Thursday, April 17, 2008
Peter van Houdt
Sint-Truiden heeft Peter Van Houdt op het matje geroepen. De aanvaller was dinsdagavond betrokken bij een verkeersongeval. Hij reed met zijn wagen in Sint-Truiden over een rotonde en belandde tegen de gevel van een huis. De speler bleef ongedeerd, maar legde wel een positieve ademtest af.Nodige maatregelenSint-Truiden reageert in een kort communiqué op de mediaberichten over het ongeval. "De clubleiding nodigde de speler vanmorgen uit voor een diepgaand en kritisch onderhoud. STVV is bijzonder teleurgesteld over zijn onprofessionele handelswijze en neemt de nodige maatregelen tegen de speler. De inhoud hiervan blijft tussen de clubleiding en de speler", klinkt het.Volgende week onder mesSint-Truiden biedt Van Houdt een bezinningsperiode aan. De speler zou zich normaal na het seizoen laten opereren aan zijn voeten, maar gaat nu al volgende week donderdag onder het mes. Dat betekent dat Van Houdt dit seizoen niet meer in actie zal komen. "STVV zal de speler de nodige steun en begeleiding bieden tijdens het revalidatieproces, zodat hij topfit aan de voorbereiding van het nieuwe seizoen kan beginnen", meldt STVV.VerontschuldigingenDe club wil voorlopig geen verder commentaar kwijt. Op de website van STVV verontschuldigt Peter Van Houdt zich ondertussen bij de slachtoffers van het vekeersongeval voor de geleden morele en materiële schade. Bij de clubleiding, de sponsors en de supporters excuseert hij zich voor zijn onprofessionele houding.
5 typen meiskes die ge op café gaat vinden
Meisjes die op café gaan, je hebt er in soorten. In een zeer onwetenschappelijk en niet-representatief 'onderzoek' van een universiteitsmagazine, kwamen vijf types die rondhangen in universiteitsbars naar boven. 1) Paparazzi-girlEen duidelijk kind van haar generatie, gaat dit meisje niet op stap zonder digitaal fototoestel en een troep vriendinnen. Elke slok van haar weg naar dronkenschap moet en zal worden vastgelegd, om later voor de hele wereld op Facebook of MySpace, euh, 'bewonderd' te kunnen worden. Zeer onbetrouwbaar type: doet alles voor drank én een foto, inclusief beloven dat je met haar in bed mag duiken als jij de foto's neemt. Geloof ons: dat zal niet gebeuren.2) De multitaskerKan tegelijk een biertje bestellen, telefoneren met een vriendin, een dronken klasgenoot dulden én meezingen met de muziek. De moderne tijden dringen ook de veilige barwereld binnen, jaja. Een conversatie starten met haar is echter quasi onmogelijk. Misschien best, of je krijgt freaky, telepathische kinderen.3) Fake lesbiennesZe doen het expres, om jouw aandacht te trekken. Het werkt, dat weet jij ook. En nee, ze menen het niet. Aandacht dat willen ze, de kans dat je met beide het bed in mag is nihil, nul, onbestaande. Sorry voor de desillusie, maar hey, aan kijken heb je ook nog altijd iets.4) De avonturiersterDeze meid heeft de Atlantische of Stille oceaan al overgestoken en is daar heel trots op. Iedereen moet het horen, ook al is het niet interessant. Misschien leidt geduld en een luisterend oor wel tot iets meer, maar we beloven niks.5) De mamaDit type moet je leren spotten in de massa, alle knipperlichten moeten op rood springen. Om haar te vermijden, jazeker, maar ook om te zien met wié ze gekomen is. De mama zal namelijk al haar vriendinnen 'beschermen' tegen jouw slechte invloed. Ze is in staat om de vriendin weg te trekken als jullie al heerlijk speeksel aan het uitwisselen zijn en je nog eens na te trappen in je-weet-wel-waar. Echter, als je ze kan overtuigen om zich te laten gaan, kan dit het wildste nachtje uit je leven worden. Want het zijn zij die zich inhouden, die er echt voor gaan als ze zich laten gaan...
Maria is populairste naam in België
Maria is populairste naam in BelgiëDe naam van de heilige maagd is nog steeds de meest voorkomende in België. Liefst 183.000 landgenoten heten Maria. Bij de mannen is Jean de populairste naam, maar België telt intussen ook twee Zorro's en drie Witses. In Vlaanderen is Marc de meest voorkomende naam voor mannen, gevolgd door Jan en Luc. In Wallonië is Jean het populairst, voor Michel en Philippe. In Brussel bestaat de topdrie uit Jean, Mohamed en Michel.De meest voorkomende namen voor vrouwen zijn nog steeds Maria (183.000) en Marie (126.000). In Vlaanderen staat Rita op drie en in Wallonië en Brussel worden Maria en Marie gevolgd door Anne.De Belg wordt echter steeds creatiever in de zoektocht naar een voornaam. Ons land telt intussen negentien Frodo's, vijf Beyonce's en twee Aspes.
Galway in Leinster
GER Loughnane is backing the proposal for Galway hurlers to spread their wings across the Shannon and into Leinster as part of a revamped All-Ireland championship.
The Hurling Development Committee want Galway to join Kilkenny, Wexford, Offaly and Dublin in a round-robin Leinster championship. The Munster championship would be played on a similar basis.
Galway have repeatedly rebuffed proposals to play in Leinster, but Loughnane believes that the latest plan, which would see them stage two 'home' games, has merit.
"I think when most reasonable Galway people examine this year's system they'll see that it has far more dangers than playing in Leinster would. I won't be getting involved in the debate, but if I'm asked for my opinion I'd side with the Leinster proposal," he said.
Survive
Galway are due to play Antrim in a first round qualifier this year and, if they survive that, they will be straight into the knock-out phase which means they might only get two games whereas they would be guaranteed a minimum of four in Leinster.
Meanwhile, he has warned the squad not to rely too heavily on teenage sensation, Joe Canning who made such an impressive senior debut against Cork in the Allianz League semi-final last Sunday.
Loughnane said that when such an exciting talent comes along there may be a tendency for others to look to him to deliver something special every day.
"He'll be a marked man -- in fact he's literally a marked man after last Sunday -- so he needs plenty support. The great thing about him is that he has a terrific temperament."
As for the return to the panel of Joe's older brother Ollie, Loughnane said that it was a chance worth taking by the experienced corner-back.
The Hurling Development Committee want Galway to join Kilkenny, Wexford, Offaly and Dublin in a round-robin Leinster championship. The Munster championship would be played on a similar basis.
Galway have repeatedly rebuffed proposals to play in Leinster, but Loughnane believes that the latest plan, which would see them stage two 'home' games, has merit.
"I think when most reasonable Galway people examine this year's system they'll see that it has far more dangers than playing in Leinster would. I won't be getting involved in the debate, but if I'm asked for my opinion I'd side with the Leinster proposal," he said.
Survive
Galway are due to play Antrim in a first round qualifier this year and, if they survive that, they will be straight into the knock-out phase which means they might only get two games whereas they would be guaranteed a minimum of four in Leinster.
Meanwhile, he has warned the squad not to rely too heavily on teenage sensation, Joe Canning who made such an impressive senior debut against Cork in the Allianz League semi-final last Sunday.
Loughnane said that when such an exciting talent comes along there may be a tendency for others to look to him to deliver something special every day.
"He'll be a marked man -- in fact he's literally a marked man after last Sunday -- so he needs plenty support. The great thing about him is that he has a terrific temperament."
As for the return to the panel of Joe's older brother Ollie, Loughnane said that it was a chance worth taking by the experienced corner-back.
An sibin
THE most famous shebeen in the country is back doing a roaring trade despite two garda raids earlier this week.
Last night, drinkers in the Southill shebeen in Limerick city happily smoked and drank while they played pool, darts and cards.
The shebeen, which is nicknamed 'My Mother's', is run by Francis Kelly (33) from Lilac Court, Southill.
Mr Kelly explained that he is barred from every pub in Limerick, so he had to build his own place.
"Check with any of the pubs in town. I am barred out of every single one of them. This is my own private place, it is not a pub, it is my home and I am very proud of it," Mr Kelly said.
Security
A security camera guards the low entrance to the premises and the music of the Wolfe Tones greets all who enter.
The bar area can accommodate up to 50 people. The TV is equipped with all channels and a dart board, pool table and poker machine are also available.
"We all pool together and buy our own drinks from the off-licence. A slab costs us €23.99; a bottle of Heineken in the pub costs €5. It's common sense.
"We drink up here, there is no money changing hands, this is a private place. We have fridges, taps and gas for pints," Mr Kelly said.
"It is called 'My Mother's' as before any of the lads here who were getting hassle from their wives or girlfriends would get fed up and say they were off to their mother's. Now it has a different meaning," joked Francis.
The shebeen opened during Cheltenham race week and has been closed twice since by gardai.
An estimated €1,500 worth of stock was taken from the pub during the garda raids at the weekend.
"I resent the invasion by gardai and will be taking legal action against them and am applying to have my property returned to me. There is no hassle from anyone here and it is well run," added Mr Kelly, who is single.
Closing time
Closing time is called by Francis whenever he decides. "This is my home and I can have whoever I want inside here. We are here to stay and will not be treated any different."
"This was built by all the local lads here with free labour. It cost nothing and is our own private place. We can drink and smoke here as it is a private premises," Mr Kelly said.
A wheelchair-bound customer, Eddie Casey (70), who was yesterday enjoying a can of cider, is soon to be provided with a disabled toilet.
Plans are also in place to build a snug for people who "like a quiet drink" and punters soon hope to put a darts team together.
'My Mother's' was said to be very busy last night. Sitting in the corner, Southill men Les Dearman (59) and Mick Carey (42) said there was nowhere they'd rather be.
"I see it as a community centre. It is a place to meet and chat away with my friends," said Mr Dearman. Mr Carey said: "This is all a controlled environment and there is no hassle here."
It is understood that Francis Casey will be brought before Limerick District Court soon in connection with last weekend's garda raids.
Before you start reading a little background information. A sibín is an illegal bar in someone’s house. Limerick, aslo called Stab city, is Ireland’s most criminal city with several gangs fighting over several issues, the highest percentage of nackers (or people belonging to the travelling community as they should be called) and the highest illegal dissident IRA activity in Ireland. This highly explosive mix culminates into the most volatile explosive possible in Southill, a place so notorious even people in Cork’s Knocknaheeny or Dublin’s Ballymun are afraid to go there.
The estate is dived into 4 parks: Donagh O' Malley Park, John Carew Park, Keyes Park and Kincora Park of which O’Malley is the most dangerous.
O’Malley park is known troughout Ireland for being, and I quote one of the residents here,: “More dangerous than a gay party in a Bagdad Mosque”
Now enjoy reading ;)
A SHEBEEN was raided over the weekend and thousands of euros worth of alcohol was seized by gardai.
The illegal pub which was opened in a home in O'Malley Park, Southill, Limerick last month was raided by officers twice over the weekend.
It is understood the owner of the house charged patrons €40 to enter the property and avail of the bar service he had set up in the sitting room.
When the enterprising bartender believed that a customer had consumed his €40 worth of alcohol, the punter had to leave the premises and repay the entry fee if he wished to begin drinking inside again.
Pints were sold for a keenly priced €3.
Residents had been flocking to their neighbour's home since the shebeen opened last month. The bar was fully equipped with beer kegs, taps and gas cylinders to ensure good quality products.
Armed with search warrants, gardai from Roxboro Road station raided the shebeen on two occasions over the weekend.
A number of kegs, fridges and beer taps were seized. A sizeable amount of alcohol -- including spirits and beer -- was also recovered from the fully stocked bar.
One man was arrested for a breach of the peace during the raids.
Under the provision of the Intoxicating Liquor Act, any person suspected of selling alcohol without a licence can be arrested and any alcohol found in the shebeen can be seized.
A person convicted of illegally selling alcohol is likely to be fined.
O'Malley Park, on the city's southside, is home to 600 houses and is currently undergoing a major regeneration scheme.
It has been blighted by antisocial behaviour, and has been associated with the city's bloody feud.
For those who don’t know what a Sibin is:
Chiefly in Ireland, Scotland, South Africa and Zimbabwe, a shebeen (Irish: sibín) is an illicit bar or club where excisable alcoholic beverages are sold without a licence. In Namibia, such an establishment is known as a Cuca Shop.
In America, the word shebeen saw general use by Irish immigrants who worked in the anthracite patches of Pennsylvania. One of the leaders of the Molly Maguires was a shebeen-keeper, hanged in Scranton.
In South Africa and Zimbabwe, Shebeens are most often located in black townships as an alternative to pubs and bars, where during apartheid and the Rhodesian era, black Africans could not enter a pub or bar reserved for white Africans. Originally, shebeens were operated illegally, selling homebrewed alcohol and providing patrons with a gathering place where they could meet and discuss political and social issues. Often, patrons and owners were arrested by the police, though the shebeens were frequently reopened because of their importance in unifying the community and providing a safe place for discussion. [1] During the apartheid shebeens became a crucial place for activists to meet, some attracting lower class activists and community members, while others attracted lawyers, doctors and musicians. [2] Shebeens also provided music and dancing, allowing patrons to express themselves culturally, which eventually helped give rise and support the musical genre kwaito. [3] Currently, shebeens are legal in South Africa and have become an integral part of South African urban culture, serving commercial beers as well as Umqombothi, a traditional African beer made from millet. Sheebeens still form an important part of today’s social scene. In contemporary South Africa, they serve as a function similar to jook joints for African Americans in the rural south. They represent a sense of community, identity, and belonging. Today, they are legally operated and appeal to Africa’s youth, ages 18-24, mostly owned by men. Shebeens are bouncing back as South Africans try to preserve some of their rich cultural heritage. [4]Shebeens are a custom in the black community that will be passed on from one generation to the next, and like any custom they are susceptible to change in order to fit new lifestyles. [5] The word is of Irish origin, spelt síbín in Irish Gaelic, though its etymology is obscure.
The Shebeen was the name of the Rolling Stones backstage area, and it is the name of Keith Richards Lewis' Maltese.
Last night, drinkers in the Southill shebeen in Limerick city happily smoked and drank while they played pool, darts and cards.
The shebeen, which is nicknamed 'My Mother's', is run by Francis Kelly (33) from Lilac Court, Southill.
Mr Kelly explained that he is barred from every pub in Limerick, so he had to build his own place.
"Check with any of the pubs in town. I am barred out of every single one of them. This is my own private place, it is not a pub, it is my home and I am very proud of it," Mr Kelly said.
Security
A security camera guards the low entrance to the premises and the music of the Wolfe Tones greets all who enter.
The bar area can accommodate up to 50 people. The TV is equipped with all channels and a dart board, pool table and poker machine are also available.
"We all pool together and buy our own drinks from the off-licence. A slab costs us €23.99; a bottle of Heineken in the pub costs €5. It's common sense.
"We drink up here, there is no money changing hands, this is a private place. We have fridges, taps and gas for pints," Mr Kelly said.
"It is called 'My Mother's' as before any of the lads here who were getting hassle from their wives or girlfriends would get fed up and say they were off to their mother's. Now it has a different meaning," joked Francis.
The shebeen opened during Cheltenham race week and has been closed twice since by gardai.
An estimated €1,500 worth of stock was taken from the pub during the garda raids at the weekend.
"I resent the invasion by gardai and will be taking legal action against them and am applying to have my property returned to me. There is no hassle from anyone here and it is well run," added Mr Kelly, who is single.
Closing time
Closing time is called by Francis whenever he decides. "This is my home and I can have whoever I want inside here. We are here to stay and will not be treated any different."
"This was built by all the local lads here with free labour. It cost nothing and is our own private place. We can drink and smoke here as it is a private premises," Mr Kelly said.
A wheelchair-bound customer, Eddie Casey (70), who was yesterday enjoying a can of cider, is soon to be provided with a disabled toilet.
Plans are also in place to build a snug for people who "like a quiet drink" and punters soon hope to put a darts team together.
'My Mother's' was said to be very busy last night. Sitting in the corner, Southill men Les Dearman (59) and Mick Carey (42) said there was nowhere they'd rather be.
"I see it as a community centre. It is a place to meet and chat away with my friends," said Mr Dearman. Mr Carey said: "This is all a controlled environment and there is no hassle here."
It is understood that Francis Casey will be brought before Limerick District Court soon in connection with last weekend's garda raids.
Before you start reading a little background information. A sibín is an illegal bar in someone’s house. Limerick, aslo called Stab city, is Ireland’s most criminal city with several gangs fighting over several issues, the highest percentage of nackers (or people belonging to the travelling community as they should be called) and the highest illegal dissident IRA activity in Ireland. This highly explosive mix culminates into the most volatile explosive possible in Southill, a place so notorious even people in Cork’s Knocknaheeny or Dublin’s Ballymun are afraid to go there.
The estate is dived into 4 parks: Donagh O' Malley Park, John Carew Park, Keyes Park and Kincora Park of which O’Malley is the most dangerous.
O’Malley park is known troughout Ireland for being, and I quote one of the residents here,: “More dangerous than a gay party in a Bagdad Mosque”
Now enjoy reading ;)
A SHEBEEN was raided over the weekend and thousands of euros worth of alcohol was seized by gardai.
The illegal pub which was opened in a home in O'Malley Park, Southill, Limerick last month was raided by officers twice over the weekend.
It is understood the owner of the house charged patrons €40 to enter the property and avail of the bar service he had set up in the sitting room.
When the enterprising bartender believed that a customer had consumed his €40 worth of alcohol, the punter had to leave the premises and repay the entry fee if he wished to begin drinking inside again.
Pints were sold for a keenly priced €3.
Residents had been flocking to their neighbour's home since the shebeen opened last month. The bar was fully equipped with beer kegs, taps and gas cylinders to ensure good quality products.
Armed with search warrants, gardai from Roxboro Road station raided the shebeen on two occasions over the weekend.
A number of kegs, fridges and beer taps were seized. A sizeable amount of alcohol -- including spirits and beer -- was also recovered from the fully stocked bar.
One man was arrested for a breach of the peace during the raids.
Under the provision of the Intoxicating Liquor Act, any person suspected of selling alcohol without a licence can be arrested and any alcohol found in the shebeen can be seized.
A person convicted of illegally selling alcohol is likely to be fined.
O'Malley Park, on the city's southside, is home to 600 houses and is currently undergoing a major regeneration scheme.
It has been blighted by antisocial behaviour, and has been associated with the city's bloody feud.
For those who don’t know what a Sibin is:
Chiefly in Ireland, Scotland, South Africa and Zimbabwe, a shebeen (Irish: sibín) is an illicit bar or club where excisable alcoholic beverages are sold without a licence. In Namibia, such an establishment is known as a Cuca Shop.
In America, the word shebeen saw general use by Irish immigrants who worked in the anthracite patches of Pennsylvania. One of the leaders of the Molly Maguires was a shebeen-keeper, hanged in Scranton.
In South Africa and Zimbabwe, Shebeens are most often located in black townships as an alternative to pubs and bars, where during apartheid and the Rhodesian era, black Africans could not enter a pub or bar reserved for white Africans. Originally, shebeens were operated illegally, selling homebrewed alcohol and providing patrons with a gathering place where they could meet and discuss political and social issues. Often, patrons and owners were arrested by the police, though the shebeens were frequently reopened because of their importance in unifying the community and providing a safe place for discussion. [1] During the apartheid shebeens became a crucial place for activists to meet, some attracting lower class activists and community members, while others attracted lawyers, doctors and musicians. [2] Shebeens also provided music and dancing, allowing patrons to express themselves culturally, which eventually helped give rise and support the musical genre kwaito. [3] Currently, shebeens are legal in South Africa and have become an integral part of South African urban culture, serving commercial beers as well as Umqombothi, a traditional African beer made from millet. Sheebeens still form an important part of today’s social scene. In contemporary South Africa, they serve as a function similar to jook joints for African Americans in the rural south. They represent a sense of community, identity, and belonging. Today, they are legally operated and appeal to Africa’s youth, ages 18-24, mostly owned by men. Shebeens are bouncing back as South Africans try to preserve some of their rich cultural heritage. [4]Shebeens are a custom in the black community that will be passed on from one generation to the next, and like any custom they are susceptible to change in order to fit new lifestyles. [5] The word is of Irish origin, spelt síbín in Irish Gaelic, though its etymology is obscure.
The Shebeen was the name of the Rolling Stones backstage area, and it is the name of Keith Richards Lewis' Maltese.
Noble and good man finds his final peace
At the end of his final journey, Patrick Hillery came to rest on the brow of a gentle hill, where below him the green meadow swept gracefully down towards the sun-sparkled waves forming frills along Dollymount Strand.
They weren't the powerful Atlantic waves crashing against the battered cliffs of Kilkee or the rocky outcrops of Spanish Point in his native county Clare, but it was overlooking this piece of coastline in St Fintan's cemetery in Sutton, that the late Uachtarain na hEireann chose to be buried yesterday.
In a quiet spot between two pretty sycamore trees, Paddy Hillery was laid to rest according to his wish beside his daughter Vivienne, who died in 1987 at the age of 17.
The cortege had taken longer than scheduled to arrive at the graveyard, but the crowd of about 200 who had come to pay their respects were content to wait under bright sunshine, which cast a weak warmth over the exposed hillside as the biting wind faded to a breeze.
At 3.15pm, the cortege arrived, played in by the army band. The two ceremonies at the Pro-Cathedral -- the removal on Tuesday and the funeral mass yesterday -- may have emphasised the family aspect of his life, but Paddy Hillery's burial with full military honours was a more formal recognition of the statesman.
Lament
It was a carefully co-ordinated ceremony; a short distance from the graveside, the Tricolour-draped coffin was removed from the hearse and carried the last few yards by 10 army bearers, led by lone piper Sergeant Kevin Duncan playing a traditional lament.
Behind the coffin, Paddy and Maeve's son John walked hand-in-hand with his wife, Caroline, and behind Mrs Hillery's car, a sombre snake of mourners flowed up the hill, led by President McAleese and her husband Martin, and the Taoiseach.
In silence, the large crowd gathered in a semi-circle around the graveside as the army bearers removed the Irish flag from the coffin and with slow-motion precision folded it and presented it -- green portion facing up as tradition requires -- to Mrs Hillery who accepted it with a quiet word of thanks.
The short burial prayers were conducted by Paddy and Maeve's nephew, Fr Des Hillery, who had flown in from Peru to participate in the funeral. He then invited Brian Cowen to deliver the graveside oration.
The Taoiseach-in-waiting was chosen by the family as he is a friend of John Hillery, but nonetheless the occasion had a significance to it that stretched beyond that of a man paying tribute to the deceased father of a friend.
The last State funeral to pass through the cemetery gates was that of Charles Haughey in 2006, on an unseasonably cold June day.
On that occasion, the graveside oration was delivered by his anointed political heir, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern who gave a passionate defence of his former leader -- a politician who had clashed with then-President Hillery in 1982 over the dissolution of the Dail.
But yesterday Bertie stood with the rest of the mourners, and it was the words of his own anointed heir, Brian Cowen, that carved a picture of Paddy Hillery as a politician, statesman, father, husband, doctor and sailor.
Brian seemed a little nervous at first, but soon found his stride. His tribute was a delicate and eloquent mix of political and personal praise.
He referred to Dr Hillery's role at the outset of what he described as "Northern Ireland's descent into darkness", calling his support of the nationalist community "unflinching".
Referring to the turbulent political years in the Republic, he said: "Ireland and my party Fianna Fail owe him a huge debt for the manner in which he stood four square behind the leadership, behind the Constitution, and what it represented for a still young Republic."
The Tanaiste painted a vivid personal picture of Paddy Hillery also. "He has been variously described as honourable, decent, intelligent, courteous, warm and engaging. He was all of those things," he said. "Dr Patrick Hillery embodied all that is noble and good in a man, a doctor, a politician and public servant."
After the oration, three volleys were fired into the mild spring air. The pomp was over, but from the simple and dignified manner of his departure it was clear that the main image of Paddy Hillery to emerge this week was not that of politician or statesman, but -- as Brian Cowen described in his oration -- "the image of him sailing around Spanish Point heading for the Aran Islands wearing his familiar cap set against the Atlantic breeze".
They weren't the powerful Atlantic waves crashing against the battered cliffs of Kilkee or the rocky outcrops of Spanish Point in his native county Clare, but it was overlooking this piece of coastline in St Fintan's cemetery in Sutton, that the late Uachtarain na hEireann chose to be buried yesterday.
In a quiet spot between two pretty sycamore trees, Paddy Hillery was laid to rest according to his wish beside his daughter Vivienne, who died in 1987 at the age of 17.
The cortege had taken longer than scheduled to arrive at the graveyard, but the crowd of about 200 who had come to pay their respects were content to wait under bright sunshine, which cast a weak warmth over the exposed hillside as the biting wind faded to a breeze.
At 3.15pm, the cortege arrived, played in by the army band. The two ceremonies at the Pro-Cathedral -- the removal on Tuesday and the funeral mass yesterday -- may have emphasised the family aspect of his life, but Paddy Hillery's burial with full military honours was a more formal recognition of the statesman.
Lament
It was a carefully co-ordinated ceremony; a short distance from the graveside, the Tricolour-draped coffin was removed from the hearse and carried the last few yards by 10 army bearers, led by lone piper Sergeant Kevin Duncan playing a traditional lament.
Behind the coffin, Paddy and Maeve's son John walked hand-in-hand with his wife, Caroline, and behind Mrs Hillery's car, a sombre snake of mourners flowed up the hill, led by President McAleese and her husband Martin, and the Taoiseach.
In silence, the large crowd gathered in a semi-circle around the graveside as the army bearers removed the Irish flag from the coffin and with slow-motion precision folded it and presented it -- green portion facing up as tradition requires -- to Mrs Hillery who accepted it with a quiet word of thanks.
The short burial prayers were conducted by Paddy and Maeve's nephew, Fr Des Hillery, who had flown in from Peru to participate in the funeral. He then invited Brian Cowen to deliver the graveside oration.
The Taoiseach-in-waiting was chosen by the family as he is a friend of John Hillery, but nonetheless the occasion had a significance to it that stretched beyond that of a man paying tribute to the deceased father of a friend.
The last State funeral to pass through the cemetery gates was that of Charles Haughey in 2006, on an unseasonably cold June day.
On that occasion, the graveside oration was delivered by his anointed political heir, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern who gave a passionate defence of his former leader -- a politician who had clashed with then-President Hillery in 1982 over the dissolution of the Dail.
But yesterday Bertie stood with the rest of the mourners, and it was the words of his own anointed heir, Brian Cowen, that carved a picture of Paddy Hillery as a politician, statesman, father, husband, doctor and sailor.
Brian seemed a little nervous at first, but soon found his stride. His tribute was a delicate and eloquent mix of political and personal praise.
He referred to Dr Hillery's role at the outset of what he described as "Northern Ireland's descent into darkness", calling his support of the nationalist community "unflinching".
Referring to the turbulent political years in the Republic, he said: "Ireland and my party Fianna Fail owe him a huge debt for the manner in which he stood four square behind the leadership, behind the Constitution, and what it represented for a still young Republic."
The Tanaiste painted a vivid personal picture of Paddy Hillery also. "He has been variously described as honourable, decent, intelligent, courteous, warm and engaging. He was all of those things," he said. "Dr Patrick Hillery embodied all that is noble and good in a man, a doctor, a politician and public servant."
After the oration, three volleys were fired into the mild spring air. The pomp was over, but from the simple and dignified manner of his departure it was clear that the main image of Paddy Hillery to emerge this week was not that of politician or statesman, but -- as Brian Cowen described in his oration -- "the image of him sailing around Spanish Point heading for the Aran Islands wearing his familiar cap set against the Atlantic breeze".
Munster complete Humphreys deal
IAN HUMPHREYS has confirmed his switch from Leicester to Ulster, WRITES HUGH FARRELLY.
The out-half, and younger brother of Ulster legend David, has signed a two-year deal after struggling to gain a regular starting berth with the Tigers.
Meanwhile, Ulster have included promising young centre Darren Cave in their 26-man squad for Saturday's clash in Cardiff while Connacht coach Michael Bradley has named Ofisa Treviranus in his squad for tomorrow's clash with the Dragons at Rodney Parade.
The Galwegians trio of Liam Bibo, Peter Durcan and Joe Merrigan also play.
Connacht's A side will play a friendly against Russian side Enisei STM at the Sportsground next Tuesday, April 22 (7.0).
Meanwhile, Munster, who host the Ospreys in Musgrave Park on Saturday evening, are expected to confirm the date and time of their game with the All Blacks in the next 10 days.
Talks between the Munster Branch and the All Blacks have been ongoing for several months with Tuesday, November 11 proposed as a suitable date.
The out-half, and younger brother of Ulster legend David, has signed a two-year deal after struggling to gain a regular starting berth with the Tigers.
Meanwhile, Ulster have included promising young centre Darren Cave in their 26-man squad for Saturday's clash in Cardiff while Connacht coach Michael Bradley has named Ofisa Treviranus in his squad for tomorrow's clash with the Dragons at Rodney Parade.
The Galwegians trio of Liam Bibo, Peter Durcan and Joe Merrigan also play.
Connacht's A side will play a friendly against Russian side Enisei STM at the Sportsground next Tuesday, April 22 (7.0).
Meanwhile, Munster, who host the Ospreys in Musgrave Park on Saturday evening, are expected to confirm the date and time of their game with the All Blacks in the next 10 days.
Talks between the Munster Branch and the All Blacks have been ongoing for several months with Tuesday, November 11 proposed as a suitable date.
Georgia emerging from Siberia
The first thing they had to do was get there. In the snowy wastelands of faraway Siberia, winter has yet to release its icy grip. For the rugby men of Georgia, the rugby-loving country that punched so extraordinarily above its weight at last year's World Cup at the expense of, among others, Ireland, last week's trip to Siberia to meet Russia in the European junior Six Nations Championship was an eye opening experience.
The rugby road show rolls on right around the world. At some date in the calendar throughout the 12 months of the year, it seems an international match is being played in some location.
Croke Park, Twickenham, Eden Park or Ellis Park are rather well known as rugby destinations. So, try a run-down stadium somewhere outside the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk. Australian Tim Lane and his players did. Lane is based in the Georgian capital Tbilisi and led his men on a merry old trip. They left Tbilisi on Monday morning, flying to Kiev, capital of the Ukraine.
A change of planes there and the Aeroflot flight direct to Moscow. Another change of plane and a five-hour flight across the frozen Russian wastelands to Siberia and the city of Krasnoyarsk. The journey took them 20 hours in all. And when they clambered off the plane, stiff and sore from the long flight in cattle class, a nice welcome greeted them: minus 13 degrees -- in, it was alleged, spring time.
It snowed all night before the game. On Saturday morning the field was covered with snow, so much so that the kick-off was delayed by 30 minutes while officials re-marked the field with red lines and shovelled snow.
For Lane, whose wife lives in Sydney and his son attends school in Cape Town, it has been a nomadic existence these past years, coaching in Australia, South Africa and with French clubs like Clermont-Auvergne, Brive and Toulon. Have ticket (and rugby knowledge), will travel.
The Georgians had done better than others even before the match kicked off. One of the linesmen, from France, had 'missed' his plane; wise fellow. So a Russian was drafted in to run the line.
As the snow flurries fell and feeling in most limbs disappeared in the great freeze that was Krasnoyarsk, Georgia played well.
They handled the ball, ran with it and defended as though their lives were on the line. The Russians kicked high balls all day and when they reached the Georgian 22, tried to barge their way to the line.
Russia v Georgia is not a contest for the faint hearted at any sport, politics included. There were two all-in brawls which the beefy Georgians won and they also won the game, 18-12, with two tries to Russia's four penalty goals
They reckoned they'd scored another try in the first half but the local drafted in as emergency linesman claimed he'd seen the Georgian prop knock-on, and the referee was 'unsighted'!
"Our players said we definitely scored and that the Russian linesman was a cheat," smiled Lane.
But if Georgian delight was unbounded at the final whistle in Krasnoyarsk, back home in Tbilisi the place went wild. The bars in the city were full and after Georgia's win, the celebrations were akin to their winning the World Cup.
And when the weary Georgians finally arrived home at Tbilisi airport, more than 300 people were waiting and cheering as they came out of the gate. That was about 300 more than greeted Ireland when they flew home from Twickenham last month.
Georgia now play Spain in two weeks time. If they win, they will become European Six Nations junior champions, undefeated for the first time ever.
The rugby road show rolls on right around the world. At some date in the calendar throughout the 12 months of the year, it seems an international match is being played in some location.
Croke Park, Twickenham, Eden Park or Ellis Park are rather well known as rugby destinations. So, try a run-down stadium somewhere outside the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk. Australian Tim Lane and his players did. Lane is based in the Georgian capital Tbilisi and led his men on a merry old trip. They left Tbilisi on Monday morning, flying to Kiev, capital of the Ukraine.
A change of planes there and the Aeroflot flight direct to Moscow. Another change of plane and a five-hour flight across the frozen Russian wastelands to Siberia and the city of Krasnoyarsk. The journey took them 20 hours in all. And when they clambered off the plane, stiff and sore from the long flight in cattle class, a nice welcome greeted them: minus 13 degrees -- in, it was alleged, spring time.
It snowed all night before the game. On Saturday morning the field was covered with snow, so much so that the kick-off was delayed by 30 minutes while officials re-marked the field with red lines and shovelled snow.
For Lane, whose wife lives in Sydney and his son attends school in Cape Town, it has been a nomadic existence these past years, coaching in Australia, South Africa and with French clubs like Clermont-Auvergne, Brive and Toulon. Have ticket (and rugby knowledge), will travel.
The Georgians had done better than others even before the match kicked off. One of the linesmen, from France, had 'missed' his plane; wise fellow. So a Russian was drafted in to run the line.
As the snow flurries fell and feeling in most limbs disappeared in the great freeze that was Krasnoyarsk, Georgia played well.
They handled the ball, ran with it and defended as though their lives were on the line. The Russians kicked high balls all day and when they reached the Georgian 22, tried to barge their way to the line.
Russia v Georgia is not a contest for the faint hearted at any sport, politics included. There were two all-in brawls which the beefy Georgians won and they also won the game, 18-12, with two tries to Russia's four penalty goals
They reckoned they'd scored another try in the first half but the local drafted in as emergency linesman claimed he'd seen the Georgian prop knock-on, and the referee was 'unsighted'!
"Our players said we definitely scored and that the Russian linesman was a cheat," smiled Lane.
But if Georgian delight was unbounded at the final whistle in Krasnoyarsk, back home in Tbilisi the place went wild. The bars in the city were full and after Georgia's win, the celebrations were akin to their winning the World Cup.
And when the weary Georgians finally arrived home at Tbilisi airport, more than 300 people were waiting and cheering as they came out of the gate. That was about 300 more than greeted Ireland when they flew home from Twickenham last month.
Georgia now play Spain in two weeks time. If they win, they will become European Six Nations junior champions, undefeated for the first time ever.
Brian Ashton for coach
SO, Brian Ashton brings England to a World Cup final before leading them to their highest Six Nations finish since 2003 and is then unceremoniously dumped.
We knew the world of professional rugby held little room for sentiment but as shaftings go, this was pretty spectacular. Ashton has been offered his old job as head of the National Academy but has not yet indicated whether he will accept the RFU's consolation prize -- he should tell them to shove it.
Ashton's time as Ireland coach in 1997-98 left a bad taste in the mouth. He came across as a taciturn, intolerant man with a barely concealed contempt for the Irish system and the players operating within it.
However, the perception of the 61-year-old Lancastrian has altered in the intervening 10 years. His last game in charge was the hammering of Ireland at Twickenham last month, which was also Eddie O'Sullivan's final match as Ireland coach. But, rather than crow about getting one over his old employers, Ashton was magnanimous in victory and has since behaved with tremendous dignity as the vultures circled.
Now, as Ashton considers his options, the hollow praise of RFU Elite Rugby Director Rob Andrew will be ringing in his ears.
"I would like to thank Brian for the job he has done in difficult circumstances," said Andrew yesterday. "He is an outstanding coach and deserves enormous credit for leading England to a second successive Rugby World Cup final last year and securing the runners-up position in this year's Six Nations."
Touching, but it is still a dumping -- the rugby equivalent of "it's not you, it's me".
Which is entirely correct. For Andrew's role in this whole sorry process does not reflect well on the former England out-half and director of rugby at Newcastle.
There are question marks over his judgement dating back to his playing days with some former team-mates privately convinced he cost them the 1991 World Cup final by abandoning the tactics that had brought them to the decider against Australia.
Since his appointment as the RFU's chief enforcer in 2006, Andrew first undermined Ashton's predecessor (sitting stony-faced like the grim reaper behind Andy Robinson as England struggled to live up to their status as world champions) before placing Ashton in a position of continual uncertainty regardless of what was achieved.
Despite being endorsed as head coach in December, Ashton was treated shamefully by Andrew's public courting of former World Cup-winning captain Martin Johnson, who has now been approved as team manager on a three-and-a-half year contract, starting on July 1.
Johnson will have full managerial control of the team, including the appointment of the coaching and management team as well as the player selection process.
Barbarians
In the interim, Andrew will assume the duties of manager for the match against the Barbarians on June 1 and the two-test tour of New Zealand later that month.
Johnson will appoint an additional coach in due course, expected to be a backs coach and it seems there will be no head coach appointed under Johnson, which suggests he is being brought in as a Clive Woodward general manager figure, overseeing a coaching team with the final say on the general consensus.
Johnson's record as player and captain brooks no argument and he possesses an aura that would preclude arguing with the glowering former second row on any topic.
However, it is an enormous gamble by Andrew to entrust so much responsibility in a man who has no top level experience.
Woodward had cut his coaching teeth with London Irish before getting the England gig and it is worth noting that he had six years at the helm before landing the 2003 World Cup -- which included England's flop at the 1999 tournament.
Ashton was granted no such latitude.
We knew the world of professional rugby held little room for sentiment but as shaftings go, this was pretty spectacular. Ashton has been offered his old job as head of the National Academy but has not yet indicated whether he will accept the RFU's consolation prize -- he should tell them to shove it.
Ashton's time as Ireland coach in 1997-98 left a bad taste in the mouth. He came across as a taciturn, intolerant man with a barely concealed contempt for the Irish system and the players operating within it.
However, the perception of the 61-year-old Lancastrian has altered in the intervening 10 years. His last game in charge was the hammering of Ireland at Twickenham last month, which was also Eddie O'Sullivan's final match as Ireland coach. But, rather than crow about getting one over his old employers, Ashton was magnanimous in victory and has since behaved with tremendous dignity as the vultures circled.
Now, as Ashton considers his options, the hollow praise of RFU Elite Rugby Director Rob Andrew will be ringing in his ears.
"I would like to thank Brian for the job he has done in difficult circumstances," said Andrew yesterday. "He is an outstanding coach and deserves enormous credit for leading England to a second successive Rugby World Cup final last year and securing the runners-up position in this year's Six Nations."
Touching, but it is still a dumping -- the rugby equivalent of "it's not you, it's me".
Which is entirely correct. For Andrew's role in this whole sorry process does not reflect well on the former England out-half and director of rugby at Newcastle.
There are question marks over his judgement dating back to his playing days with some former team-mates privately convinced he cost them the 1991 World Cup final by abandoning the tactics that had brought them to the decider against Australia.
Since his appointment as the RFU's chief enforcer in 2006, Andrew first undermined Ashton's predecessor (sitting stony-faced like the grim reaper behind Andy Robinson as England struggled to live up to their status as world champions) before placing Ashton in a position of continual uncertainty regardless of what was achieved.
Despite being endorsed as head coach in December, Ashton was treated shamefully by Andrew's public courting of former World Cup-winning captain Martin Johnson, who has now been approved as team manager on a three-and-a-half year contract, starting on July 1.
Johnson will have full managerial control of the team, including the appointment of the coaching and management team as well as the player selection process.
Barbarians
In the interim, Andrew will assume the duties of manager for the match against the Barbarians on June 1 and the two-test tour of New Zealand later that month.
Johnson will appoint an additional coach in due course, expected to be a backs coach and it seems there will be no head coach appointed under Johnson, which suggests he is being brought in as a Clive Woodward general manager figure, overseeing a coaching team with the final say on the general consensus.
Johnson's record as player and captain brooks no argument and he possesses an aura that would preclude arguing with the glowering former second row on any topic.
However, it is an enormous gamble by Andrew to entrust so much responsibility in a man who has no top level experience.
Woodward had cut his coaching teeth with London Irish before getting the England gig and it is worth noting that he had six years at the helm before landing the 2003 World Cup -- which included England's flop at the 1999 tournament.
Ashton was granted no such latitude.
Provincial finals on TV3
TV3 will show three provincial finals live as part of its first season of coverage of the GAA championships.
It has the rights for the Connacht and Ulster football finals and the Leinster hurling final as part of its 10-game package running from June 1 to August 2.
It also has the rights to the two Leinster football semi-finals, the Dublin v Louth Leinster quarter-final and three qualifiers.
It has the rights for the Connacht and Ulster football finals and the Leinster hurling final as part of its 10-game package running from June 1 to August 2.
It also has the rights to the two Leinster football semi-finals, the Dublin v Louth Leinster quarter-final and three qualifiers.
Munster fan club betrayed
Thursday April 17 2008
THE Munster Rugby Supporters Club (MRSC) feel "betrayed" by the Munster Branch after their ticket allocation for the redeveloped Thomond Park was increased by just 1,000.
The famous Limerick stadium will have its capacity brought up to an estimated 25,500 next season and the MRSC believed their present allocation of 2,000 would be increased to 10,000 rather than 3,000.
"We were led to believe that 10,000 of our members would have full season tickets," said MRSC PRO Glenn Flanagan last night.
The supporters club has 2,000 full-time members as well as more than 7,300 associate members who were hoping to become full members with Thomond Park's increased capacity.
"We are bitterly disappointed that we have no hope of getting 10,000 and instead must make do with a paltry increase of 1,000," added Flanagan.
Sorry
"I feel so sorry for the associate members high on the list (for upgrading) who have been paying money up front for Magners League season tickets and are now out of the loop.
"The MRSC is a vital organisation for Munster fans who are not affiliated to clubs but share a love of the Munster team and we feel we have been betrayed."
No spokesman for the Munster Branch was available last night but the branch responded to anger among their supporters by releasing a percentage breakdown of the ticket allocation with an accompanying statement.
"Over 12,000 season tickets (including 2,950 10-year tickets sold since 2006) will be sold through the Munster clubs and MRSC for Thomond Park, incorporating the two tournaments," read the statement.
"When this is added to the existing Heineken Cup commitment of 10,000 tickets, the stadium will be at full capacity should a visiting team take their full entitlement. The Munster clubs, schools, MRSC and 10-year tickets account for over 67pc of the tickets with tournament rules allowing the visiting team to purchase 15pc of the available capacity."
THE Munster Rugby Supporters Club (MRSC) feel "betrayed" by the Munster Branch after their ticket allocation for the redeveloped Thomond Park was increased by just 1,000.
The famous Limerick stadium will have its capacity brought up to an estimated 25,500 next season and the MRSC believed their present allocation of 2,000 would be increased to 10,000 rather than 3,000.
"We were led to believe that 10,000 of our members would have full season tickets," said MRSC PRO Glenn Flanagan last night.
The supporters club has 2,000 full-time members as well as more than 7,300 associate members who were hoping to become full members with Thomond Park's increased capacity.
"We are bitterly disappointed that we have no hope of getting 10,000 and instead must make do with a paltry increase of 1,000," added Flanagan.
Sorry
"I feel so sorry for the associate members high on the list (for upgrading) who have been paying money up front for Magners League season tickets and are now out of the loop.
"The MRSC is a vital organisation for Munster fans who are not affiliated to clubs but share a love of the Munster team and we feel we have been betrayed."
No spokesman for the Munster Branch was available last night but the branch responded to anger among their supporters by releasing a percentage breakdown of the ticket allocation with an accompanying statement.
"Over 12,000 season tickets (including 2,950 10-year tickets sold since 2006) will be sold through the Munster clubs and MRSC for Thomond Park, incorporating the two tournaments," read the statement.
"When this is added to the existing Heineken Cup commitment of 10,000 tickets, the stadium will be at full capacity should a visiting team take their full entitlement. The Munster clubs, schools, MRSC and 10-year tickets account for over 67pc of the tickets with tournament rules allowing the visiting team to purchase 15pc of the available capacity."
New golden age of hurling
HURLING is heading for another golden age when the big prizes will be more widely spread than has so far been the case throughout this decade.
According to Ger Loughnane the new order could begin to emerge this year as the gap between Kilkenny and Cork, who between them have won eight of the last nine All-Ireland titles, and the rest narrows dramatically.
Whether it can be completely closed remains to be seen but Loughnane is convinced that the chasing pack is closing in on the leaders. No county is more determined to be among the big-time contenders than Galway, whom Loughnane leads into next Sunday's NHL final against Tipperary with a zeal that has typified their season so far.
However, Galway are also looking beyond that as they set about ending the 20-year wait for their fifth All-Ireland title. Loughnane believes that while they are well qualified for the tests ahead, others are pressing forward too in pursuit of the 'big two'.
"I would say that change is coming," Loughnane said. "Of course Kilkenny and Cork will continue to be fierce strong but there are others coming into the reckoning as well. We'd like to think we're in there, Tipperary are definitely making progress and Waterford are strong too. So are some others so we should have a great season.
"The best guide to change is how the underage scene is going. For instance, there are people who say that when the present Waterford team breaks up there will be a drop but anyone who saw De La Salle in the colleges final last Saturday would be hugely impressed by the standard.
Competitive
"We will have a very competitive championship this year which could turn out to be the start of a very good era over the next five or six years. The change of system this year will mean that there will be fallers much earlier than over the last few seasons where we had eight teams qualifying for the quarter-finals. The real knock-out phase comes sooner this time which will liven up the scene quite quickly."
Tipperary manager, Liam Sheedy, who will be experiencing his first big final as a senior manager next Sunday concurs that hurling is entering an exciting time, although he says underage success brings no guarantees. He believes that the game is changing, with pace more important than it has ever been.
His new-look Tipperary team are well endowed in that area but they also have a steel and determination which enabled them to finish strongly against Waterford and Kilkenny over the last two Sundays.
"That was encouraging but we probably had that bit more training done than Waterford or Kilkenny which helped us get over the line. We knew we had to do well in this League so we put in a lot of work from the start," Sheedy said.
Both Tipperary and Galway have remained unbeaten in the League and to add to the intrigue they drew in a Divisional clash in March. Loughnane believes that it was vital for Galway to make significant progress in the League as they have a long break to the start of the championship.
The same applied last year but Galway's spring campaign turned into a stop-start affair that ended at the League quarter-final stage with a defeat by Wexford. It set the template for what was a rather inauspicious debut season for Loughnane.
"It takes time for a manager to adjust to the mentality of a different county and that was the case with me and Galway," he said.
"The Clare mentality would have been one where we didn't expect to win anything whereas there are always very high expectations in Galway.
"It mightn't always be warranted but it's there and of course that leads to terrible criticism for players if they don't win.
"It also takes time to settle other things in as you want them too. The team is more secure this year," he added.
Loughnane wouldn't have been noted for his interest in the League during Clare's glory days in the 1990s so why is it so significant to Galway now?
"It's important for any team that hasn't won an All-Ireland. Clare reached the League final in 1995 but once we won the All-Ireland, it wasn't as vital to do well in spring. Galway are in a different position now. This team is still waiting for its first All-Ireland so we have to do well in the League."
According to Ger Loughnane the new order could begin to emerge this year as the gap between Kilkenny and Cork, who between them have won eight of the last nine All-Ireland titles, and the rest narrows dramatically.
Whether it can be completely closed remains to be seen but Loughnane is convinced that the chasing pack is closing in on the leaders. No county is more determined to be among the big-time contenders than Galway, whom Loughnane leads into next Sunday's NHL final against Tipperary with a zeal that has typified their season so far.
However, Galway are also looking beyond that as they set about ending the 20-year wait for their fifth All-Ireland title. Loughnane believes that while they are well qualified for the tests ahead, others are pressing forward too in pursuit of the 'big two'.
"I would say that change is coming," Loughnane said. "Of course Kilkenny and Cork will continue to be fierce strong but there are others coming into the reckoning as well. We'd like to think we're in there, Tipperary are definitely making progress and Waterford are strong too. So are some others so we should have a great season.
"The best guide to change is how the underage scene is going. For instance, there are people who say that when the present Waterford team breaks up there will be a drop but anyone who saw De La Salle in the colleges final last Saturday would be hugely impressed by the standard.
Competitive
"We will have a very competitive championship this year which could turn out to be the start of a very good era over the next five or six years. The change of system this year will mean that there will be fallers much earlier than over the last few seasons where we had eight teams qualifying for the quarter-finals. The real knock-out phase comes sooner this time which will liven up the scene quite quickly."
Tipperary manager, Liam Sheedy, who will be experiencing his first big final as a senior manager next Sunday concurs that hurling is entering an exciting time, although he says underage success brings no guarantees. He believes that the game is changing, with pace more important than it has ever been.
His new-look Tipperary team are well endowed in that area but they also have a steel and determination which enabled them to finish strongly against Waterford and Kilkenny over the last two Sundays.
"That was encouraging but we probably had that bit more training done than Waterford or Kilkenny which helped us get over the line. We knew we had to do well in this League so we put in a lot of work from the start," Sheedy said.
Both Tipperary and Galway have remained unbeaten in the League and to add to the intrigue they drew in a Divisional clash in March. Loughnane believes that it was vital for Galway to make significant progress in the League as they have a long break to the start of the championship.
The same applied last year but Galway's spring campaign turned into a stop-start affair that ended at the League quarter-final stage with a defeat by Wexford. It set the template for what was a rather inauspicious debut season for Loughnane.
"It takes time for a manager to adjust to the mentality of a different county and that was the case with me and Galway," he said.
"The Clare mentality would have been one where we didn't expect to win anything whereas there are always very high expectations in Galway.
"It mightn't always be warranted but it's there and of course that leads to terrible criticism for players if they don't win.
"It also takes time to settle other things in as you want them too. The team is more secure this year," he added.
Loughnane wouldn't have been noted for his interest in the League during Clare's glory days in the 1990s so why is it so significant to Galway now?
"It's important for any team that hasn't won an All-Ireland. Clare reached the League final in 1995 but once we won the All-Ireland, it wasn't as vital to do well in spring. Galway are in a different position now. This team is still waiting for its first All-Ireland so we have to do well in the League."
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Friday, December 14, 2007
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Warsaw facts
Every member of the Queen's Royal Hussars of the United Kingdom light cavalry wears the Maid of Warsaw, the crest of the City of Warsaw, on the left sleeve of his No. 2 (Service) Dress.
Members of 651 Squadron Army Air Corps of the United Kingdom also wear the Maid of Warsaw, the crest of the City of Warsaw, on the left sleeve of their No. 2 (Service) Dress.
Every member of the Regiment wears the Maid of Warsaw, the crest of the City of Warsaw, on the left sleeve of his No. 2 (Service) Dress. This honour was awarded to the 7th Hussars by the Commander of the Second Polish Corps in recognition of their valour in support of the Polish Forces during the Italian Campaign in World War II. Traditionally the original crest presented to the Regiment is placed in front of the Commanding Officer on Dinner Nights.
One of David Bowie's songs featured on the album Low is called Warszawa.
One of Joy Division's songs on the album Substance is called Warsaw. The band itself was previously called "Warsaw" as well.
There is a Danish heavy metal band called Red Warszawa.
In August 2007, a band from Norway, Superfamily, recorded a song 'Warszawa', with video shot in the city's notable places
There are ten towns in the USA called Warsaw.
Leo Gerstenzang invented cotton swabs in Warsaw.
The Miss World 2006 competition took place in Warsaw, in the Palace of Culture and Science, Congress Hall.
The mermaid, or syrenka, is the symbol of Warsaw.This symbol can be found on the coat of arms of Warsaw and on statues throughout the city.
The Warsaw dialect (called Gwara warszawska in standard Polish) is a regional dialect of the Polish language spoken in Warsaw. The dialect evolved as late as 18th century, mainly from the Masovian dialect of the Polish language, under notable influence of several languages spoken in the city of Warsaw. After the destruction of Warsaw in the aftermath of the Warsaw Uprising of 1944 the Warsaw dialect has been in decline. It is estimated that in modern times it is almost extinct as the native language and is preserved mostly in literary works.
Warsaw is divided into 18 districts. The central district is called Śródmieście and is surrounded by 6 other districts often collectively referred to as the Centrum (Centre). These are: Mokotów, Ochota, Praga Północ, Praga Południe, Wola and Żoliborz.
The remaining 11 peripheral districts are: Bemowo, Białołęka, Bielany, Rembertów, Targówek, Ursus, Ursynów, Wawer, Wesoła, Wilanów and Włochy.
Members of 651 Squadron Army Air Corps of the United Kingdom also wear the Maid of Warsaw, the crest of the City of Warsaw, on the left sleeve of their No. 2 (Service) Dress.
Every member of the Regiment wears the Maid of Warsaw, the crest of the City of Warsaw, on the left sleeve of his No. 2 (Service) Dress. This honour was awarded to the 7th Hussars by the Commander of the Second Polish Corps in recognition of their valour in support of the Polish Forces during the Italian Campaign in World War II. Traditionally the original crest presented to the Regiment is placed in front of the Commanding Officer on Dinner Nights.
One of David Bowie's songs featured on the album Low is called Warszawa.
One of Joy Division's songs on the album Substance is called Warsaw. The band itself was previously called "Warsaw" as well.
There is a Danish heavy metal band called Red Warszawa.
In August 2007, a band from Norway, Superfamily, recorded a song 'Warszawa', with video shot in the city's notable places
There are ten towns in the USA called Warsaw.
Leo Gerstenzang invented cotton swabs in Warsaw.
The Miss World 2006 competition took place in Warsaw, in the Palace of Culture and Science, Congress Hall.
The mermaid, or syrenka, is the symbol of Warsaw.This symbol can be found on the coat of arms of Warsaw and on statues throughout the city.
The Warsaw dialect (called Gwara warszawska in standard Polish) is a regional dialect of the Polish language spoken in Warsaw. The dialect evolved as late as 18th century, mainly from the Masovian dialect of the Polish language, under notable influence of several languages spoken in the city of Warsaw. After the destruction of Warsaw in the aftermath of the Warsaw Uprising of 1944 the Warsaw dialect has been in decline. It is estimated that in modern times it is almost extinct as the native language and is preserved mostly in literary works.
Warsaw is divided into 18 districts. The central district is called Śródmieście and is surrounded by 6 other districts often collectively referred to as the Centrum (Centre). These are: Mokotów, Ochota, Praga Północ, Praga Południe, Wola and Żoliborz.
The remaining 11 peripheral districts are: Bemowo, Białołęka, Bielany, Rembertów, Targówek, Ursus, Ursynów, Wawer, Wesoła, Wilanów and Włochy.
Trip to Poland - Day 2
Waking up early the next morning to go and discover Warszawa. Of course, I have to settle the dispute about payment for my room first but after 20 minutes on the phone to England this is solved too.
Warsaw (Polish: Warszawa) is the capital of Poland and its largest city. It is located on the Vistula River roughly 370 kilometers (230 mi) from both the Baltic Sea coast and the Carpathian Mountains. Its population as of 2006 was estimated at 1,700,536, with a metropolitan area of approximately 2,600,000. The city area is 516.9 square kilometers (199.6 sq mi), with an agglomeration of 6,100.43 square kilometers (2,355.4 sq mi) (Warsaw Metro Area — Obszar Metropolitalny Warszawy). Warsaw is the 8th biggest city in the European Union.
Warsaw gave its name to the Warsaw Pact, Warsaw Convention, Treaty of Warsaw and the Warsaw Uprising
Warsaw gave its name to the Warsaw Pact, Warsaw Convention, Treaty of Warsaw and the Warsaw Uprising
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Trip to Poland - Day 1 part 3
Arriving in Poland: the weather wasn't too cold but it was snowing! No real snow, just soggy, white rain, but it looked a lot like snow so that was good enough for me. The taxi drivers were waiting in line for me and although I had been warned, I did not ask the driver for his taxi license. He drove me to the hotel for a whopping 125 Zloty (35 Euros). This might not sound like much to the Irish, but it should have cost me no more than 25 Zloty (7 euros). A busticket would have cost me 7 zloty but I was glad to be at the hotel. Arriving at the reception it turned out they lost my reservation and they asked me for 176 euros which I already paid. After a short struggle they gave me the keys to room 907 and we would sort out payment the next morning. At the local supermarket I bought a few Polish beers and I ate a Pizza at the only restuarant near the hotel. I was knackered, so time to go to bed.
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