tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63256362847223361372024-03-05T01:59:22.473-08:00The Red QuarterBilingual Blog for the times we live in.The Red Quarter. Bilingual blog for the times we live in.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13257704362219302853noreply@blogger.comBlogger168125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325636284722336137.post-70893497633858251252013-09-20T12:35:00.001-07:002013-09-20T23:16:26.146-07:00Under age football still the beautiful game<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeOxa0-FXmLEoG_wTdbfn9VJGEj-Wm-ZxdG_zbO7ycoNur2n8rckvCZmhyHZB8crgV1dyIqfsuQULRnRqn123A8bvP0jsmPtzNmfPbMeh3g0ZAr1gtEuLNMoJVDZ1pl_fkX9HEJqXLTWU/s640/blogger-image-1748446737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeOxa0-FXmLEoG_wTdbfn9VJGEj-Wm-ZxdG_zbO7ycoNur2n8rckvCZmhyHZB8crgV1dyIqfsuQULRnRqn123A8bvP0jsmPtzNmfPbMeh3g0ZAr1gtEuLNMoJVDZ1pl_fkX9HEJqXLTWU/s640/blogger-image-1748446737.jpg"></a></div>This evening I was in Páirc Uí Chíosóig in Mullingar where St. Lomans took on The Downs in the Westmeath U-14 county final. My nephew, Conán Ó hEaghra lined out at full forward but moved out to centre forward for the second half. He notched up 1-3 in an impressive display on a night when Lomans took the spoils. <div><br></div><div>The match was a real cracker. Incredible honesty and effort from both teams who were coached really well. The football was free flowing & the passion was hugely evident but not a bad slap was pulled in the whole of the contest.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimsm1Z4HapsQiAW-yEC-p4nC6VLAWjjEzRVLRbWoU-tt4MyGR6s_ySTYA_oV6SjI2i0S2AhAZNrnrEztD5Y5g81rP3KqwLwwKYQxx2K-AAPTUxWzemKje7VGwNBjmAPORc1zJpO9jgZLQ/s640/blogger-image--1086791058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimsm1Z4HapsQiAW-yEC-p4nC6VLAWjjEzRVLRbWoU-tt4MyGR6s_ySTYA_oV6SjI2i0S2AhAZNrnrEztD5Y5g81rP3KqwLwwKYQxx2K-AAPTUxWzemKje7VGwNBjmAPORc1zJpO9jgZLQ/s640/blogger-image--1086791058.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>These boys played the game as it should be, going toe-to-toe for the sixty minutes. In an era when tactics and negative tactics at that are the rule of thumb at more senior grades, the template on show this evening is hopefully the norm in the other 31 counties amongst this age group. Credit must be given to all involved with Lomans & The Downs for the way both teams carried themselves. Gracious in defeat & victory were both sets of boys & it was great to see.</div><div><br></div><div>Football gets bad press sometimes and has become the ugly duckling to some extent. Joe Brolly's outburst this year was more pent up frustration at the catalogue of negativity more than the single Seán Cavanagh incident highlighted. </div><div><br></div><div>Dublin & Kerry illustrated how the purest's choice can still be a game of tactical astuteness and still enthral. One hopes that the football played tonight will once again become en vogue in senior inter county fare. We might have to wait for this generation, but if so, take it from me it'll be worth the wait.</div><div><br></div><div>St. Lomans 5-9</div><div>The Downs 4-7</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Gb53qViT3x6KZbM-dLsaicY0Hl-kMOGLu65r9868j4mqOq1fU2B4ofAaBvERMBk5h_ZXQskvc4W2FEV5QKXvEXGBu2jTwjetOGMb0ztb_IPDwmEsMBv_XwHY7YXPOFi0KqF7AwFmISU/s640/blogger-image--1810882201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Gb53qViT3x6KZbM-dLsaicY0Hl-kMOGLu65r9868j4mqOq1fU2B4ofAaBvERMBk5h_ZXQskvc4W2FEV5QKXvEXGBu2jTwjetOGMb0ztb_IPDwmEsMBv_XwHY7YXPOFi0KqF7AwFmISU/s640/blogger-image--1810882201.jpg"></a></div><br></div>The Red Quarter. Bilingual blog for the times we live in.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13257704362219302853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325636284722336137.post-7189717043041266092013-09-19T14:51:00.001-07:002013-09-19T14:51:11.215-07:00My son.There he is, all 11 pounds of him. All cosy & sleepy if not fully asleep. All cuddly and soft agus Gael do smior at heart. Ruadhán has been the best thing that has ever happened to Deborah and I collectively and individually. Parenting is tough and I only now appreciate fully how much my own parents did for the six of us, but it is worth it all. <br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGtBGvhYSxk6Bjp54Q9SYgHxwwSGu7-1BDN7g5seMMsw-D1beoPENzwoTl_GfdZFdreHgew7t7WtLMAoJaLz0pMGT8_RhbrKPcZA3iG6oko35ms_L2IhuXICEgUvVnfJmPtDBA29m1LTs/s640/blogger-image--231527146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGtBGvhYSxk6Bjp54Q9SYgHxwwSGu7-1BDN7g5seMMsw-D1beoPENzwoTl_GfdZFdreHgew7t7WtLMAoJaLz0pMGT8_RhbrKPcZA3iG6oko35ms_L2IhuXICEgUvVnfJmPtDBA29m1LTs/s640/blogger-image--231527146.jpg"></a></div>The Red Quarter. Bilingual blog for the times we live in.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13257704362219302853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325636284722336137.post-62921487034129225302013-09-19T09:00:00.002-07:002013-09-19T09:05:33.802-07:00County Ireland, Europe. How much do we know about the EU?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It is a simple question but a very valid one. As we exit the bailout program and the country drags itself out of recession we are now more than ever, closer (dependent) on Brussels and Berlin than Boston or Dublin. So many of the decisions that our politicians make nowadays come about usually from what happens in the EU.<br />
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They may argue that this is not the case but when you look at facts, it is a hard one to argue against. Our politicians will fight our corner and do their best but we are a small island and it is a hard fight to win. And now aprés European Parliament elections in 2014, we will be another MEP down which means one less person to speak on our behalf.<br />
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So, what do we know about Europe as a people and more importantly, why don't we care?<br />
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Check these facts out courtesy of <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/ireland/key-eu-policy-areas/agriculture/index_en.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/ireland</a><br />
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Agri-facts</h3>
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<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The land area of Ireland is 6.9 million hectares and about 4.2 million hectares of that is used for agriculture - about 64% of total land area. A total of 43% of land throughout the EU is used for agriculture according to Eurostat with some countries like Finland and Sweden using less than 10%.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Approximately 80% (3.36 million ha) of agricultural land is devoted to grass (silage, hay and pasture), 11% (0.46 million ha) is in rough grazing and the remaining 9% (0.38 million ha) is allocated to crop production.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The contribution of primary agriculture to the Irish economy in 2010, at 2.5% of GDP, was around twice that of the EU average.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">In 2011 Ireland exported more than 90% of its net beef output, making it the largest beef exporter in the EU and fourth largest in the world.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">According to livestock surveys there were 6.5 million cattle, 4.8 million sheep and 1.56 million pigs in Ireland in 2011.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Farming remains a major industry in Ireland with around 139,800 family farms averaging 32.7 hectares per holding dotted around the country, according to the Agricultural census of 2010.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Participation in the CAP means that as a net exporter Ireland can benefit significantly from being able to trade agricultural commodities on EU markets, which generally provide better prices than world markets.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Irish agriculture has benefited greatly from EU payments. Over the past two decades Ireland has received over €30 billion in EU net receipts, around 70 per cent of which were directly related to agriculture.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">2012 marks the 50th anniversary of the Common Agricultural Policy. A <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/50-years-of-cap/history/index_en.htm" style="color: black;" title="special website">special website</a> has been set up to mark the occasion. The website includes information on events taking place across the EU to mark the anniversary.</li>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, DejaVu Sans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 14px;">The same is true of the common fisheries policy;</span></span></div>
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<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Exports of Irish seafood during 2011 amounted to €415 million, a 12% increase on the previous year.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The main European Irish seafood markets are France, Spain, UK, Germany and Italy, with the EU accounting for 75% of exports</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The number of fishing vessels in the 27 EU Member States amounted to 83,014 in 2011. That’s 23,715 fewer than in 1995 but the fleet still needs to be further reduced. Ireland has 2,176 fishing vessels, which is 2.6% of the EU fishing fleet.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The overall value of the output of the EU processing industry amounts to around €20 billion. This sector consists of nearly 3,700 companies employing around 120,000 people throughout the 27 Member States.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The output of the Irish fish processing industry is over €383 million. There are 65 processing companies in Ireland employing 1,763 people.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The EU fishing industry is the fourth largest in the world, providing over six million tonnes of fish every year and jobs for more than 350,000 people.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Irish seafood industry generates an estimated 11,600 jobs, supporting the economic viability of many rural and coastal communities.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The EU celebrates <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/maritimeday/index_en.htm" style="color: black;" title="European Maritime Day">European Maritime Day</a> on May 20 every year to highlight the importance of our seas and oceans. </li>
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The Red Quarter. Bilingual blog for the times we live in.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13257704362219302853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325636284722336137.post-88649854781623694482013-09-17T15:04:00.001-07:002013-09-17T15:04:11.641-07:00Florence is just too comfy!<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-mCYNcNbcemsmzVlN4AT6y-baPPvbCZLMXcn8eHilj5hMMqJIWTakK3UY-oEy-pb9vb0eWv8KGPdOv_i6-KOt3tVERz7dztOC9rZxoJIJEMnwKE_rqNgtM5sVg0bC6dBfNo7vc2KUz5s/s640/blogger-image--911009243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-mCYNcNbcemsmzVlN4AT6y-baPPvbCZLMXcn8eHilj5hMMqJIWTakK3UY-oEy-pb9vb0eWv8KGPdOv_i6-KOt3tVERz7dztOC9rZxoJIJEMnwKE_rqNgtM5sVg0bC6dBfNo7vc2KUz5s/s640/blogger-image--911009243.jpg"></a></div>The Red Quarter. Bilingual blog for the times we live in.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13257704362219302853noreply@blogger.com0Tombrack (null)52.601609 -6.549688tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325636284722336137.post-40085780922579208742013-09-17T04:32:00.001-07:002013-09-17T04:46:11.755-07:00Single Market Month 23 September until 23 October 2013<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Single Market Month runs from 23 September to 23 October 2013 and is an initiative from the European Parliament, the European Commission and other European institution<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">.</span><span style="line-height: 16px;"> But what benefit will it be to us the ordinary citizens I hear you ask. That is a fair question and one that I'm sure would be asked all over Europe. Essentially, the Single Market Month will bring EU citizens and EU policy makers together online the progress made so far, the challenges that remain also ideas for the future.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In concrete terms, EU citizens are invited to:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Submit ideas on this website which can then be shared, commented and voted on</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Take part in thematic online chats with policy-makers and experts.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Single Market Month is divided into four thematic weeks (Jobs, Social rights, Banks and E-commerce), the Month will close with a Euronews TV debate at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on the 23<span style="line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">rd</span> of October. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You can have a look <a href="http://www.yourideasforeurope.eu/en">here</a> for more information or here at this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ox2lUvvSnuo">video</a> about the Single Market Month. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">An rud is fearr faoin bhfeachtas seo freisin ná go mbeidh an <a href="http://www.yourideasforeurope.eu/ga">suíomh</a> agus an díospóireacht le fáil trí mheán na Gaeilge. Beidh mé féin ag déanamh monatóireacht ar an díospóireacht Ghaeilge agus bheadh sé go deas go leor rannpháirtithe a fheiceáil le linn na míosa. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mar sin, má tá suim agat i gcúrsaí na hEorapa, glac páirt agus roinn do chuid smaointe.</span></div>
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The Red Quarter. Bilingual blog for the times we live in.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13257704362219302853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325636284722336137.post-11646285770484259062013-09-05T06:45:00.001-07:002013-09-05T06:45:21.154-07:00Miscellaneous & Various<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Seo roinnt pictiúir atá ar mo fón, sílim go mbeadh siad go deas ar an mblog.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGhW0nUIcuZmJoTXEAnAXdLxYTPJulCUFRgA3yW-2XbMciBpi-IwdLi3l6lmo5NG-NVTGiBb2PzkqeZmHTITAL4SUSSblftXmwFYJqTnWJ2gv5rqm0h6wqpQ7XwwRMngSfFFrrAIYBq_0/s1600/bump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGhW0nUIcuZmJoTXEAnAXdLxYTPJulCUFRgA3yW-2XbMciBpi-IwdLi3l6lmo5NG-NVTGiBb2PzkqeZmHTITAL4SUSSblftXmwFYJqTnWJ2gv5rqm0h6wqpQ7XwwRMngSfFFrrAIYBq_0/s1600/bump.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deborah and the bump</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUFQWU-aMfWWuzK268nzVv2e9MQZnFDyEr4HFs7EXC90I_carbA9P4kH278khx5gRbffqhe_XhYcxk82HYKK4I_u_pb3rh7Opcbq9p8ZJUfUKjOhjsKgoHqdNV0oNaoOmfpiG_LXecIrw/s1600/camolin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUFQWU-aMfWWuzK268nzVv2e9MQZnFDyEr4HFs7EXC90I_carbA9P4kH278khx5gRbffqhe_XhYcxk82HYKK4I_u_pb3rh7Opcbq9p8ZJUfUKjOhjsKgoHqdNV0oNaoOmfpiG_LXecIrw/s1600/camolin.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rocky training in Camolin woods</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTajThpfBjhavPzJRlJ24Ze9jQzwcuRfJt8mikQ-ONond2MjaR_uN1x-vjMhcxrwegid8vy1uQiCzp5nbfPtp6q606VlRFGXB22kjran76ttND1c6yQcQWaL8kB22i7aa1icXX2QcKHEI/s1600/cherry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTajThpfBjhavPzJRlJ24Ze9jQzwcuRfJt8mikQ-ONond2MjaR_uN1x-vjMhcxrwegid8vy1uQiCzp5nbfPtp6q606VlRFGXB22kjran76ttND1c6yQcQWaL8kB22i7aa1icXX2QcKHEI/s1600/cherry.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cherry blossom in Stephen's Green</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBpeuXoIl0CxpY2fD4W3AeUpmuVMFU2VilP_e2WA7XgOsMq1MuPWBvLyxI4UvbUCNO3mAI8rwm272o5bhNyMniktuEIoZ27tfWw_0_Znz9CYsgn1kgGpiQG7i35hZlj3UjMUc8ymoQRYk/s1600/church.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBpeuXoIl0CxpY2fD4W3AeUpmuVMFU2VilP_e2WA7XgOsMq1MuPWBvLyxI4UvbUCNO3mAI8rwm272o5bhNyMniktuEIoZ27tfWw_0_Znz9CYsgn1kgGpiQG7i35hZlj3UjMUc8ymoQRYk/s1600/church.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Ann's church Dawson Street, Dublin.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXy2o8J-yQ2bBjRpRZB-hVayF3V8nD-Lb0kuR0aJGMsDeLXmLaJ_mn6pygdg87Rr_RJueLhyphenhyphenmGWwjJM76OJX1-68Mf7Ax7KomeEOe00n0Tcr2wMFtoVv1k-12ooi0MVi-jdpBvBECEtUY/s1600/flo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXy2o8J-yQ2bBjRpRZB-hVayF3V8nD-Lb0kuR0aJGMsDeLXmLaJ_mn6pygdg87Rr_RJueLhyphenhyphenmGWwjJM76OJX1-68Mf7Ax7KomeEOe00n0Tcr2wMFtoVv1k-12ooi0MVi-jdpBvBECEtUY/s1600/flo.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Florence doing a bit of work</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAwWYzIZgmsmk-Fli_hjkoxRjCiq4-OSIbJEnFkqojqyOKb4jcF6IxFD9BTVj5HnXgs4gWxej-n6vNR43rL9V5yN93DPYsiBgHBMYwpPp9uMQkhSFjBAdDBSgNuRZtX9mhp_-Ow1cxFkQ/s1600/gd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAwWYzIZgmsmk-Fli_hjkoxRjCiq4-OSIbJEnFkqojqyOKb4jcF6IxFD9BTVj5HnXgs4gWxej-n6vNR43rL9V5yN93DPYsiBgHBMYwpPp9uMQkhSFjBAdDBSgNuRZtX9mhp_-Ow1cxFkQ/s1600/gd.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PJ, Brendan & Shem Tí Hiúdaí Beag, <br />Gaoth Dobhair áit a bhí Rís ag seinm.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlZ1r3CcnmMGuit8xvpNnajsHAtxO33749yZxfpsxlkO-Xg8xlUlcxgbndy6f9oja0mMdIHPgnjbCIHdJUBKVdDlh7pqF1TGHG8bXy8TEaLx_b5HlrXHCmK6ot8877fNun5Sez1XBNMq8/s1600/guin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlZ1r3CcnmMGuit8xvpNnajsHAtxO33749yZxfpsxlkO-Xg8xlUlcxgbndy6f9oja0mMdIHPgnjbCIHdJUBKVdDlh7pqF1TGHG8bXy8TEaLx_b5HlrXHCmK6ot8877fNun5Sez1XBNMq8/s1600/guin.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finest pint of Guinness in Ireland, <br />Coleman's of Tombrack.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu1kpqS_vy_XClCl-r3HlTPQv2U_AoxgGqRh3Jh3OzQvG66_8jh5WQgCS4KSKuoYDS5LUNIa9DGxZIq2U8TwNR1VCbwRBQhge4z97_Jkb9XPGhshSBF5Ok9hGPKW8iDq6Wc5ZT-Hpx6fc/s1600/lions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu1kpqS_vy_XClCl-r3HlTPQv2U_AoxgGqRh3Jh3OzQvG66_8jh5WQgCS4KSKuoYDS5LUNIa9DGxZIq2U8TwNR1VCbwRBQhge4z97_Jkb9XPGhshSBF5Ok9hGPKW8iDq6Wc5ZT-Hpx6fc/s1600/lions.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My prediction for Irish Lions</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM6JJJedTQ4hLphhdqpzbH5VpRp25bEyMoyePMT_zKU2fD-x1pFvQE7jFVUYlrxJPW9rHO6vlgpfsBKzmpiQw2pDRqybC-5rLQti2bgX4mUyrME-8wGDKD33vLlvkua4SVsARFM93CDNA/s1600/mende.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM6JJJedTQ4hLphhdqpzbH5VpRp25bEyMoyePMT_zKU2fD-x1pFvQE7jFVUYlrxJPW9rHO6vlgpfsBKzmpiQw2pDRqybC-5rLQti2bgX4mUyrME-8wGDKD33vLlvkua4SVsARFM93CDNA/s1600/mende.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me & Deborah</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg74FBBI0KP5U-FXpDQ_B4-VKvseGm9969Dsl-Ec4MLl5j04KyiyOy6UejxSb5NI6HVZjdWNVsViwZFPxyLcTRjtr1Ub2hK_0LN-3J6vr8K2tin-RQSaXIL8_VU8c-2o3xJgDRSaaNCUB0/s1600/ris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg74FBBI0KP5U-FXpDQ_B4-VKvseGm9969Dsl-Ec4MLl5j04KyiyOy6UejxSb5NI6HVZjdWNVsViwZFPxyLcTRjtr1Ub2hK_0LN-3J6vr8K2tin-RQSaXIL8_VU8c-2o3xJgDRSaaNCUB0/s1600/ris.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rís World tour :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivHbumpAwRgL0_Y1l-P24_J5O74QYWN9nhN2jAMDfrsQBNJtM2begVou8JEU5W-jFRaq24KaXyngWOncG2sCR10Rm668UEskUuG7R_g91JBd66xhS-Sc-dC5RRFBm7gerMPyX1nPSb8ZE/s1600/roy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivHbumpAwRgL0_Y1l-P24_J5O74QYWN9nhN2jAMDfrsQBNJtM2begVou8JEU5W-jFRaq24KaXyngWOncG2sCR10Rm668UEskUuG7R_g91JBd66xhS-Sc-dC5RRFBm7gerMPyX1nPSb8ZE/s1600/roy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me & Roy Keane in 07 at the <br />Academy of Light Sunderland where I interviewed him for TG4</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
The Red Quarter. Bilingual blog for the times we live in.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13257704362219302853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325636284722336137.post-50693960235172613112013-09-04T04:33:00.000-07:002013-09-04T04:33:58.982-07:00No spring chicken in autumn<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's sad to have to admit it, but I am no longer a spring chicken. Well, in truth I have been the keeper of this great secret for quite some time but the wear and tear of previous years seems to be creeping up on me a lot more these days and frankly I don't like it.<br />
<br />
It has been an amazing summer for many reasons. We've had fantastic weather for the first time in years, the GAA championship has been extremely exciting too but the highlight of it all has got to be the arrival of our little bundle of joy Ruadhán.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAHnqiOyLeKAhbu_74J7YJOgSZ7LtYvClj1q6IrVaiZ7J_Z_pp2g2WKkgVpa_ysajKaFtyy8IOXdKoemDah2clNKblvYBpfzyXyM_chSmCwA64Uco2VgcrrQ4jp4wD6CgRsvNrY0hkg5A/s1600/ruadh%C3%A1n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAHnqiOyLeKAhbu_74J7YJOgSZ7LtYvClj1q6IrVaiZ7J_Z_pp2g2WKkgVpa_ysajKaFtyy8IOXdKoemDah2clNKblvYBpfzyXyM_chSmCwA64Uco2VgcrrQ4jp4wD6CgRsvNrY0hkg5A/s1600/ruadh%C3%A1n.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruadhán Ó hEadhra</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Ruadhán was a month old yesterday and already he brings so much happiness to our lives every day. Cliched as it may seem, we really can't imagine what we did without him now. I am so proud of Deborah and how well she did during the whole labor and birth which ended up being a cesarean after 22 hours. I will let Deborah tell you about that herself in due course.<br />
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The main man was born on the 6/8/2013 at 22.38 in Wexford General hospital and has lifted us all onto cloud nine. He has an aura about him that just lures you in. I think he has a string mix of both of our features but time will tell. He is a lovely boy and won't cry unless he is one of the usually baby complaints. But just when you think your high pitched psycho babble is paying off as a lovely little smile is unveiled, he lets one rip. Yes, wind or a more significant development! Deborah and I take joy in a wet or a soiled nappy. It's actually not that weird really when it is the most obvious sign that everything inside is working fine. I think it's weirder when Gillian McKeith asks adults to put a poo in a lunch box so she can examine it on TV. Whatever you're into yourself Gillian.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0zDFexmV8N3Ke71Oi4kX0Fa3RAyFuT1cN9ji2T7i_A8XzZRb0sv88x4mWBmjbVlUSfd3dpMPlsjb0JYib0ZFL4ePRKsqxIaI5yTOpfsmpWiOmsLXWxS6sHAvivQSCTpFidH9aOAL-gG4/s1600/rudy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0zDFexmV8N3Ke71Oi4kX0Fa3RAyFuT1cN9ji2T7i_A8XzZRb0sv88x4mWBmjbVlUSfd3dpMPlsjb0JYib0ZFL4ePRKsqxIaI5yTOpfsmpWiOmsLXWxS6sHAvivQSCTpFidH9aOAL-gG4/s1600/rudy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruadhán x 4</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We are also taking part in a TG4 series looking at the fathers perspective of before during and after childbirth. 'Leaids Mar Daids' it is called and will be on TV around November I think. It has been a great experience to take part in this show. The guys behind it, Good Company Productions are very good and extremely professional. You are always guaranteed to have a laugh when filming as Evan, Ross & Johnny are always winding each other up.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA9nDEVOBlllBGbqms5b93pTgLN1LEgBkFkYBXns83bR8kt4n69SQI6f409ZjvtZBK0_Ekm2_nDi0hkqCxkMY63VBWdTPXah_tsXyVpr2Pk2I1HGFFY_AwE7IafZM2kv7Xt1g5X2OIQq8/s1600/harvest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA9nDEVOBlllBGbqms5b93pTgLN1LEgBkFkYBXns83bR8kt4n69SQI6f409ZjvtZBK0_Ekm2_nDi0hkqCxkMY63VBWdTPXah_tsXyVpr2Pk2I1HGFFY_AwE7IafZM2kv7Xt1g5X2OIQq8/s1600/harvest.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyone needs some R&R</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Tombrack United have already played our first game in the new season as a Division One side and we secured all three points at home last Sunday. It is going to be a tough season but we hope to keep it going. We have a small squad so it is crucial we keep everyone fit. Ironic then to say that considering I strained my groin last Sunday. Two weeks ago, I visited the Remedial Gymnast Tim Grocock who is one of a kind here in Ireland. He was trained by the British Army medical corp and has thirty years experience. The profession is an hybrid version of a physio and chiropractor. I've been having some trouble with my lower back and in fairness to Tim he gave me some great relief but there is little you can do when you pull a muscle.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_c9dTZlUmNmxPimaBcVPKtuUHmniyH20ggVHIftGT9eRecN3j9i0n1kwpTKCVhYv-WQxMwXcM7HukG6wK9ht7CzV1TRwEpca41pmM9d7B4Q6rVixFZk9gcIlAgqeVpPFm2qoIj89ykX8/s1600/training.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_c9dTZlUmNmxPimaBcVPKtuUHmniyH20ggVHIftGT9eRecN3j9i0n1kwpTKCVhYv-WQxMwXcM7HukG6wK9ht7CzV1TRwEpca41pmM9d7B4Q6rVixFZk9gcIlAgqeVpPFm2qoIj89ykX8/s1600/training.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tombrack United training</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
The body ain't what it used to be either and considering I have been playing sport since I was about 6, it isn't that surprising really. I am very happy with my fitness though (for an old guy :) ) but I do feel the wear and tear some more these days. I would like to do more 10k's but it is very hard on my back to run on the roads. I think it might be time to start Yoga!<br />
<br />
Next weekend, we take on Taghmon and Clare take on Cork in the All-Ireland hurling final. Exciting times ahead.</div>
The Red Quarter. Bilingual blog for the times we live in.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13257704362219302853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325636284722336137.post-7011161536506666252013-03-14T07:31:00.001-07:002013-03-14T07:31:38.211-07:00Venturing into the unknown like St. Patrick himself<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
<img height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_qTlO0g-ASPYrDRFkbcLa_OTddxq3d4dqHy48sjDBL_0DYncWUhfFRuszmadL74B4NIwI2V_Tjc4x1fSQpdI90NeIoWjNjMCgKrBkDrFyavfZ_2E-Q9DU8j9nn0d4bOSKuyuwrqkZG2c/s320/St.+Patrick.gif" width="254" /><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></b></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Saint Patrick’s journey to Ireland is similar to that of the
four teams who will contest Sunday’s AIB All-Ireland club championship finals.
OK, you must use your imagination a little to see those similarities but to
those of us who possess an open mind, it is possible.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When Patrick was sixteen he was taken from his home and was
sent to Ireland as a slave but managed to escape and return to his family six
years later. Now I know what you are thinking, but bear with me and all will be
revealed. Patrick remarkably returned to Ireland as an ordained bishop and
while little else is known about where exactly he did work or preach, the call
he answered was worth the struggle in the end.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Two letters survive which are generally accepted to have
been written by Saint Patrick himself. The following is a short excerpt from
the most important, the Declaration.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
“I saw a man coming, as it were from Ireland. His name was
Victoricus, and he carried many letters, and he gave me one of them. I read the
heading: "The Voice of the Irish". As I began the letter, I imagined
in that moment that I heard the voice of those very people who were near the
wood of Foclut, which is beside the western sea—and they cried out, as with one
voice: "We appeal to you, holy servant boy, to come and walk among us.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Four teams will open their eyes on Sunday morning knowing
that that afternoon, they could be AIB All-Ireland champions. They will have
battled and struggled many times before but will have failed to have even come
close to where they now are. Ballymun Kickhams of Dublin take on St. Brigid’s
of Roscommon and St. Thomas’s take on Kilcormac/K of Offaly. The journey these four teams have made to reach this point
is of epic proportion in itself. Whether it is the struggle of St. Brigid’s and
legends like Frankie Dolan who have knocked on the door before but failed at
the fell at the final hurdle or the majestic rise to glory like a phoenix from
the flames of St. Thomas’s. The men of Ballymun and Kilcormac too will hope
that they can mimic the feats of their fellow county men in previous campaigns.
All four teams deserve to win in their own right but sport does not subscribe
to sentiment.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The similarity to St. Patrick’s journey is definitely
fitting if a bit far-fetched in reality. But the overall concept of desire and
passion for a cause out muscling the struggle is quite appropriate and anyone
who has ever played the game will understand this. It wasn’t as if these four
teams suddenly decided that they wanted to reach the AIB All-Ireland club
finals, no. This has been an epic journey that has spanned decades for most of
them and for another a chance to make up for falling short before.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The passion for the club is such that the good will and the
encouragement offered to the teams from their friends and family is like the
‘voice of the Irish’ Saint Patrick had heard appealing to him to walk among them.
The appetite for success those who have been starved of it for years is immense
and the feeling of elation when the final whistle blows will be truly amazing
for the eventual winners. The bitterness felt by those who will fall short will
also sting in equal measure but the fact that they have reached the summit will
give them real belief where once lay wishful thinking. We celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day on the day our patron saint
died. We celebrate the AIB Club finals on the same day when we toast the top
club teams in our land and take pride in how healthy and well our own games
are.</div>
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So as you journey to the finals this weekend or watch on at
home or in a public house, bear in mind that each and every individual on the
field and affiliated to the team have sacrificed a lot to be there and that
their journey has been a long and pain staking one. But like Saint Patrick
himself as he returned to Ireland and into the unknown, the journey was
ultimately worth the struggle. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Gach rath ar na fóirne uilig i bPáirc an Chrócaigh ar Lá
Fhéile Pádraig.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Red Quarter. Bilingual blog for the times we live in.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13257704362219302853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325636284722336137.post-73924480750579753692013-03-05T06:26:00.001-08:002013-03-05T06:26:07.330-08:00Heroes & History Makers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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You can find my weekly blog on the Club is Family website <a href="http://www.clubisfamily.ie/blog/">here</a> - Cheers, Richie</div>
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There will be new names on the AIB Club championship trophies this year. Two lucky clubs will win the right to be known as the best club team in the country for at least a year and they will have certainly earned that right. The beaten finalists will return home disappointed but as heroes in their own communities and will be proud of their achievements once the bitterness of the defeat will have subsided.</div>
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The effect of a clubs success runs deeper than just the physical celebrations as the next generation who look on and take pride in their club from a very young, impressionable age are the players of tomorrow.</div>
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The greatest marketing tool of any club is success. There are so many sports available to kids nowadays and it’s as competitive a market as any other. Trying to maintain a steady flow of eager young players is a big challenge for any club or organization but the AIB Club championships are definitely something that will keep every generation interested.</div>
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When a club is successful in any capacity, the community gets behind them. This is a little unfortunate and ironic in a sense considering clubs with little or no success need the greatest assistance but we are only human and everyone likes to back a winner.</div>
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I can recall watching my own club winning the Intermediate club championship when I was a child. It was a dark gloomy day and the rain was falling softly but quite heavily. I vividly remember watching these men and wanting to be there like one of them one day playing for my club. Our club jersey was like a coat of armour and the players like gladiators getting stronger as they fed off each roar the crowd bellowed at them.</div>
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My friends and I ran onto the field after the game and celebrated with the rest of our community and family. What a result, what an occasion, what heroes! I remember the smell of deep heat mixed as the steam was rising off the players fatigued bodies and the damp smell of cold fans whose warm hearts kept them from caring about the conditions. This was one of those moments everyone in the community can remember and is often fondly recalled.</div>
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My brother played that day and I can remember going through his gear bag when he got home as if to see the tools of the trade or to analyse them in case they differed to what the ordinary lay person like me and my friends wore in our little matches. That success was the first major honour the club achieved and we went on to win one senior county championship to date and losing two more. Winning that intermediate championship was the catalyst and created heroes and history makers.</div>
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The joy and confidence that brought to such a small community was immeasurable and is still spoken about today. The first one is always the sweetest and you are always chasing that high from then on. As the clock ticks down to St. Patrick’s Day and the senior finals, heroes and history makers wait to stamp their mark on another chapter in the AIB Club Championships history books. They will influence a generation and possibly many to come which could be argued is the greatest success of all. The competition will be intense and the action immense. Be still our beating hearts</div>
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The Red Quarter. Bilingual blog for the times we live in.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13257704362219302853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325636284722336137.post-50271273140844899152013-02-26T07:08:00.002-08:002013-02-26T07:18:41.953-08:00Public Relations - Easy when you know how<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Love them or loath them, you really have to take your hat off to McDonald's when it comes to their marketing and public relations strategies. Their ability to deal with negativity is top drawer and can often help them communicate with their target market. Negativity towards the golden arches is nipped in the bud fairly promptly and the enormity of the organization enables them to respond with considerable weight and a double helping of creativity.<br />
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If public relations is "managing the flow of information between an individual or an organization and the public" then that flow of information must be clear and unambiguous and delivered in a way that will make those receiving it happy that their query or complaint is answered to their satisfaction. The use of YouTube has become a huge asset to organizations of all sizes when trying to use the direct communication method of reaching their audience.<br />
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McDonald's is exemplary in this type of PR and marketing. Below is an example of how they manage to turn bad into good. They take a potentially sticky and negative situation and turn it completely on its head and use it as a way to highlight or showcase the lengths they go to in providing the customer with as much detail as possible. They are using a potentially tricky question sent to them by a member of the public to feed the public with more positive information about McDonald's. Have a look.<br />
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The Red Quarter. Bilingual blog for the times we live in.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13257704362219302853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325636284722336137.post-23339519972025276562013-02-08T02:18:00.001-08:002013-02-08T02:18:08.115-08:00Just One Second<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of meeting an MEP from the Czech Republic Edvard Kožušník and a former Chief of Staff to the President of the Senate Přemysl Sobotka. Edvard is a very interesting man who is passionate about his family, his country and about Europe. I must say he impressed me anyway and I think that was the general feeling among those who had gathered to watch his video, Just One Second.<br />
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This video portrays a second in each day of his life from January 30th 2012 to January 30th 2013. It is an interesting idea which stemmed from promising that if elected as an MEP he would cycle from beautiful Prague to Strasbourg for one of the plenary meetings.<br />
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He is also campaigning for a one seat of power in Europe. I applaud his ingenuity and his appetite for new, fresh approach to politics. Here is that video.<br />
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<i>This is not a promotion of Mr. Edvard Kožušník's by me. </i><br />
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The Red Quarter. Bilingual blog for the times we live in.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13257704362219302853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325636284722336137.post-1273007644059988482013-01-14T07:23:00.002-08:002013-01-14T07:23:59.011-08:00Tada Againn<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><i>(Ceol & liricí le Richie Ó hEadhra)</i></b><br />
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Chun scéal fada a dhéanamh gearr, tosóidh mé ag an deireadh. Fuair mé tweet ansin ó Úna-Minh Caomhánach atá ag obair (sílim) le <a href="http://www.worldirish.com/">www.worldirish.com</a> ag fiafraigh orm an raibh sí in ann cóip do líricí m'amhrán 'Tada Againn' a fháil agus an scéal taobh thiar den amhrán sin.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Rís ag seinm Tí Mholly Lá Stiofáin 2012</i></td></tr>
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Sílim go bhfaca sí tweet a sheol @ireland ag inseacht do dhaoine faoinár ngrúpa ceoil Rís agus an tógra a bhí ar siúl againn ó mí na Samhna go Nollaig ina raibh muid chun deich amhrán nua a scríobh, a thaifead agus a léiriú ós comhair an phobal i ngig beag.<br />
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Sin é an mór sprioc atá ag Rís mar ghrúpa, ceol nua-chumtha comh-aimseartha den scoth a scríobh agus a chuir ós comhair an phobal agus daoine eile a spreagadh chun an rud céanna a dhéanamh. Is féidir teacht ar an méid a rinne muid agus an chaoi go ndearna muid é anseo ag <a href="http://www.tebruite.blogspot.com/">Blog Rís</a><br />
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<b><u>Tada Againn - An scéal taobh thiar de</u></b><br />
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Ach ó tharla gur chur Úna an cheist chomh deas, seo chuici é. Tada Againn an t-ainm atá ar an t-amhrán agus is scéal é faoi lánúin nach bhfuil ag réiteach chomh maith lena chéile mar gheall ar easpa airgid agus go bhfuil an bhean ag iarraidh bóthar a bhualadh thar lear chun saol nua a thosnú. Síleann sí, mar a shíleann go leor eile agus rudaí go dona gur glas iad na cnoic i bhfad uainn.<br />
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Níl sé bunaithe ar aon lánúin áirithe ach sílim go bhfuil go leor daoine timpeall na tíre a bhí níos fearr as le linn an Tíogar Cheilteach agus atá ag streachailt anois agus go bhfuil sé topaiciúil go maith sa gcás sin. Is maith leis an bhfear a bheith ag ól agus níl seisean sásta dul ar imirce léi mar sin gan pingin ina bpóca acu agus lena gcaidreamh i gcontúirt, níl tada mórán fágtha acu. Is scéal brónach atá ann ar shlí cé nach gceapfá é sin le luas an amhráin féin.<br />
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<b><u>Tada Againn</u></b><br />
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Aifeal fadó an lá<br />
Braon eile ón mbuidéal<br />
'S brón ar an mbás<br />
Scaoil amach an uaigneas<br />
Agus scaoil isteach an ghrá<br />
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Siopa eile dúnta 1,2,3<br />
Tada istigh sa mbanc agam<br />
I dtraipisí<br />
Ach seo'd é'n méid atá againn<br />
Scaoil amach ós ard<br />
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Solas i do shúile Oh oh oh<br />
Pilliúr leat sa mbaile<br />
Solas i do shúile<br />
Ach níl tada fágtha againn<br />
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Níl tada fágtha ach dul san arm<br />
Plean ar bith i mo ghloic agam<br />
Ach tiocfaidh an t-am<br />
Ó a chailín fan liom is beidh muid slán<br />
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Ná labhair liomsa faoi do thodhchaí a léamh,<br />
Mar theastódh míorúilt chun do chroí sa théamh<br />
Póigín an bháis 's gan tada eile fágtha againn<br />
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Solas i do shúile<br />
Pilliúr leat sa mbaile<br />
Solas i do shúile<br />
Anois níl tada fágtha againn<br />
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The Red Quarter. Bilingual blog for the times we live in.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13257704362219302853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325636284722336137.post-60854673436933774942012-10-26T06:39:00.001-07:002012-10-26T06:42:16.677-07:00AIB Club Championships<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Launch of the Hurling Club Championship</i></td></tr>
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I'm working with the team at Cybercom on the AIB Club Championship's social media campaign at the moment and I have been posting some blogs recently.<br />
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You can have a read of my last two contributions <a href="http://www.clubisfamily.ie/2012/its-a-tribal-affair/">It's a Tribal Affair</a> and <a href="http://www.clubisfamily.ie/2012/1497/">Club is community, Club is Family</a> at those links.<br />
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The Red Quarter. Bilingual blog for the times we live in.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13257704362219302853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325636284722336137.post-85909518838090848592012-10-09T04:18:00.001-07:002012-10-09T04:20:09.508-07:00Bringing it all back home<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Eoin Kelly brings Liam back to Thurles</i></td></tr>
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What a feeling it must be on a Monday morning packing your bag as a winner and gearing up to head home. Bringing Sam or Liam home is a special moment in Irish life, not just in the sporting sphere but in a deeper and more meaningful sense. It is something uniquely Irish when the trophy is brought back to every parish and village in the county hoisted aloft like the Holy Grail.<br />
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This ceremonial procession could be a once in a lifetime occurrence and must be celebrated with adequate reverence, well, unless you hail from Kerry or Kilkenny that is.<br />
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The week after an All-Ireland final is one of mixed emotions. Depending which side you're on those emotions will range from joy to devastation. For the champions, it's when the sweet feeling of victory really begins to sink in. Lifelong ambitions fulfilled, a dream come true.<br />
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Those involved in such a victory bring happiness to so many though they may never realise the significance of that gift. They lift the spirits of their people and their families at home and abroad and of course their clubs also, the place where they kicked or pucked their first O'Neill's football or sliotar.<br />
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For the losers, they too will return home. They will find comfort in familiar faces at a reluctant homecoming. Faces and characters who have shaped who they have become and have contributed in bringing them to the highest point in their sporting lives.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Get the head right</i></td></tr>
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It is testament that the clubs are regarded so highly in the GAA when the players are eager to head back as soon as they can win, lose or draw to celebrate or take solace from their own people after a devastating defeat. It is testament also that the people turn out to welcome back their unsuccessful heroes to how much they appreciate their gallant efforts. Life goes on; you are still one of our own being the philosophy.<br />
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The GAA and especially its club structure are of Ireland and belong to the people who made it what it is today. That is why it means so much to so many in every corner of the globe. When Jim McGuinness and Michael Murphy cradled Buan Chorn Sam Mag Uidir across the border at Pettigo for the first time in 20 years they were bringing it all back home. Not just the cup itself but the joy and confidence that it brings to every man, woman and child in the county.<br />
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The Red Quarter. Bilingual blog for the times we live in.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13257704362219302853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325636284722336137.post-31993975922156959452012-09-27T06:50:00.000-07:002012-09-28T04:38:50.845-07:00A lot of Love for Mickelson from Davis<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The Ryder Cup is a special tournament and can bring the best out of the worlds elite golfers. The Americans are desperate to beat the Europeans in their own back yard and the 39th Ryder Cup will surely go down to the wire. It is rare to say the least to see a professional sportsman become emotional when addressing the worlds media, especially when the first ball has yet to be driven down the fairway of the Medinah Country Club in Chicago.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Icon Image of Seve</td></tr>
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Is this a sign of weakness already from Davis Love III or is he setting the tone for the week? Time will tell but it has to be said that his admiration and respect for Phil Mickelson is unquestionable. The Europeans have had the better of the past few Ryder Cups so Love and his compatriots will want the title back for sure. Europe have won 4 of the last 5 tournaments but historically it is the US who boasts most victories to date. Many consider the Americans to be the stronger outfit but I think the opposite it true in this case.<br />
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As tee time comes closer focus will turn to the pairings and the one on one téte et tétes that could decide the outcome of the competition. Needless to say Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods are the biggest names in world golf and will definitely want to stamp their respective authorities on this competition. Both teams possess talented golfers but the Europeans are battle hardened and will fancy their chances to reclaim the cup on foreign soil.<br />
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<a href="http://www.rydercup.com/usa/players/team-usa-player-profiles">Click here to view the USA Team</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.rydercup.com/europe/players/team-europe-player-profiles">Click here to view the European team</a><br />
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One man who will be with the European team in spirit this week is the great Seve Ballesteros who lost his battle with cancer in May 2011. The image of Seve with his hands held high after the 1979 Open Championship will feature on team Europe's bags and will attempt to inspire the troops and perhaps unsettle the home team.<br />
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The Red Quarter. Bilingual blog for the times we live in.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13257704362219302853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325636284722336137.post-40418234644207959122012-09-21T04:51:00.001-07:002012-09-28T04:40:12.920-07:00Too simplistic to say Donegal on form<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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There will be many a bar stool discussion all over the country this weekend regurgitating all the information that has been consumed over the week from the papers, radio debates and of course Marty Morrissey's Championship Matters.<br />
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The general consensus is that Mayo's journey to Croke Park on Sunday will be a familiar one, fruitless. They will travel from the west in anticipation and with great hope but when the white heat of the All-Ireland final hits them like a Bundoran wave in the guise of a Donegal team who are in flying form, their journey will once again have been in vain . At least that is the general consensus but not necessarily the truth.<br />
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To say that Donegal will win because they are the form team is too simplistic. Sure, there is no doubt about it Jim McGuinness has put this team together incredibly well. Their transformation from the negative team who broke teams spirits and bore viewers to tears last year has been epic and their ability to suck the life out of quality opposition like Cork, Kerry & Tyrone has made for riveting viewing.<br />
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But had Wimbledon listened to the general consensus in 1988 they wouldn't have bothered crossing London to play a star studded Liverpool side in the FA Cup final and that same "crazy gang" ended up winning 1-0. Buster Douglas would not have dared enter the ring in 1990 with a raw Mike Tyson waiting for him baying for blood had he listened to the general consensus. And of course Tipperary wouldn't have turned up to face Kilkenny in 201o when the Cats were destined to win the illustrious five in a row had the general consensus seeped into their psyches.<br />
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Football as Jimmy Greaves once said "is a funny old game" and there is no such thing as a dead cert. Mayo will love the underdog tag and will need to play to their optimum on Sunday to beat Donegal but who is to say they will not. Having beaten an experienced Dublin team in Croke Park will have brought them to a new level.</div>
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They will fear no one and the atmosphere will bring the best out of the better players. James Horan has named Andy Moran as a selector for Sunday and this will galvanize the squad further. They arrive in Dublin on Saturday calm and ready for battle.<br />
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Donegal have peaked on a number of occasions already this season and have had a much harder road to HQ than Mayo. Is this good or bad? We won't really know until 5pm Sunday but surely with the levels of fitness built up and that have had to maintained and managed, it can't have been easy.<br />
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The balancing act that Jim McGuinness and his selectors must have been performing on the training field would make for interesting viewing. How has he managed to get them ready, to peak, to taper down again, to build up again and to peak over and over. If they were to win on Sunday, it would surely be one of the greatest victories ever in a football championship. How can the players keep their heads on the job at hand when the rest of the county has lost the plot? McGuinness would want to be strong in this sense.<br />
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Mayo will have watched the way Cork set up against them in the semi final and will have learned a trick or two. Will they employ someone to Marshall Mark McHugh? Evidence found at the scene of the first half of the Cork match would suggest they should but Horan is a clever man and might have another trick up his own sleeve.<br />
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I can see Keith Higgins having a field day on Sunday if he decides to stretch the legs and bomb up field every chance he gets. Mayo will take the game to a slow starting Donegal and this is where they should make hay.<br />
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It is unfortunate that Andy Moran won't play any part on the field but the talk about Conor Mortimers departure resurfacing is silly. Sunday's opponents would not suit Mortimer anyway. Mortimer preferred space and time on the ball without the physical encounters. Sunday will be the opposite to that.<br />
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Donegal will be confident they can overturn a young Mayo team based on their results and performances to date this season. Mayo will feel they are coming in nicely under the radar and possess all the necessary tools to derail the North Western Juggernaut. Whatever happens on Sunday will be excellent for football to have a new winner and hopefully the match will do all the hype justice. It is hard to look past Dún na nGall to win but the sting in the Mayo tail could finally break the curse that has hung over them since 1959. The have what it takes to win and hopefully they will not subscribe to the general consensus.<br />
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The Red Quarter. Bilingual blog for the times we live in.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13257704362219302853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325636284722336137.post-58927554124852493772012-09-20T05:13:00.000-07:002012-09-20T05:13:04.439-07:00Curly needs a home<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>'Curly'</i></td></tr>
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De réir mar a fheicim ó leathanach Facebook tigh foscaidh ainmhí atá gar dom, tá madra beag don chineál seo ar thóir baile. Ah curly bocht. Ní bheadh a fhios agat cé a thabharfadh abhaile é. Ahem..</div>
The Red Quarter. Bilingual blog for the times we live in.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13257704362219302853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325636284722336137.post-70805205267869485172012-09-05T03:58:00.003-07:002012-09-05T08:15:18.698-07:00Surely Kilkenny's final to lose<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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If you watch this years Leinster hurling final again <i>(above)</i>, you will see a Galway team playing on the verge. That line between complete, honest dedication with controlled aggression and reckless abandonment. Anyone who has ever played sport will know that feeling when you come up against a team you so badly want to beat but you know deep inside they are better than you. On every level you are operating at the verge of your all.<br />
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You prepare yourself for the mammoth task, always telling yourself that you are good enough to turn "them" over. More often than not in sport, the better team always comes out on top. Better players, superior tactical approach or whatever they possess that you don't - it all boils down to the fact that regardless of how hard the lesser team tries, if everything doesn't go right for the underdog on that given day, it won't go well.<br />
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Galway have improved significantly since Anthony Cunningham took over at the start of this season. He culled the group who had been trying to make the grade for some years but who had failed to bring home the bacon. The tactics are more akin to a football team now with more passes into space, more use of the hand pass and the use of Damien Hayes out the field as a forager. This seems to suit the style of the Galway hurlers and they are playing better than they have in years. They are in an All-Ireland final having beaten Kilkenny and Cork en route so they must be!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last time Galway tasted <br />
victory in 1988</td></tr>
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In my most humblest of opinions, this is the only way they can win on Sunday. They must repeat or better their Leinster final performance with one addition. They must run hard and fast lines straight down the neck of the Kilkenny defence. Each and every time they mounted an attack this way in that final, they either scored or won a free. They can do this because rarely do the Cats come up against opponents who are as physically commanding as themselves. Galway can match them in this department. Quick ball into Canning and running from 6 to 3 can yield scores for Galway but we know Kilkenny will be ready.<br />
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Brian Cody said they weren't surprised when Galway produced a performance like they did in the Leinster final. "They were on another level" he said. Reading those comments would leave you cold thinking about the training sessions they have been doing for the past few weeks with revenge on their mind. They must have reassessed where they were as a team big time since that Galway match and have upped the ante significantly. Their dismissal of Tipperary was a typically classic display of strength and skill from Kilkenny and was as much a message to Galway saying we are ready for you now as it was a sweet victory over an old rival!<br />
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Galway will look back on the Leinster final and see that they missed a heap of chances in the first half and realise they too could have played better. This is a hope they will cling on to. All the talk amongst the hurling people in Wexford where I live is that nobody can beat Kilkenny twice in one season. I sheepishly put the flag on the car this week for the build up to the final on Sunday. Sheepishly because of the slagging I get from the lads at training and from a more senior friend and neighbour of mine who is originally from Tipperary. None of them give Galway a chance.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/rqhzFKthgOk?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Kilkenny are a fantastic team and have contested the last seven finals in a row. Galway have to go back to 2005 to recall a final they contested and back to 1988 for their last victory. In senior hurling Kilkenny have 33 titles to Galway's 4. Sobering to say the least but the men from the west have a better record in under age finals especially in the last twenty years.<br />
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Joe Canning must play well on Sunday as he is the arrow head in all that is good for Galway up front. He will be backed up by a fit again Cyril Donnellan and Damien Hayes must again visit all corners of Croke Park to gain possession. Kilkenny can avail of the talents of Richie Hogan once more, who can have a wild side to him as illustrated on a few occasions in the past and more recently against Limerick. To any other county, the loss of Michael Rice would be huge but Kilkenny float on.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two shrewd managers<br />
Cunningham & Cody</td></tr>
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Who would bet against them after being stung so badly in the final and having witnessed at first hand the best Galway could produce against them. The word 'belief' will be used in both dressing rooms many times on Sunday. Come 5pm, the man lifting Liam Mac Cárthaigh will be the captain of the team who honestly did. Surely it's Kilkenny's final to lose.</div>
The Red Quarter. Bilingual blog for the times we live in.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13257704362219302853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325636284722336137.post-22465149459325310822012-08-28T05:02:00.000-07:002012-08-28T05:14:24.320-07:00Donegal silence the critics.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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As the streams of Tír Chonaill fans jubilantly made their way through the gates of Croke Park on Sunday, memories of 1992's epic journey must have come flooding back to those old enough to remember. Interestingly, Donegal faced Dublin in that All-Ireland twenty years ago and after a period of twenty years in the doldrums for both counties, last years champions Dublin could face their old foes again on September 23rd. That of course depends on whether the Dubs can overcome a young, hungry Mayo side this coming Sunday.<br />
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Fortune favours the brave they say and this is certainly true of Jim McGuinness and his approach and philosophy towards tactics and the game in general. As the decades roll on, the fitness levels that these amateur players can reach appears to be increasing and their own dedication to their own conditioning is fascinating. Surely now top GAA players must be well up there with their AFL cousins and could well surpass the millionaires across the pond.<br />
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Donegal's all out attack on the break is amazing to watch. When Cork were persistent in keeping possession drifting from one side of the pitch to the other, Donegal stuck to their plan and kept the red tide at bay. Then all of a sudden when the turnover inevitably materialised they broke like Olympic 100 metre sprinters on the home stretch. Mark McHugh's fitness is scary. He can tackle and contest and then be on hand 15 seconds later at the opposite end of the field to finish off a score. His father, Martin who played in the 1992 All-Ireland final must watch in amazement at what his son and his colleagues are accomplishing especially considering that Martin himself or indeed that Donegal team were no slouches either.<br />
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The amount of criticism that McGuinness and Donegal received last year for their defensive approach was a bit over the top considering that fact that most teams at that level set out to get their defence solid first before adding the garnish of attack. Donegal have been a work in progress up until the end of the league when a win against Armagh kept them in the right place to play your football. It all came together at the start of the Championship when some injured players came back and it began to gel. They are now 70 minutes away from replicating what that famous team of '92 achieved and they have beaten Cork and Kerry in the same season.<br />
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Dublin or Mayo will face them in the final and I for one am going to go for Donegal to win it. They have a lot going for them and a manager who can read the game expertly and clearly as it happens. Sunday's match showed Donegal could be weak in the full-back line and under high balls and if I saw that, certainly Jim McGuinness did. Interesting times ahead.<br />
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The Red Quarter. Bilingual blog for the times we live in.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13257704362219302853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325636284722336137.post-5810850617949655942012-06-28T07:12:00.003-07:002012-06-29T01:38:13.571-07:00The Future of Irish Domestic Soccer is abroad<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The League of Ireland on the table</td></tr>
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When the Republic of Ireland bowed out of the Euros and most of the senior officials of the FAI were winding down their activities in Poznan, Monaghan United were winding up. The decline of Monaghan is another sad story in the pitiful recent history of the league of Ireland. To the outside world, it's unfortunate news but to those at the epicentre, it’s more than that. It means unemployment for the good people at Gortakeegan, no role models for youngsters playing soccer in the Farney county and another reality check for professional football in Ireland.<br />
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The stark reality is that until those at the top start getting their heads out of the sand, this trend will continue. In the past many big clubs like Drogheda United, Cork City, Galway United and Bohemians to name but a few have all been hit by financial difficulties and many other clubs are struggling weekly to make ends meet.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leinster Rugby Professional since 1995</td></tr>
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Let's be honest about this, professional soccer in Ireland in its current form just isn't working and it’s high time to start planning for the future. A future that is real and lasting. One of the only ways professional soccer in Ireland can work is by following in the footsteps of the IRFU. Ireland is too small to facilitate a domestic professional league and when the turnstiles fail to ring with the sound of punters, clubs begin to feel the pressure.<br />
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This leaves us with matches in predominantly empty stadiums that are an injustice to the efforts of all concerned at the respective clubs, players and officials. But from a commercial point of view this is not very marketable and is far removed from the glitzy shiny product that can be viewed on satellite television in the comfort of your own sitting room or a warm pub. John Delaney reassures us that the association is “continuously reviewing” and that it is far more professional now than before he took the reigns of power. On some levels, that is perhaps true but one cold hard look at our domestic product makes that statement less than believable.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Current champions Shamrock Rovers</td></tr>
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The winning club receives around €100,000 prize money and although that is a significant amount of money in general terms, it is but a drop in the ocean of a club’s outgoings. Add to that grounds that must be maintained and the efforts that are made to make conditions inviting for supporters and you are left with short change.<br />
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So what can be done to plan for the future? Would the FAI consider setting up four professional provincial teams that would be commercially strong and viable and would be able to compete at the highest level? Surely it is worth thinking about. Yes, this raises other issues with the IFA up North but perhaps it is now time to have a look at that elephant in the room as well. I'll get back to that. The four provincial teams would be made up of the best players in our current league and the league of Ireland clubs would contest an amateur league that would be highly competitive. That league would then be used as a feeder system for the provinces. But where do the provincial clubs compete?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fahey, Long & Doyle. Former LOI greats</td></tr>
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A Celtic league is now a serious possibility with the demise of Rangers but I think that the FAI should seriously consider asking the English FA if the provinces could compete in the English leagues. Why not? These new clubs would be commercially sound with most definitely a large fan base that would be attracted by the top sides coming over here week in week out. One of the biggest reasons for the failure of top quality professional soccer in this country is that we lose our best players to the English leagues. By going this route, the Irish players would be competing in the English league but would be on an FAI contract. As much as I love the domestic game, it is naive to think that we could ever have a league that will attract the amount of bums on seats needed to make it viable. <br />
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I think this new set-up would strengthen football in Ireland in every way. There would be a good domestic league where pride in playing for the jersey would be augmented and communities would start coming back to the terraces to support their local team. Young players would have something to aim for which would encourage continuous quality in the domestic matches and guarantee a high level of player being drafted into the provincial team and staying in Ireland.<br />
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While the threat of our best players being sought by the top English clubs would still be there, this set-up would afford those players the choice to stay longer. We must also consider the amount of money being pumped into the top Premier league sides now by foreign investors and foreign players arriving in England is making it harder for Irish players to make an impact. They are rarely getting a look in anymore. Just take a look at the amount of Irish players in the top four teams and it is clear that this is what is happening.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liam Lawrence scores v South Africa in Thomand Park</td></tr>
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In a time when television and media is king and new angles are always sought to try and boost ratings, I believe bringing the Irish element into the British leagues would be a smart card for the FAI to play when seeking entry. In Spain’s La Liga teams leave the mainland to play matches on the islands. It is easier to get to London from Dublin now as it is to get from Wexford to Galway for example. Leaving the football benefits aside, this new merger would reap massive rewards for tourism with the guarantee that our domestic airports, hotels, B&B’s and hostelry’s would be busy with travelling fans. In 2009, an economic impact study conducted by BDO Simpson Xavier revealed that the Heineken Cup quarter final between Munster and Osprey’s was worth a phenomenal €10.5 million to Limerick city & region. Imagine the amount of jobs this would create in all four provinces.<br />
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Now back to the IFA question. There is no love lost between both associations with the recent player poaching controversy being well documented. Our performance at the Euros and Northern Ireland's failure to ever qualify for that competition or featuring at a major tournament since 1986 should really hammer home the fact that combining our powers could possibly be a way to really compete at the highest level. From a stadia point of view, the FAI and the IRFU already have an understanding in terms of the Aviva and we have seen Ireland play friendly’s in Thomand Park so this should not be an issue.<br />
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As Bob Dylan once said "the times they are a changin' and as a modern society we should try to move with the times. We've shared so much as an island and have been divided for so long. Recent political developments have illustrated how far we have come and although I agree that politics and sport should never be mixed, sometimes they are hard to separate.<br />
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Britain is our nearest neighbour and has welcomed our greatest players for decades. By creating four powerful professional provinces we bring Irish football to the next level and it would mean a better chance of qualification to major tournaments which means more money for the FAI to help the domestic clubs.<br />
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Some may say this is a crazy proposal, others may agree with me. Sometimes, we must think outside the box and see what is right in front of us and at least have an open and frank discussion. The time to take drastic measures is upon us and if those at the top don't see that, then for sure the cat most certainly is not in the sack.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Cat is in the sack (Pic LennON)</td></tr>
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</div>The Red Quarter. Bilingual blog for the times we live in.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13257704362219302853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325636284722336137.post-74957319254150090062012-06-21T07:15:00.000-07:002012-06-21T07:56:44.841-07:00Pictorial Catch-Up<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An Cheathrú Rua fé-14 c.1994</td></tr>
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Agus mé sa mbaile le déanaí ghlac mé griangraf den phictiúr seo atá tréigthe ag an ngrian faoin tráth seo ach atá chomh beo céanna nuair a bhreathnaíonn mé ar agus a bhí sé an lá gur tóigeadh é.<br />
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Sílim gur iad An Clochán a bhí inár gcoinne sa gcluiche ceannais an lá úd i Maigh Cuillinn agus bhí ré ghlórmhar ag an ngrúpa imreoirí sin atá sa bpictiúr. Chroch muid linn an comórtas craoibhe agus sraith fé-16 an bhliain ina dhiaidh sin agus chuaigh an chuid is mó ar aghaidh ag imirt leis an gclub agus cuid mhaith leis an gcondae ag leibhéil áirithe.<br />
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Last Sunday, my wife's cousin arrived at our home with a bag of old family photo's. I thought this was the most poignant for some reason, maybe because it was just a son following his mothers orders or perhaps it was sad to see how drastic things had changed since 1950 in Ireland.<br />
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This effectively was the text message of the time. A post card sent from Dublin to Wexford letting a mother know that her son had arrived in the capital safe and sound. Amazing really. Will they say the same about the phones in 70 odd years time.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Galway Senior County Semi Final 1999</td></tr>
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A young 17 year old Rico in full flight...The bring back the mutton chops campaign is on the cards.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Connemara Isles Golf Club, Eanach Mheáin</td></tr>
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One of the most beautiful courses in the world. My brother and I went there on a day that was quite overcast as you can see but still it was hard not to be impressed with the views. Well worth a visit even if you loose about 20 balls.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmm Pizza</td></tr>
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I'm not exactly Jamie Oliver but I try when I cook. This might not be the best picture but here is the tasty pizza I made with Deborah's astute tutelage a few weeks ago. Fresh produce, crispy and extremely tasty.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Princess Sophia<br />
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My sister in law and her boyfriend's dog Princess Sophia. There are two of them, her and her brother Lump. They are gorgeous dogs and are friendly and here is Sophia when I had mistaken her for Taoiseach Enda Kenny. Apologies to Sophia.<br />
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Finally, sadly we are out of the Euros after quite a dismal few matches, however we did ourselves proud a nation in terms of our never say die attitude and especially our fans. Our local in Tombrack, Coleman's looked really well with all Ireland's groups flags. Éire abú go deo!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD3EpVylYkRgE8xtFo3F7dbUanBQNW6Coyso6pd90I-Qc6fB_pkSzMmj8J4l0twu59XId92IsVrrTosWwMVELl6XGe8v3BGElBp0PtLyGl8NMoEqf7BE9csBPuXLfROq3dZRJsNRqmKnc/s1600/goal4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD3EpVylYkRgE8xtFo3F7dbUanBQNW6Coyso6pd90I-Qc6fB_pkSzMmj8J4l0twu59XId92IsVrrTosWwMVELl6XGe8v3BGElBp0PtLyGl8NMoEqf7BE9csBPuXLfROq3dZRJsNRqmKnc/s320/goal4).JPG" width="239" /></a>Anyone who knows me will know that the soccer team that I play for in Loch Garman has gained promotion for the past four years in a row, and have won the last three leagues in four. We came second this year and for the second year in a row I claimed the joint top scorers award with Brian Byrne inset and Mick Savo Kelly. This season will be tough but hopefully we can keep the upward curve going.</div>
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</div>The Red Quarter. Bilingual blog for the times we live in.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13257704362219302853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325636284722336137.post-44322068417751853512012-06-15T04:52:00.001-07:002012-06-18T04:23:44.458-07:00Time for the Door Trap<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Torres scores the first</td></tr>
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I was wrong. I was again dragged into the fantasy that we could have forced some result from this match. No, it was never going to happen. What a display by Spain. Sublime in possession, relentless in defense and Fernando Torres announcing on the world stage that he was back on form. Tika-taka football was the order of the evening but unlike a serving of Tapas it wasn't served bite sized.<br />
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Wave after wave of Spanish attack began to erode the Irish resistance and it was only a matter of minutes before El-Nino broke all barriers that stood in his way. The rest is history. Roy Keane was right in what he said too and if you listen to what he said, he wasn't having a go at the fans. In our desperation as a country to cling onto something positive that would help us forget the depression of the daily grind, we jumped on the bandwagon of mediocrity once again. The Irish are champions of the moral victory. Sing when you're winning, sing when you're losing. Be grand!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This has no relevance to the story but it's a cute picture</td></tr>
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I don't blame the players or the manager for last night as the Spanish are in a glorious era and this crop of players will be a highlight in their footballing history. I hardly blame the fans either. Of course they were right to support the team regardless in true Irish fashion.We did well to get there and well done to them all for that.<br />
<br />
But the fact of the matter is that we just don't have the quality in the current squad to compete at this level and that is not good enough. Two players without clubs, other players that can't get regular games at their clubs and ageing players make up the spine of the team. It's not good enough in the cold light of reality. Spending money to go to the Aviva or to travel abroad to watch well paid sub-standard players trying their best doesn't cut the mustard anymore especially when there is an alternative. Nobody has that money to spare nowadays and that is a certainty.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmqxW4I6rXmy9yP8paBcmEugFYr9r2rGEdkrFWvDALKQvBYXs_SlUuh8VF47kcENt3E4f44pkcXctp1GxzSvHxJUJ5wpmxKbOmsBvn0upJ8F3GPYX5nKeZcQKjYARvSJ1UyDx1lcZlMAc/s1600/inpho_00607242-390x285.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmqxW4I6rXmy9yP8paBcmEugFYr9r2rGEdkrFWvDALKQvBYXs_SlUuh8VF47kcENt3E4f44pkcXctp1GxzSvHxJUJ5wpmxKbOmsBvn0upJ8F3GPYX5nKeZcQKjYARvSJ1UyDx1lcZlMAc/s320/inpho_00607242-390x285.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trapattoni</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I always liked Trapattoni and still do but all good things come to an end. I used to watch Football Italia as a child and even though he did really well to get us to Euro 2012, his belief in an archaic system and his lack of belief in our younger players leads us to another one of those classic Irish questions. What might have been?<br />
<br />
The FAI have already given him another two years in charge and we face a huge test to try and qualify for the next World Cup with Germany, Sweden and Austria all ready to rumble. Personally, I think we should have waited until after the Euros. We could be looking for a new manager who would have an open mind and get us playing good football using different formations and most importantly bringing younger players and those left out by Trapattoni into the mix. Clark, Pilkington, Houlihan, Brady, Coleman, Cunningham, McClean to name but a few. Switzerland beat Spain in 2009, Northern Ireland beat them in 2007. Different circumstances, yes but it illustrates the fact that nothing is impossible when you go about it the right way. The question of an all-Ireland team must also be discussed but that's another days work.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2kLgRaKPedaTZ0lX_IrB8-fdS-9XGiBJjwCTYNPND2oe-D6rK7Yvt48LZ5-fFu-ta05a6JZb6t9AbuD8l18SeJ4VE3-ZCWFZJRS8U8SFygRKc77PHowlctC706WyLQc5pg4IR01KLL8/s1600/www+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2kLgRaKPedaTZ0lX_IrB8-fdS-9XGiBJjwCTYNPND2oe-D6rK7Yvt48LZ5-fFu-ta05a6JZb6t9AbuD8l18SeJ4VE3-ZCWFZJRS8U8SFygRKc77PHowlctC706WyLQc5pg4IR01KLL8/s320/www+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Martin Ó Neill, Louis Van Gaal <br />
& Jurgen Klinsmann</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Here are three men that could fit the bill. Yes they would cost a few Euro but I think the Aviva would be full if they would play a good brand of football and have the young guns on board.</div>The Red Quarter. Bilingual blog for the times we live in.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13257704362219302853noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325636284722336137.post-70594064857124367982012-06-13T02:37:00.001-07:002012-06-13T02:37:26.329-07:00Sound Advice from a certain Chuck Norris<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU3ShfRZfaeh6ji1SyY_UxQ3RnNMG1A8_XKomYchZvOMp9Gzf6Acvk6vU2b5Afv9J5SCkUF4YZIcIrorkaBhA08Wwuz0EwmxmHtOcgke1DJIxzx5F7Tlq485TJC8S0ubJtgOCNEizgS3Q/s1600/ch+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU3ShfRZfaeh6ji1SyY_UxQ3RnNMG1A8_XKomYchZvOMp9Gzf6Acvk6vU2b5Afv9J5SCkUF4YZIcIrorkaBhA08Wwuz0EwmxmHtOcgke1DJIxzx5F7Tlq485TJC8S0ubJtgOCNEizgS3Q/s320/ch+copy.jpg" width="268" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An t-Uasal Chuck Norris</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Mr. Norris was speaking at one of the Fan zones in Poznan last night and assured the Irish people that he would be visiting his friend Richard Dunne to go throw some moves that can be implemented against the Spanish on Thursday evening.<br />
<br />
Mr. Norris was on his way to Warsaw having been asked by the Police Commissioner to intervene when Polish and Russian fans clashed ahead of their Group A match. Surprisingly, there were more injuries reported when Norris arrived on the scene. Chuck Norris was later spotted in a local bar with an unknown blonde lady whose surname was believed to be Terry.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyV7TH1rGBQLDyhvsDo5jotYOcuIGW2BJLuJp6sHRJNBF4ZOQphhsHy8b1iNiBtKY489SpX5rv9TZ6Niuz1sNEWqOfe5R6tdSJf9N2qkgLVd5SPvK1wb2E81NSyimTxBW5X6N_tPywEok/s1600/john-terry-crying2_782147c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyV7TH1rGBQLDyhvsDo5jotYOcuIGW2BJLuJp6sHRJNBF4ZOQphhsHy8b1iNiBtKY489SpX5rv9TZ6Niuz1sNEWqOfe5R6tdSJf9N2qkgLVd5SPvK1wb2E81NSyimTxBW5X6N_tPywEok/s200/john-terry-crying2_782147c.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Former England Captain John Terry</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>The Red Quarter. Bilingual blog for the times we live in.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13257704362219302853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325636284722336137.post-4088558521316630582012-06-12T08:07:00.003-07:002012-06-12T08:31:03.107-07:00Down but not out...yet?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpza5mx3zaMeBUqFo1NRScvWTf3EHhMHPHxtF6QmUYYFGWfEl_XTjtHelRmmYDzRcUOh8O88VI8frIWyg738E9M0-GfBjwvW9RcPeVk5sGiFMmIFbE6t426vn7OaAGdc_F5bu1T4y4V6Q/s1600/ireland1-getty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpza5mx3zaMeBUqFo1NRScvWTf3EHhMHPHxtF6QmUYYFGWfEl_XTjtHelRmmYDzRcUOh8O88VI8frIWyg738E9M0-GfBjwvW9RcPeVk5sGiFMmIFbE6t426vn7OaAGdc_F5bu1T4y4V6Q/s320/ireland1-getty.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Such as bad start.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
What a disappointing start to Euro 2012, well from an Irish perspective anyway. With all the hype and the unrealistic talk of winning the competition in the style of Greece 2004, the wheels came off big time in Poznan last Sunday night and you could draw a better comparison between our implosion and that of the Greek economy. Be that as it may, we are down but not out and a draw against the World and European Champions could give us a glimmer of hope to cling onto going into the last match with a rejuvenated Italian team.<br />
<br />
The goals that Croatia scored were in some ways lucky but to believe they were not the better team and base it all down to an off night for Ireland would be purely naive. Ireland are limited and as we have known for some time lack the goal scoring threat of the top teams. Marry that with a lack of creativity in mid field, our tough defence and you have a team that sets out to draw or steal a win straight off. Predictable for sure.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIglOa7iz-b3kmOaRorqRvfyn6BVptzZleDxEmDli37cTzYawwxS8IbTFzplXDvCL-sW4KgfrWmLrPLszHrrDdmUkUCgAZcpNZsPLNxZGO23kshHBMDthpdTSuRVDMFRSMESLSzy-jt4/s1600/euro2012_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIglOa7iz-b3kmOaRorqRvfyn6BVptzZleDxEmDli37cTzYawwxS8IbTFzplXDvCL-sW4KgfrWmLrPLszHrrDdmUkUCgAZcpNZsPLNxZGO23kshHBMDthpdTSuRVDMFRSMESLSzy-jt4/s320/euro2012_001.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Las Rojas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Slaven Billic knew how Ireland would play and told us so a few days before the game. Trap held nothing in reserve that Billic was not aware of, well apart form McClean and our most in form strikers Long and Walters. As the hoards of Irish fans head for Gdansk, we hope and pray for a decent performance by the boys in green against one of the greatest football teams to ever grace the fields of play. Yes they are without their main man up front David Villa and their spiritual leader Carlos Puyol but they still pack a punch and look as slick as ever on the ball.<br />
<br />
They went into the Italian game without an out and out striker which left an embarrassment of riches on the bench in the shape of Llorente, Pedro, Mata and of course Torres but to name a few. One wonders what side del Bosque will field against Traps men on Thursday considering how they played against Italy. They will be confident they can come out of the game with three points and be in a healthy position going into their final group game against the Croats. But if we get the rub of the green and we get stuck in, there is no reason why we cannot get something out of this match.<br />
<br />
Spain had a tendency to try and walk the ball into the goal against Italy. Classic Barcelona play but without a fundamental component, Messi. However, when Torres was introduced late on in the Italian match the<br />
method of attack changed and quick ball was fed to the Chelsea man and he looked dangerous. It is probable then that he will start in Gdansk as the out and out striker.<br />
<br />
This would spell trouble for Ireland and would mean that more so than ever they would have to take the game to the Spanish from early on, disrupt their passing game by getting in their faces and hoping they can sneak a goal from somewhere.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZSuPhS4QZxwzs8H2cBPHTdLBU-vyCkgdIKLL5vlx7p5bCcyodZCI3m5T1UcWkFdYss5mQnRpzvpzEqzpLbyt7j42CrcwOiNbLb5Y4QDNqisnc6bl2BRbN5orwj6pSeaYwg48n2FylaQ0/s1600/james_mcclean_68804_688484g2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZSuPhS4QZxwzs8H2cBPHTdLBU-vyCkgdIKLL5vlx7p5bCcyodZCI3m5T1UcWkFdYss5mQnRpzvpzEqzpLbyt7j42CrcwOiNbLb5Y4QDNqisnc6bl2BRbN5orwj6pSeaYwg48n2FylaQ0/s200/james_mcclean_68804_688484g2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">McClean</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Jonathan Walters could be the man to pose Pique some problems. The Spanish do not like the physical battles and especially the aerial duels. Walters is a big man who is also well able to play and could be a nightmare for the erratic Sergio Ramos who is known to give away crazy free kicks in dangerous areas.<br />
<br />
We all wish Trapattoni would be a little more adventurous but chance would be a fine thing. It would be fantastic to see Long and McClean come off the bench early on and I would start Stephen Kelly instead of Ward at right back and move Ó Shea to left back. Perhaps Trapattoni is playing down the chances of McClean getting a chance to show his worth in an attempt to keep him under the Spanish radar. Wishful thinking but you'd never know.<br />
<br />
It is going to be a God almighty struggle to get something from this match but we have to believe or else the Euros will be over and the over riding feeling will be one of anti-climax. We are ranked 18th in the world and are in a very difficult group. We were outclassed in Poznan on Sunday but were also very unlucky. Maybe we will get the luck this time against Spain. We should have beaten them in World Cup 2002 so this might be the moment the plates of the world come together and we cause the upset.<br />
<br />
I'll put my head on the block and predict a scoreline for the craic! Spain 1-2 Ireland. I can't see Spain not scoring and I am going for broke for the win. God knows where the goals will come. If I am wrong so be it. If I am right, well then you heard it here first!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFRoSAtG39YYt2uar9VKoe0P4V5_eW5U04ISOL8oP-mL1HEokvGWcoRwFwI2Thx6U2xz13Urk32lndbz12O7n1oH5wJXA-hSZry9dSFq4NbQz1D47mUSRVRVYhWfYdVWb9n8zVLPFnZk/s1600/Au4ZMJmCAAAW58v.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFRoSAtG39YYt2uar9VKoe0P4V5_eW5U04ISOL8oP-mL1HEokvGWcoRwFwI2Thx6U2xz13Urk32lndbz12O7n1oH5wJXA-hSZry9dSFq4NbQz1D47mUSRVRVYhWfYdVWb9n8zVLPFnZk/s320/Au4ZMJmCAAAW58v.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Classic Irish humour.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Apart from the football, it must be noted that the Irish fans are playing a blinder again representing us on the world stage. More power to them. Tá súil agam go mbainfidh siad an chraic as.<br />
<br />
Signed, one of life's greatest optimists!<br />
<br />
<br /></div>The Red Quarter. Bilingual blog for the times we live in.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13257704362219302853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325636284722336137.post-18318618397391397212012-05-21T04:38:00.000-07:002012-05-21T04:38:03.339-07:00One Night In Liverpool<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I came across this article I wrote in 2005 and seeing as Chelsea performed a bit of a Lazarus to win the Champions League on Saturday, I said I would post it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPWBKalEaqGuzAkrT9WAu5XMITiIlBcTdHInwa0R3R_EOIkhpvUve7hXkb9Csj8HEb1gPAUohcFDX9mRPuSv-UXrPBT9MLc0YSnjgDxCuJ5eIbkDW_GRANjYX4hO8lgUcLctf34htia2g/s1600/lv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPWBKalEaqGuzAkrT9WAu5XMITiIlBcTdHInwa0R3R_EOIkhpvUve7hXkb9Csj8HEb1gPAUohcFDX9mRPuSv-UXrPBT9MLc0YSnjgDxCuJ5eIbkDW_GRANjYX4hO8lgUcLctf34htia2g/s320/lv.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Picture this - a group of Connemara lads in <st1:place w:st="on">Liverpool</st1:place> witnessing one of the greatest comebacks in
European football history. Men who had once as kids played soccer in lumpy
lawns commentating as Gaeilge and pretending to be <st1:place w:st="on">Liverpool</st1:place>
stars were now standing shoulder to shoulder with the locals on a night when
near doom turned to euphoric drama. As I stood there soaking it all in, I knew
it would be a memory I would always cherish. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes, like the rest of the fans who filled the streets in
celebration that night we basked in a famous victory, but the sense of occasion
wasn't wasted on us either! We knew we had witnessed something unique and we
were just glad to be there. The city was festooned with red flags, balloons;
bunting and even some cars were spray painted in the colours of <st1:place w:st="on">Liverpool</st1:place> football club. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Even now as I write this blog I have a smile on my face as I
picture my mates Peter and Keith singing at the top of their voices "Rafa,
Rafael, Rafa, Rafael, Rafa, Rafael, Rafael Benitez". They wore fake Afro
wigs in honour of the Scouser stereotype. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This was one of those once in a lifetime moments when
unwritten rules of the football fan came to the fore - giving a complete
stranger a hug or professing undying loyalty and love to your friends. You will
know what I mean if you love football - it's just one of those things.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The atmosphere last night was simply electric and I am still
buzzing if the truth be known. Joy and happiness engulfed the air as it does on
these occasions and people were happy to park their life's worries for the
greater good. The only poor souls who seemed to be working on this particular
Wednesday evening were the bar staff in the city's hostelries or the police who
were also in a jovial mood carrying out their duties.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nationality meant nothing as long as you had the Liver bird
close to your chest.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:place w:st="on">Liverpool</st1:place> is mostly famous
for football and music and this is a badge of honour the locals wear proudly,
and rightly so. In terms of identity, you’re either a Liverpudlian or an Evertonian
first, English second.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As the afternoon turned to evening and the match unfolded in
front of us, you could sense the disappointment creeping into the place. As
Maldini and Crespo's goals went in you could really sense hope was fading away.
But we remained positive and kept singing, we're Irish and that's what we do.
Our confidence was well rewarded all the same with what happened subsequently.
A truly magical night, the stuff of legend really.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My friends and I will always reflect on last night as one of
the special occasions in our lives. Oíche den scoth i gcathair thar sáile. On
that balmy night in May it all seemed to make perfect sense.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And to cap it all off we were photographed by the BBC at the
airport as we departed for home and it was published on their website. A bunch
of Connemara lads and John Lennon's statue together for the entire world to see
on a glorious night for <st1:place w:st="on">Liverpool</st1:place>. Imagine
that!</div>
</div>The Red Quarter. Bilingual blog for the times we live in.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13257704362219302853noreply@blogger.com1