadium at £379m over the next seven years. The paper quotes the ministerial memo And the memo, sent to ministers by Mr Robinson, added: “The case is unusual in that both accounting officers have concluded that a value for money case has not been demonstrated.” And …
I’ve been on the hoof in London all day, so I’ve not had a lot of time to blog. At 6.30, I’ll be at the US Embassy for live webcast of a debate on the future of digital politics online. You can pick the feed up here at the FT site. In Northern Ireland, we’re only at the beginning of this paradigm. Political representatives have as yet to make any significant use of the abounding technologies available. Projects like Councillor.info …
Sticking with the subject of soccer, there seems to a misapprehension abroad regard the IFA passports issue. It’s hardly surprising since there has been a lot of self serviing posturing around the issue. Even newsman Máirtin O’Muilleoir seems to have the wrong end of the stick, when he states that “…of course, it (the IFA) also insists its ‘international’ players carry UK passports”. However this this is what the chief executive of the IFA, Howard Wells, said before Fifa changed …
This looks like a proverbial can of worms. The Irish News reports that a complex points system “scored on various criteria, including facilities, underage structures, financial planning, coaching aptitude and success on the field” has seen Donegal Celtic excluded from a reduced IFA Premier League next year, despite them effectively finishing five places ahead of Bangor, who gained promotion from the Intermediate league. Understandably, the manager is livid: “We’d 610 points last year and we’ve 543 points this year, so …
The final day of the Six Nations tournament sees all six teams playing again on the same day. Italy host Scotland in a battle to avoid the wooden spoon, kick-off 1pm. Ireland have only pride, and Eddie O’Sullivan’s continued employment, to play for against England at Twickenham, kick-off at 3pm. The only meaningful game starts in Cardiff at 5pm. Wales will need to stay within 20 points of a reshuffled France to take the trophy and can claim a Grand …
Money may have been “a great balm” in west Belfast but it, or rather the lack of it, looks like scuppering the proposed multi-sports stadium at the Maze prison site. We’ll have to wait to see how accurate the senior sources within the DUP quoted in the UTV report actually are, but for now it’s worth noting the comments Senior sources within Stormont`s largest party, the Democratic Unionists, have indicated that concerns about the financial feasibility of the project are …
Here’s some compensation from an earlier date at Croke Park… Co Down’s first All Ireland victory in 1960… Nice vintage photgraphy and a nice result… And this is what they did the year after… Though it is the 68 team I remember watching first… Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and …
Unbeaten Wales travel to Croke Park for a ‘grudge match’ against Ireland, kick off 1.15pm – RTÉ predicts “Ireland should win this match..” Later today, 3.15pm, the Calcutta Cup will be contested between England and Scotland at Murrayfield. Tomorrow sees France hoping to hold their nerve at the Stade de France against Italy, kick off 3pm. The BBC’s iPlayer will have the games you miss. 1st Half And first points to Ireland after heavy work by the forwards. 10 mins …
Looks like a must buy: the long awaited: the DVD documentary on the Cricket World cup in the West Indies. It has intrigue, tragedy unexpected success and ultimate failure. The DVD release date for “Breaking Boundaries – Ireland’s Extraordinary Cricket World Cup” is Friday March 7th, with a charity screening at Dublin’s Sugar Club in Lower Leeson Street on Monday 3rd March (and in the Gaiety in Sligo on the 5th). More history, courtesy of Nevin… Mick FealtyMick is founding …
WorldbyStorm suggests a possible link between the suspicious device found in Fairview Park today, which gardai have described as viable, and the sporting event at Croke Park. Gardaí have refused to link the device with today’s visit by a British monarch to Croke Park where the Princess Royal is to attend the Ireland v Scotland rugby international. Pete Baker
All 6 Six Nations take to the field[s] today. The Ospreys Wales are about to tackle Italy in Cardiff, 3.00pm kick-off. MbyM here. Ireland hope to improve, again, in Dublin against Scotland later, at 5pm – MbyM. And tonight England travel to Paris to face tournament favourites France, kick-off at 8pm – MbyM. The BBC’s iPlayer will have the games you miss. 1st game Wales deserved the win, but Italy didn’t deserve the scoreline. Wales 47 – 8 Italy. Half-time …
After last week’s eventful matches, Wales welcome Scotland to Cardiff and should probably expect home field advantage to win through, 2pm start – MinuteByMinute here Meanwhile.. Ireland travel to Paris to face France.. kick-off 4pm – MinuteByMinute here – I’m not making any predictions.. but it’ll be a real upset if Ireland can win that one. Italy host England tomorrow. The BBC’s iPlayer will have the matches here later. And, this time, let’s keep the discussion to the actual games …
The 25th anniversary of the kidnapping, and subsequent disappearing, of the champion racehorse Shergar in 1983 sees a number of articles about those events. Jockey Walter Swinburn reminisces here and, after a brief introduction of some the wilder conspiracy theories, there’s one of the more thorough accounts here. UTV’s Ivan Little also reports below – including on what “one veteran republican” had to say about the sanctioning, or otherwise, of “a spectacular own goal.” Pete Baker
If the opening games of the 6 Nations Tournament are anything to go by it’s going to be an eventful and close series. The BBC report correctly sums up Ireland’s win over Italy at Croke Park, “Ireland labour to opening win” – the ghosts of the World Cup have clearly not been fully exorcised. Ireland twelfth straight win over Italy, “perhaps the least satisfying”. The Guardian’s Kevin Mitchell gives an overview of the scene. Meanwhile The Ospreys Wales triumphed over …
Interesting piece from Spotlight on the problem of Northern Ireland losing talent to the FAI. Darron Gibson of Derry City apparently is only the third NI born player to make the A team of the Irish Republic, but a pro-active campaign on the part of the FAI suggests that pressures in the modern game may be forcing its hand someone. Interestingly, the FAI declined a camera interview. FIFA, who don’t come well out it at all, produced an internal circular …
The apparent goodwill generated [not in the comments zone – Ed] by yesterday’s attendance of the Northern Ireland Sports Minister, Edwin Poots, at Páirc Esler would seem to have evaporated with the reported comments here – the report also claims that he arrived late to the game as part of a protest. The North’s Sports Minister Edwin Poots is calling for an end to the playing of the Irish national anthem ahead of GAA games in the North. DUP politician …
