Sport

Irish rugby “pampered pros” boycott media

Michael Robinson on June 15, 2006, 1:52 pm

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The Irish rugby team currently touring New Zealand has been creating more news off the pitch than on after they refused to speak to Irish Independent journalist David Kelly (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/author/story.cfm?a_id=23&ObjectID=10386455) after his [url=http://www.unison.ie/sportsdesk/stories.php3?ca=15&si=1633325]”Harsh Reality” article critiquing the Irish team performance[/url] after its [url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/5061412.stm] 34-23 loss to New Zealand[/url]. The rest of the accompanying Irish journalists walked out in solidarity with Kelly. The media and team [url=http://www.unison.ie/sportsdesk/stories.php3?ca=15&si=1633683]now appear to be back on speaking terms[/url] however as you would expect, the hacks …

Ach Pat, surely not Keane…

Mick Fealty on June 14, 2006, 3:15 pm

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Reader Conor points us in the direction of a press release from Pat Rabbitte, in which he states that “Roy Keane was probably the greatest footballer Ireland has ever produced”. Now, he has given himself an out with the use of the word ‘probably’. But my suspicion is that that accolade should more properly reside with another former Manchester United player from north of the border. Unless Pat is just taking partition to its ultimate conclusion. 😉 What do you …

Wearing England in Dublin…

Mick Fealty on June 10, 2006, 4:58 pm

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Conor Feehan took his national pride in hand, donned an England shirt and walked the streets of Dublin and chanced his arm. But in cosmopolitan Dublin, it seems few people noticed. 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

What a call up…

Mick Fealty on June 10, 2006, 1:20 am

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Looks like Ed Joyce is going to get his call up for England. Only problem is it’s against Ireland at Stormont next week. Thanks to Pid [sic] for the heads up! 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

Northern Ireland gets a groupp of its own…

Mick Fealty on June 9, 2006, 10:34 pm

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Following the Belfast Telegraph’s World Cup county for country story, one of our occasional readers, wondered why we hadn’t spotted the following nuance:From ‘Steve’ I didn’t see a recommendation for your audience to watch Group C (presumably for Confrontation). In it we have: Ivory Coast: Their Gold White and Green tricolour is just like the Irish but backward – a bit like the SDLP. Serbia & Montenegro: These guys have decided the only way forward is through partition – as …

Let your county adopt a country…

Mick Fealty on June 8, 2006, 10:59 pm

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Time to lighten up guys. None of us are happy not to be there in Germany, but then as the Belfast Telegraph has already spotted, there are 32 countries in the race. If you can’t decide who you’re for let the Tele take the strain as they match your county with a World Cup country. I predict a riot in Dublin when they find out they are supporting England. But then again where better than the centre of the original …

Flag problems of another sort…

Mick Fealty on June 8, 2006, 10:31 pm

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North Wales Chief Constable Clive Wolfendale has said that ‘excessive flag waving is unnecessary‘. He added: “There’s no doubt about it that this can be the precursor to behaviour which is much worse than flag waving – it’s violence, it’s racism, it’s hooliganism of the very worse kind.” Shorts have banned England World Cup Wall Charts. Tony Blair will fly the English flag in Downing Street, but Welsh (ie Northern Ireland) and Scottish Secretarys will not be expected to follow …

World Cup Betting Blog…

Mick Fealty on June 8, 2006, 5:37 pm

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This is promising. The ATN’s Punter’s Guide (aka Gerard Mulhern) has set up his own blog for the World Cup. Now where’s that Betfair account of mine… 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

Ulster’s Celtic League title

Michael Robinson on June 5, 2006, 1:36 pm

| Readers 33

Some belated recognition for the [url=http://www.ulsterrugby.com]Ulster rugby[/url] team that won the [url=http://www.celticleague.com]Celtic League[/url] on Friday 26 May with a nail biting 17-19 victory against the Ospreys in Swansea. The competition came down to a two horse race between Ulster and fellow Irish province Leinster, with Ulster needing a win to finish on top. The title was heading for Leinster after the Ospreys took the lead with 5 minutes of normal time left. However three minutes later, the Ulster out half …

1982: that was the year that was…

Mick Fealty on June 4, 2006, 6:26 pm

| Readers 6

After the Republic’s quiet exit from the World Cup last October with a spirited but ill fated fight against the French and a lack lustre draw against the Swiss, there is no Irish interest in the World Cup finals. No doubt for some, England is the natural receptacle for our loyalties, and anyone but… for others of us. But for others still the only true compensation will be in looking back to past glories, particularly to a time when the …

Quote of the weekend..

Pete Baker on June 3, 2006, 10:10 pm

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At least.. Following England’s World Cup warm-up match against Jamaica at Old Trafford [6 – 0 btw – Ed].. Belfast-born ITV News presenter Andrea Catherwood on the 5.45pm UK-wide news programme, speaking to a reporter outside the ground, on the quality of the opposition – “Jamaica.. well, they’re not Northern Ireland, are they?” heh heh Pete Baker

Welcome to the Maze!!

Mick Fealty on May 31, 2006, 4:50 pm

| Readers 5

Owen Bowcott has the details of the plans for the redevelopment of the Maze (aka Long Kesh) Prison site announced by David Hanson yesterday: The 360-acre development, near Lisburn, Co Antrim, is scheduled to include a 42,000-seat sports stadium, a multi-screen cinema, an upmarket hotel, restaurants, an indoor equestrian centre, an “international centre for conflict transformation” and, possibly, an ice rink. But the final decision to go for what in effect will be a Lisburn based plan over a rival …

O’Flanigan: Ireland’s last Corinthian?

Mick Fealty on May 30, 2006, 1:25 am

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Kevin O’Flanigan has died aged 86. According to the Sunday Times he, “…won both rugby and soccer caps for Ireland. He also played soccer for Arsenal and was a great track-and-field athlete, holding the national 60-yard, 100-yard and long jump titles in the late 1930s”. He also played for Distillery, and according to one caller on tonight’s Sportscall, several times, thwarted Belfast Celtic at crucial moments.Sean Diffley in today’s Irish Independent with a classic snippet: There is a famous bit …

Mixed weekend for Irish rugby…

Mick Fealty on May 23, 2006, 2:17 pm

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It began on Friday, when Ulster try as they might could not quite grasp the Celtic league title, and instead where run to a 12 – 12 standstill. Contrast that with the pure bliss of Munster’s first European Cup bone crunching win in Cardiff on Saturday (“There was so much noise in the stadium we had a problem with communication” – Biarritz captain Thomas Lievremont). And spare a thought for the London Irish (which contains few actual Irish players since …

New York’s GAA dilemma…

Mick Fealty on May 23, 2006, 1:46 pm

| Readers 54

Interesting times for New York’s successful hurlers. So successfull that they’ve made it to the Ulster final in Belfast on 4th June. Except, the New York board are requesting a postponement and change of venue since up to half the playing panel, were they to travel outside the US, would possibly not be allowed back in again. Several Irish Americans are already charged with encouraging New York Gaelic football player, Shane Lawlor, aka Shane Russell, to come into the US …

The Best of Best

Mick Fealty on May 5, 2006, 2:27 pm

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George Best, at his Best! 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

Gaelic Football: got that?

Mick Fealty on May 4, 2006, 5:28 pm

| Readers 6

This is better obviously if you speak/understand Dutch. But this is how Dutch TV viewers were introduced to the delights of Gaelic Football! A fine body of men, playing for the Maastricht Gaels!! 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

Ireland cricketers shake em up…

Mick Fealty on May 1, 2006, 10:38 pm

| Readers 1

After a disappointing start in Ireland’s first ever C&G Trophy, they beat Gloucester yesterday and took Glamorgan right down to the wire, losing in the end by a mere 15 runs in what must have been a solid middle order performance. Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi appears to be at the centre of Ireland’s new level of cricket. Check the rest of fixtures, and give them some moral support if they are playing near you!! Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. …

Beating Sectarianism requires greater openess

Mick Fealty on April 23, 2006, 4:13 pm

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Absorbing piece in the Sunday Herald today. It’s focus is the sectarianism in Scottish football, and how it really does cut two ways – as one who has reluctantly gone into the Celtic end of Easter Raod wearing a vaguely blue scarf can attest. But Scottish Presbyterian Harry Reid continues a theme we’ve seen here on Slugger (and here), when he argues that papering over the cracks is not likely to be effective. Coming to understand the scope, beauty and …

Ireland’s forwards versus the backs

Mick Fealty on April 23, 2006, 3:09 pm

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Great match this afternoon. It’s on RTE radio and Television and Sky Sports Three. It’s being pitched as the working class Munstermen versus the prawn sandwich eating south siders. 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