This evening at about 4.30 p.m. we had relatives visiting from Dublin.I decided to bring two of the younger children ,pre teens ,to the Church to visit the crib.To my horror the Church was locked.We made do by visiting the grotto at the side of the Church to say a few prayers.It was bitterly cold.This follows on from the necessity yesterday evening to have the church opened to enable myself and the other people who meet each Friday to partake in the half hour prayer meet.
Living opposite the Church,as I do,I often see people drop in and out at every time of day to talk to God or offer thanks,or pray for favours or whatever people do there.One man I know often drops in to pray and never forgets to pray for Peter Brady and Tommy Mc Cormack ,men who used transport him all around the County to GAA matches when cars were as scarce as hens teeth.
Now I know that the national media and many political and show business people have jumped on the populist bandwagon of sneering at and belittling Catholicism and all it stands for,but even the atheist ,agnostic and militant feminist movements would surely accord Catholics the right to practice their own religion,free from intimidation and have regard to the sanctity of consecrated Churches.
Not in Dundery though.It seems that a cluster of young teens ,boys and girls,have been caught red handed using the gallery as a den to congregate in and use as a horseplay area away from the public view.They see nothing wrong with this and regard it as a right.I don't know whether their parents know what they are at and whether they approve or otherwise.
The clergy have no option but to close the Church when it is not in use as a result and are afraid to report these people to the authorities for fear of familial reprisal.
They are even afraid to publish the information.
I however am not afraid of these people nor their parents.And if I see them at it again I will name and shame.
Gladly.
If anybody else feels as strongly as I do about this desecration of our Church and feels that it should be open to its flock at all reasonable times feel free to contact me and we will try and arrange a roster to ensure it is occupied at all reasonable times.
I am no religious fanatic but can easily see how decent youngsters can be driven to extremes by the unreasonable behaviour of others.
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Thursday, December 27, 2012
The grim reaper busy as a bee.
This time of the year is a fierce time for deaths.This year in particular we have lost a huge number of friends and friends of friends.From Dunderry we have lost Paul Earley and of Moon coin native,Jimmy O Brien of Churchtown,husband of Lily Rodgers,a daughter of the Buller.
I once worked with Dennis O Driscoll,a Thurles man and a nice guy,who has become a famous poet. His brother Frank,himself and myself joined the now defunct Estate Duty Office in the early 1970,s.I haven't met either in decades but they were decent and genuine guys when we hung out together all those years ago.He too has died too early.
This morning I went to the funeral Mass of Bartle Mc Nally,probably the oldest surviving Mulhuddart man until his recent death.He is survived by three sons,Paddy,Gerard and Noel.The latter is married to my wife's sister Rose.Bartle hadn't been well these last few years and despite manfully fighting a hugely debilitating stroke he mercifully succumbed to another a few days ago.
Gerard a young man,is himself very unwell and disabled and was unable to attend.A very sad and sombre occasion.
Bartle was married to Mags Mansfield a member of an old GAA family from Corduff and the funeral was held there as they used attend Sunday Mass there when both were alive.
They lived beside the School in Mulhuddart for many years and the three boys still live there.We lived in Mulhuddart in the seventies until the mid eighties and in our earlier years there a Mass bus used leave the village every Sunday for 9 o clock mass in Blanchardstown as that Church was the nearest to Mulhuddart at the time.
Bartle was one of the quietest man I have ever met.He was totally self educated and was a self taught master of a variety of skills.He could and did work as a cattle drover ,farmer,jarvey and Gardener par excellence ,amongst other occupations.He could build ,plaster and dance with the best.Before he got sick himself and his wife were regular attendees at the ballroom scene around Meath and knew well a number of Dunderry people of similar inclination.
Amongst the gifts that formed part of the Mass offerings were a hurley and Dublin jersey belonging to his granddaughter Martha ,daughter of Rose and Noel.Bartle was fierce proud of her and I am sure that Tony Hanley,Rose's late father and a former Templemore footballer of note ,would have been similarly impressed.
Go deana Dia trocaire ar a hanam dilis.
As a footnote Mulhuddart School,where four of my daughter started their education ,is boarded up and the roof sagging,the lead having been robbed it seems.Too small to survive in these times ,it seems.As far as I am concerned this is an act of cultural vandalism and whoever ids responsible should hand their heads in shame.Like a once distinct and proud village this school if being written from the pages of history by an uncaring and anti Irish political system ,which knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.
At the funeral I met Pat Carr and Jem .his brother ,both former Mulhuddart residents and Eddie Reid,from the Shillerin Road,another proud Mulhuddart man,now in exile in Clonee.I haven't met the latter in decades.We hurled together with Brigids and both fished for trout in the Tolka,when there were trout to be had there. He took up running in Dunboyne and became one of the best runners in his class in Ireland.His daughter is following in his footsteps. He is running a half marathon along the banks of the canal soon.One fit son of a bitch and an example to all.He is an advisor to the tipster for my blog and conceded that they know far more about trout fishing than horses,a sentiment with which i agree.
Mulhuddart produced its fair share of hurlers in its day.Along with Eddie Reid,,Pat Carr and Kevin,Ben Dempsey and Anthony Larkin played for a while.Nailer Brooks was a stalwart with Eoghan Ruaidh in his day and Andy Dowling hurled withe Port and Docks years ago.He was a small man,but a tough one.
I saw the Red Ponyton and met Peadar and Margaret Hughes ,Rose O Leary and her husband Michael Flanagan.And Jem Mansfield,with whom I manned many a gap in the Brigid's defence years ago And his wife too..Christy Lawler,the former scion of advertising in the Irish Press ,when a job there was what you would call a job,was there with his wife Betty and his son Joe ,who was so kind to me when I was in Navan Hospital was also there.As a matter of historical record myself and Christy were on the Committee of Inspection of the Irish Press when it went into liquidation all those years ago and Tom Grace was appointed Liquidator.
And we met Eileen O Byrne of the famour O Byrne family and chewed the GAA cud for a while.
Former Muluddart resident Paddy Madden and his wife Claire were there too.They have moved to Galway.Another man I hurled with and a tough and fair one too.
Tomorrow we head to Killimor near Ballinasloe for the funeral of Michael Hardiman ,brother of Nancy Horan from Dunderry and of Kate who spent many years here.
I once worked with Dennis O Driscoll,a Thurles man and a nice guy,who has become a famous poet. His brother Frank,himself and myself joined the now defunct Estate Duty Office in the early 1970,s.I haven't met either in decades but they were decent and genuine guys when we hung out together all those years ago.He too has died too early.
This morning I went to the funeral Mass of Bartle Mc Nally,probably the oldest surviving Mulhuddart man until his recent death.He is survived by three sons,Paddy,Gerard and Noel.The latter is married to my wife's sister Rose.Bartle hadn't been well these last few years and despite manfully fighting a hugely debilitating stroke he mercifully succumbed to another a few days ago.
Gerard a young man,is himself very unwell and disabled and was unable to attend.A very sad and sombre occasion.
Bartle was married to Mags Mansfield a member of an old GAA family from Corduff and the funeral was held there as they used attend Sunday Mass there when both were alive.
They lived beside the School in Mulhuddart for many years and the three boys still live there.We lived in Mulhuddart in the seventies until the mid eighties and in our earlier years there a Mass bus used leave the village every Sunday for 9 o clock mass in Blanchardstown as that Church was the nearest to Mulhuddart at the time.
Bartle was one of the quietest man I have ever met.He was totally self educated and was a self taught master of a variety of skills.He could and did work as a cattle drover ,farmer,jarvey and Gardener par excellence ,amongst other occupations.He could build ,plaster and dance with the best.Before he got sick himself and his wife were regular attendees at the ballroom scene around Meath and knew well a number of Dunderry people of similar inclination.
Amongst the gifts that formed part of the Mass offerings were a hurley and Dublin jersey belonging to his granddaughter Martha ,daughter of Rose and Noel.Bartle was fierce proud of her and I am sure that Tony Hanley,Rose's late father and a former Templemore footballer of note ,would have been similarly impressed.
Go deana Dia trocaire ar a hanam dilis.
As a footnote Mulhuddart School,where four of my daughter started their education ,is boarded up and the roof sagging,the lead having been robbed it seems.Too small to survive in these times ,it seems.As far as I am concerned this is an act of cultural vandalism and whoever ids responsible should hand their heads in shame.Like a once distinct and proud village this school if being written from the pages of history by an uncaring and anti Irish political system ,which knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.
At the funeral I met Pat Carr and Jem .his brother ,both former Mulhuddart residents and Eddie Reid,from the Shillerin Road,another proud Mulhuddart man,now in exile in Clonee.I haven't met the latter in decades.We hurled together with Brigids and both fished for trout in the Tolka,when there were trout to be had there. He took up running in Dunboyne and became one of the best runners in his class in Ireland.His daughter is following in his footsteps. He is running a half marathon along the banks of the canal soon.One fit son of a bitch and an example to all.He is an advisor to the tipster for my blog and conceded that they know far more about trout fishing than horses,a sentiment with which i agree.
Mulhuddart produced its fair share of hurlers in its day.Along with Eddie Reid,,Pat Carr and Kevin,Ben Dempsey and Anthony Larkin played for a while.Nailer Brooks was a stalwart with Eoghan Ruaidh in his day and Andy Dowling hurled withe Port and Docks years ago.He was a small man,but a tough one.
I saw the Red Ponyton and met Peadar and Margaret Hughes ,Rose O Leary and her husband Michael Flanagan.And Jem Mansfield,with whom I manned many a gap in the Brigid's defence years ago And his wife too..Christy Lawler,the former scion of advertising in the Irish Press ,when a job there was what you would call a job,was there with his wife Betty and his son Joe ,who was so kind to me when I was in Navan Hospital was also there.As a matter of historical record myself and Christy were on the Committee of Inspection of the Irish Press when it went into liquidation all those years ago and Tom Grace was appointed Liquidator.
And we met Eileen O Byrne of the famour O Byrne family and chewed the GAA cud for a while.
Former Muluddart resident Paddy Madden and his wife Claire were there too.They have moved to Galway.Another man I hurled with and a tough and fair one too.
Tomorrow we head to Killimor near Ballinasloe for the funeral of Michael Hardiman ,brother of Nancy Horan from Dunderry and of Kate who spent many years here.
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Godless Secular Ireland learned nothing in 200 years.
Punish the needy and reward the greedy.Jail those who can't pay their debts (the poor)and use the full sanctions of the law to protect the greedy and those who have power and money,especially those who use usury as a means of making a living.
If the poor want some element of peace bring up the shite about "moral Hazard"and if they want debt forgiveness for debts they cannot ever ever pay up brand them "chancers ,authorise the invasion of their houses by Revenue Officials to really make them feel inferior and show who is boss.
Anyone who makes a living by renting accommodation to those the Government have failed to accommodate and who borrowed to buy those houses and can't repay are to be thrown to the wolves and a largely female cadre of journalists and bankers have their eyes out on stalks screeching to have them evicted.Sure they are nothing only scum.Feck them and their families.
Incarcerated in Trim Jail in 1821 for non payment of debt were :-
Graham Read Farmer
Michael Mulvaney Baker
Christopher Brien Farmer
James Cully Farmer
William Connelly Farmer
Miles Carroll Labourer
Catherine Flinn Farmer and Widow
Stephen Carolan Laborour
Matthew Wynne was confined for stealing fowl.
Fast forward to 2011.
Because they could not pay fines imposed by the Courts 7,500 people were imprisoned.
A bankrupted man,Sean Quinn is in jail because he cannot pay his debts.He may be there technically because he is in contempt of court.But he would not even be in Court were he able to pay his alleged debts.There areprobably more like him.
Not only do the our financial institutions want people who owe them money shamed and humiliated by bankrupting them ,they want them bankrupted here so as to drag the process out to 12 years instead of 3 as in most civilised countries.In 1821 terms they want them hung.drawn and quartered as compared to hung only.
And to these people the Government want to give a right of veto in the proposed Bankruptcy legislation.
But this disdain for ordinary people is viral in Government circles.Guess who said if you can afford Sky you can afford to pay the household tax?Would this man earn over E400.00 per day?Will a proposed bankrupt have his mouth searched for gold teeth .
Will the Revenue brief be to establish whether you have Sky when they invade your house?Will they search under your bed to see if you have any cash after you close down your bank account to stop them seizing your w\ages.
Will you have any wages left after they snatch from your employer whatever charges you owe ,which have nothing to do with your earnings, but for which your means of sustenance can be attacked.
Now that Australia and the EU have dived to the nadir of sick taste and openly advertise the most sickening ,repulsive and obscene images of advanced medical disease on cigarettes packets, will there be an attempt to say it is OK to do this for cigarette smoking which may threaten life but not o.k. to do it for abortion which definitely and irrevocably destroys human life ?
And by the way it was kosher for strident feminist and pro choice journalists and politicians to repeatedly orally attack Catholicism and their leaders(elderly men in dresses etc) and it is not o.k to orally attack politicians on policy.
Progress me arse.
If the poor want some element of peace bring up the shite about "moral Hazard"and if they want debt forgiveness for debts they cannot ever ever pay up brand them "chancers ,authorise the invasion of their houses by Revenue Officials to really make them feel inferior and show who is boss.
Anyone who makes a living by renting accommodation to those the Government have failed to accommodate and who borrowed to buy those houses and can't repay are to be thrown to the wolves and a largely female cadre of journalists and bankers have their eyes out on stalks screeching to have them evicted.Sure they are nothing only scum.Feck them and their families.
Incarcerated in Trim Jail in 1821 for non payment of debt were :-
Graham Read Farmer
Michael Mulvaney Baker
Christopher Brien Farmer
James Cully Farmer
William Connelly Farmer
Miles Carroll Labourer
Catherine Flinn Farmer and Widow
Stephen Carolan Laborour
Matthew Wynne was confined for stealing fowl.
Fast forward to 2011.
Because they could not pay fines imposed by the Courts 7,500 people were imprisoned.
A bankrupted man,Sean Quinn is in jail because he cannot pay his debts.He may be there technically because he is in contempt of court.But he would not even be in Court were he able to pay his alleged debts.There areprobably more like him.
Not only do the our financial institutions want people who owe them money shamed and humiliated by bankrupting them ,they want them bankrupted here so as to drag the process out to 12 years instead of 3 as in most civilised countries.In 1821 terms they want them hung.drawn and quartered as compared to hung only.
And to these people the Government want to give a right of veto in the proposed Bankruptcy legislation.
But this disdain for ordinary people is viral in Government circles.Guess who said if you can afford Sky you can afford to pay the household tax?Would this man earn over E400.00 per day?Will a proposed bankrupt have his mouth searched for gold teeth .
Will the Revenue brief be to establish whether you have Sky when they invade your house?Will they search under your bed to see if you have any cash after you close down your bank account to stop them seizing your w\ages.
Will you have any wages left after they snatch from your employer whatever charges you owe ,which have nothing to do with your earnings, but for which your means of sustenance can be attacked.
Now that Australia and the EU have dived to the nadir of sick taste and openly advertise the most sickening ,repulsive and obscene images of advanced medical disease on cigarettes packets, will there be an attempt to say it is OK to do this for cigarette smoking which may threaten life but not o.k. to do it for abortion which definitely and irrevocably destroys human life ?
And by the way it was kosher for strident feminist and pro choice journalists and politicians to repeatedly orally attack Catholicism and their leaders(elderly men in dresses etc) and it is not o.k to orally attack politicians on policy.
Progress me arse.
Christmas Mass Dunderry.
Its a lovely day.Bit of a bite in the weather but the sun is shining.Great day for a brisk walk to clear the system out from the breakfast to make way for the dinner.Don't forget to wear the new gear for the walk.And if you got a new pair of leather gloves make sure you roll the cuffs back all the better to display them when swinging the hands arms high so as all can see them.
Mass was grand this morning.Father Hornick well earned his mid day soup by saying his fourth Mass since yesterday's 6.00 p.m.Mass in Kilbride.A grand man.
The Church wasn't packed to capacity today,but as there wasn't even standing room last evening you would expect that.The Alter was resplendent,the decorations out of this world..The readers were on their game,the Sacriscant Marie resplendent as she fussed about,the Mass Servers well versed in their work and the Youth Choir only magnificent as they belted out their music.
Miriam Minogue,Larry Mc Evoy and new Mandolin player,Hugh Scanlon (his less renowned sister writes books I believe ) provide an enthralling backdrop to the vocal of the main people the singers.
Hugh is as adept on the mandolin as he is in his coaching of the Camogie team.
He cut his hurling teeth with Ballymun Kickhams and knows his onions.Not only his onions but his spuds too as he still helps his 90 plus years father dig the garden to plant them before Patrick's day.A grand man,with a grand wife and family too.
Did you know that the Kickhams part of Ballymun results from an amalgamation of Ballymun with Kickhams,a club which I remember playing and was mainly manned by Cleary's employees.Is there a history of this defunct Club ?Or of Green Flags ,which operated a lifetime ago in Chapelizod.
Anyhow back to today.There was spontaneous burst of applause from the congregation after Mass and I checked with the Alter boys.Yes Santy did deliver last night. I said I knew he would as I saw him checking the list last night in the football field,where he landed on top of the dug out ,mistaking it for a helipad.
The most welcome cries of small children were all over the Church.Long may it last and I cried inwardly in sadness for the 150,000 dead Irish babies who died in England in recent years at the hands of the ungodly so called medical practitioners.May God forgive them.
To all Dunderry people everywhere God bless ye.
If Evan and Junior are in Sweden ,Happy Christmas.And the Report of the recent under 21 defeat will be up in the next few days.
Slan go Foill.
Mass was grand this morning.Father Hornick well earned his mid day soup by saying his fourth Mass since yesterday's 6.00 p.m.Mass in Kilbride.A grand man.
The Church wasn't packed to capacity today,but as there wasn't even standing room last evening you would expect that.The Alter was resplendent,the decorations out of this world..The readers were on their game,the Sacriscant Marie resplendent as she fussed about,the Mass Servers well versed in their work and the Youth Choir only magnificent as they belted out their music.
Miriam Minogue,Larry Mc Evoy and new Mandolin player,Hugh Scanlon (his less renowned sister writes books I believe ) provide an enthralling backdrop to the vocal of the main people the singers.
Hugh is as adept on the mandolin as he is in his coaching of the Camogie team.
He cut his hurling teeth with Ballymun Kickhams and knows his onions.Not only his onions but his spuds too as he still helps his 90 plus years father dig the garden to plant them before Patrick's day.A grand man,with a grand wife and family too.
Did you know that the Kickhams part of Ballymun results from an amalgamation of Ballymun with Kickhams,a club which I remember playing and was mainly manned by Cleary's employees.Is there a history of this defunct Club ?Or of Green Flags ,which operated a lifetime ago in Chapelizod.
Anyhow back to today.There was spontaneous burst of applause from the congregation after Mass and I checked with the Alter boys.Yes Santy did deliver last night. I said I knew he would as I saw him checking the list last night in the football field,where he landed on top of the dug out ,mistaking it for a helipad.
The most welcome cries of small children were all over the Church.Long may it last and I cried inwardly in sadness for the 150,000 dead Irish babies who died in England in recent years at the hands of the ungodly so called medical practitioners.May God forgive them.
To all Dunderry people everywhere God bless ye.
If Evan and Junior are in Sweden ,Happy Christmas.And the Report of the recent under 21 defeat will be up in the next few days.
Slan go Foill.
Monday, December 24, 2012
Santy seen in Blanchardstown/Dunderry
50 years ago when I was 10 , I was on red alert on Christmas Eve trying to see Santy and his sleigh as he delivered the presents.I concentrated so hard that all sounds save the jingle of the bells were frozen out.And then I hears the bells and saw the sleigh and the reindeer as Santy raced them through the sky.
From my bedroom window you could just see him across the roof of the coal shed as he headed over Darby's Hill at the back of our house towards Tonge's house in the Hospital grounds.I am fairly sure that Byrnes ,the Fagans and the Carrs saw him too.And Rosie and Myra Mac Donald saw him too and told Pat and the rest of the kids.
The Russells ,the O Gormans ,Una Deignan ,the Colemans ,the Carrs and all the people on Herbert Road must have seen him too.
And he didn't forget me.I got a Mecanno Set.
I heard his sleigh bells ringing a few hours ago as he circled above the Greyhound.He remembers the way still.Doesn't need a Sat Nav.All the kids in that part of the world are on a winner.He will deliver.
And he knows where the grand kids of all the people mentioned above are living .And will visit them too.
This evening after Vigil Mass in Dunderry a living crib was outside the Church.Joseph ,Mary and Jesus were there.And there was a donkey.a ewe with an early lamb sucking her mother and two other ewes not yet yeaned.
And loads of Arab robed shepherds.
Where ever they got it,the crib and surrounds were warmed by sods of turf held in a brazer to dispel the cold.Nothing like it.And Amy's proteges sang their hearts out.The Mammy of the choristers Mary Dacy made an appearance.She is on two crutches but I'd say she is already planning the Return of the Choir.Amy mind your back.
Jut as I was coming home I heard the sleigh bells again.Santy n the move again.This time he was stopped above the GAA Pitch reading lists.I.d say he was heading first to the Village and then up the Meadstown Road.No doubt he will head to Lambay in due course.Every house in the Parish.I'd say.
Better get asleep lads.
From my bedroom window you could just see him across the roof of the coal shed as he headed over Darby's Hill at the back of our house towards Tonge's house in the Hospital grounds.I am fairly sure that Byrnes ,the Fagans and the Carrs saw him too.And Rosie and Myra Mac Donald saw him too and told Pat and the rest of the kids.
The Russells ,the O Gormans ,Una Deignan ,the Colemans ,the Carrs and all the people on Herbert Road must have seen him too.
And he didn't forget me.I got a Mecanno Set.
I heard his sleigh bells ringing a few hours ago as he circled above the Greyhound.He remembers the way still.Doesn't need a Sat Nav.All the kids in that part of the world are on a winner.He will deliver.
And he knows where the grand kids of all the people mentioned above are living .And will visit them too.
This evening after Vigil Mass in Dunderry a living crib was outside the Church.Joseph ,Mary and Jesus were there.And there was a donkey.a ewe with an early lamb sucking her mother and two other ewes not yet yeaned.
And loads of Arab robed shepherds.
Where ever they got it,the crib and surrounds were warmed by sods of turf held in a brazer to dispel the cold.Nothing like it.And Amy's proteges sang their hearts out.The Mammy of the choristers Mary Dacy made an appearance.She is on two crutches but I'd say she is already planning the Return of the Choir.Amy mind your back.
Jut as I was coming home I heard the sleigh bells again.Santy n the move again.This time he was stopped above the GAA Pitch reading lists.I.d say he was heading first to the Village and then up the Meadstown Road.No doubt he will head to Lambay in due course.Every house in the Parish.I'd say.
Better get asleep lads.
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Drumhall beats David.
Blackhall/Drumree beat us 6 points.I am devastated.The lads are heartbroken.Feck it.
Report later.
Report later.
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Christmas Mass Times Dunderry 2012.
Christmas Eve. Kilbride 6.00 p.m.
Dunderry 7.30 p.m.
Christmas Day.Robinstown. 9.00 a.m.
Dunderry .11.00 a.m.
Dunderry 7.30 p.m.
Christmas Day.Robinstown. 9.00 a.m.
Dunderry .11.00 a.m.
Muskateers not faltering yet.
It is nearly a year since myself,Liam Daton and Leo Geraghty resolved to go to Dunderry Church every Friday evening at 6.00 and pray for a half hour for the recovery of our Country and all that goes with that.No great improvement is discernible and the abomination of legalisation of abortion looms ominously.
While all three have not been present every night at least one has.Carmel Geraghty substitutes for Leo at times.We had our Christmas outing last night and I must admit that myself and the Liamster went on the beer.And enjoyed every minute of it.
Leo has no taste for beer and opted out.
The show goes on for 2013.
Drop in any Friday you have time.
While all three have not been present every night at least one has.Carmel Geraghty substitutes for Leo at times.We had our Christmas outing last night and I must admit that myself and the Liamster went on the beer.And enjoyed every minute of it.
Leo has no taste for beer and opted out.
The show goes on for 2013.
Drop in any Friday you have time.
Brigids/Erin go Brath/Dunderry GAA Clubs.
On Christmas Eve at 7.30 p.m.Irish Time on Phoenix Radio 92.5 FM you can hear an interview from myself and some Dublin friends concerning the above Clubs and bygone days in Blanchardstown.It is the first time recently that I have spoken on Radio and I was fearful that my voice might falter on account of the stroke I suffered 3 years age ,when amongst other things I temporarily lost was my voice.I got through it without too much swallowing and stuttering.Due in no small part to the Phoenix interviewer who is a pure gent.
The Station is available on the Internet.Listen in if you have time.I know that some readers of my blog have no idea what I sound like.You will know after this.
The interview is available as a podcast of "The Throw In"of the programme of 24/12/2012.
The Station is available on the Internet.Listen in if you have time.I know that some readers of my blog have no idea what I sound like.You will know after this.
The interview is available as a podcast of "The Throw In"of the programme of 24/12/2012.
Friday, December 21, 2012
Deaths of Shane Mc Entee and Paul Earley
Shane Mac Entee died this morning.It is strongly rumoured that he died tragically.I don't know whether this is true or false.I met Shane Mac Entee on a number of occasions.Although I would have no truck with his politics I hugely admired him and his family.He was a g huge GAA man and gave his time unselfishly to the game.He was a nice guy and a great family man.He knew that I had little time for Fine Gael but still called to my door looking for my vote.I never insulted him and am glad I didn't.
I think that Gerry is his brother.Gerry ,as far as I know ,is the Director of Football in St.Brigids ,Blanchardstown,my former club.He is hugely respected there and has steered St.Brigids to the pinnacle of Club Football in Dublin and Ireland.
I saw him,but didn't get a chance to speak to him,in the Brigids Clubhouse two weeks ago when I attended the 80 years celebration of the Club.
When I was incapacitated with a stroke in Navan Hospital three years ago a Mac Entee of an older generation was a ward mate.I think he was Shane's father but am unsure.I was very very sick when those events occurred but my abiding memory of that man is that any farmer who came to visit me went over the the man and shook his hand for past services to the IFA.
He was never short of visitors from his extended and loving family.
He had the gentlest way possible of correcting staff who were not up to the mark.I once heard him remarking to a nurse who put sugar and milk into his prune juice that nursing was really a vocation and not just a job .She got the massage pronto.
Another time a third generation Mac Entee ,whose name escapes me ,relieved a fierce cramp I had in a dead leg on a weekend when no Physio nor similar staff were on duty.
That this most decent and agreeable of men should expire so young is a national tragedy.
Paul Earley was found dead in his house today.He had been sick this while back with cancer.He was a native of Roscommon as far as I know,who lived in Skryne before he moved here to a farm on the Meadstown Road.His wife Trena predeceased him by many years.In his years here he became well known and could hold his own with anybody.
Nobody here even suspected that his death was so imminent and it came as a major shock to all who knew him.He is survived in his immediate family by his son Joe and his daughters Suzanne and Fiona.
He will be reposing in Mc Entaggarts Funeral Home ,Dunsaughlin from 3.00 p.m. Wednesday 26/12/2012,thence at 6.00 p.m. to arrive at Colmcilles Church,Skryne at 7.00 p.m.
Burial Thursday 27/12/2012 after 11.00 a.m. Mass to Kentstown Cemetery,
To the surviving relatives of Shane and Paul we offer our deepest sympathies,
Ar dheis De go raibh a hAnam dilis.
I think that Gerry is his brother.Gerry ,as far as I know ,is the Director of Football in St.Brigids ,Blanchardstown,my former club.He is hugely respected there and has steered St.Brigids to the pinnacle of Club Football in Dublin and Ireland.
I saw him,but didn't get a chance to speak to him,in the Brigids Clubhouse two weeks ago when I attended the 80 years celebration of the Club.
When I was incapacitated with a stroke in Navan Hospital three years ago a Mac Entee of an older generation was a ward mate.I think he was Shane's father but am unsure.I was very very sick when those events occurred but my abiding memory of that man is that any farmer who came to visit me went over the the man and shook his hand for past services to the IFA.
He was never short of visitors from his extended and loving family.
He had the gentlest way possible of correcting staff who were not up to the mark.I once heard him remarking to a nurse who put sugar and milk into his prune juice that nursing was really a vocation and not just a job .She got the massage pronto.
Another time a third generation Mac Entee ,whose name escapes me ,relieved a fierce cramp I had in a dead leg on a weekend when no Physio nor similar staff were on duty.
That this most decent and agreeable of men should expire so young is a national tragedy.
Paul Earley was found dead in his house today.He had been sick this while back with cancer.He was a native of Roscommon as far as I know,who lived in Skryne before he moved here to a farm on the Meadstown Road.His wife Trena predeceased him by many years.In his years here he became well known and could hold his own with anybody.
Nobody here even suspected that his death was so imminent and it came as a major shock to all who knew him.He is survived in his immediate family by his son Joe and his daughters Suzanne and Fiona.
He will be reposing in Mc Entaggarts Funeral Home ,Dunsaughlin from 3.00 p.m. Wednesday 26/12/2012,thence at 6.00 p.m. to arrive at Colmcilles Church,Skryne at 7.00 p.m.
Burial Thursday 27/12/2012 after 11.00 a.m. Mass to Kentstown Cemetery,
To the surviving relatives of Shane and Paul we offer our deepest sympathies,
Ar dheis De go raibh a hAnam dilis.
Thursday, December 20, 2012
What a shower of scrooges..
The miserable gits,whoever they are,who limited Sean Quinn's release to 3 days only ,ensuring that he will miss the Christening of his grandchild ought embark on a search of their ancestry.
You only get Christened once.Why this man,who created hope for many years in a region where none existed ,is being treated so harshly ,is an abomination.I would be fairly sure that those who denied him the extra day would never have created even one job between them.More than likely their well paid jobs are funded from the past taxes and future taxes of people like Quinn.
I have no idea what a search into their ancestry would show,but the spirit of their decision is similar to that shown by the innkeepers of Bethlehem ,who all know refused Joseph and Mary lodgings all those years ago.No compassion.
I hope they really enjoy their Christmas Dinners in the comforts of their homes.It's the least they deserve.
You only get Christened once.Why this man,who created hope for many years in a region where none existed ,is being treated so harshly ,is an abomination.I would be fairly sure that those who denied him the extra day would never have created even one job between them.More than likely their well paid jobs are funded from the past taxes and future taxes of people like Quinn.
I have no idea what a search into their ancestry would show,but the spirit of their decision is similar to that shown by the innkeepers of Bethlehem ,who all know refused Joseph and Mary lodgings all those years ago.No compassion.
I hope they really enjoy their Christmas Dinners in the comforts of their homes.It's the least they deserve.
Colm Keaveney does not make Fear Breaga List.
For doing the decent thing and voting against the reduction in children's allowance in the Budget ,Labour's Colm Keaveney does not make my Fear Breaga List.
You will remember that Labour made a solemn promise pre election that there would be no reduction in the Allowance if they were returned to Government.Ruairi Quiinn also made a solemn promise that there would be no increase in student fees if Labour was elected.This promise too has been reneged on.
Fine Gael promised that there would be no legislation on abortion were the Party elected.This promise too is about to be reneged on.
Would you say the these Parties would or would not make my Fear Brega List?
You will remember that Labour made a solemn promise pre election that there would be no reduction in the Allowance if they were returned to Government.Ruairi Quiinn also made a solemn promise that there would be no increase in student fees if Labour was elected.This promise too has been reneged on.
Fine Gael promised that there would be no legislation on abortion were the Party elected.This promise too is about to be reneged on.
Would you say the these Parties would or would not make my Fear Brega List?
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Rabbitte can't take it.
Rabbitte is well named.Name and nature.There are few topics he has not pronounced on ,with weighed ,incisive and more often than not barbed comment.On the man usually.He has no compunction in publicly berating those who incur his displeasure.He and his ex Sinn Fein cohorts have had no trouble morphing from party to party as the opportunity arose.They now own the Labour Party body and soul.He has admitted that promises were made by his current party which have already been discarded.This is what you do in elections he reasoned.Make false promises.
I predict that when this Dail term finishes and the Labour ministers sojourn on their retirement bonuses that they will have left a cadaver of a Party similar to the Workers Party they jettisoned.
That that Party had Russian and Communist East European links is clear.
Such structured societies abhor and suppress free speech.
He does not want the Catholic Church,to which 86% of the population belongs, speaking out on matters of morality nor on matters concerns the targeting of preborn life.
In my view the Church doesn't speak out half enough.And I look forward to Catholics of all stature and none defending their liberties and expressing their views more often and more publicly.
Mr.Rabbitte you are totally wrong to try and suggest that free speech should be suppressed here.Like in East Germany for decades.
The whip system your party imposes on its parliamentarians won't work with ordinary people.
Stop the oral bullying and grow up.
I predict that when this Dail term finishes and the Labour ministers sojourn on their retirement bonuses that they will have left a cadaver of a Party similar to the Workers Party they jettisoned.
That that Party had Russian and Communist East European links is clear.
Such structured societies abhor and suppress free speech.
He does not want the Catholic Church,to which 86% of the population belongs, speaking out on matters of morality nor on matters concerns the targeting of preborn life.
In my view the Church doesn't speak out half enough.And I look forward to Catholics of all stature and none defending their liberties and expressing their views more often and more publicly.
Mr.Rabbitte you are totally wrong to try and suggest that free speech should be suppressed here.Like in East Germany for decades.
The whip system your party imposes on its parliamentarians won't work with ordinary people.
Stop the oral bullying and grow up.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
The wisdom of Loman Mark 3
The same Loman knew,shall we call him O Sullivan ,for donkey's years.Although polite to his face Loman detested him and to his friends made no secret of this dislike.His friends,being friends,never missed an opportunity to praise O Sullivan to the skies in Loman's presence in order to enrage Loman and hear his reaction.For example Loman's reaction to the statement that O Sulllivan was a good judge of cattle was to splutter that "the only way O Sullivan could tell the head from the tail of a cow was that one end spewed out sh.. and the other end would roar at you".
This dislike lasted until he kicked off this mortal coil.
Two friends visited Loman on his death bed .He was in a coma and oblivious to their presence,so the boys talked across the bed to each other assuming he couldn't. hear them.Their conversation varied and ended up with a discussion on a forthcoming auction in a nearby estate,where very valuable heirlooms were up for sale.One boy remarked that to gain admission you had to pay a fiver for a brochure and wondered why that should be."To keep hoors like Sullivan out "said Loman opening his eyes momentarily before lapsing back into the coma.
Consistent to the end.
This dislike lasted until he kicked off this mortal coil.
Two friends visited Loman on his death bed .He was in a coma and oblivious to their presence,so the boys talked across the bed to each other assuming he couldn't. hear them.Their conversation varied and ended up with a discussion on a forthcoming auction in a nearby estate,where very valuable heirlooms were up for sale.One boy remarked that to gain admission you had to pay a fiver for a brochure and wondered why that should be."To keep hoors like Sullivan out "said Loman opening his eyes momentarily before lapsing back into the coma.
Consistent to the end.
Sunday, December 16, 2012
David reels in Goliath.U 21B.H.C.F.
A defrosting Trim pitch,perfectly playable,hosted the much anticipated encounter of these biblical rivals as the might of the four Parishes (Dunsaughlin,Drumree,Batterstown and Kilcloon) pitted their considerable resources against the Davidian defenders of the Fort of the Oaks.
Both teams were well pumped up for this contest and a high octane game resulted with fortunes swinging from side to side before a decent crowd in this support act to the following higher Grade Final between Trim and Kiltale.
Hurling spectators are usually decent and sporting.Vociferous maybe but always fair.Which is why I assume that what must have been a late returning Leinster Rugby supporter inadvertently strayed into the Pitch from yesterday's game against Claremont and orally heckled our free taker as he lined up to take a free.From his safe perch five yards from the action..As it turned out our boy missed.The four Parishes owe their result in part to this supporter .No doubt he is proud of himself but the true hurlers from that locality might advise him,whoever he is,that while such behaviour may be acceptable in Landsdown Road,where the Leinster fans showed their true class by heckling the opposing free taker at every opportunity ,it has no place in the Game of the Gaels.
Aside from a competent and fair referee in Anthony Healy,who hurled himself and you would know it,there were enough specialist referees present running the lines to adjudicate at several finals.Like the 39A bus tears ago ,no bus for ages but then several one after another.
I am not going to give a blow by blow account of the game but rather a general account of the contest served up by two teams bursting with testosterone and mad anxious to win.
Defenders of the Oak Fort.
C.Harrington
D.Keenan C.O.Shea
S.Coogan B.Wright A.Garry
L.Dempsey C.Farrell
J.Moran K.Minogue J.Martyn
S.Carty D.Scannell.
Playing against a strongish wind and a stronger sun we had our fair share of possession in the opening forays but a Wright stumble while in possession spilled the ball to Blackhall who took a good point from play.From a speculative long ball in to our square Harrow catches the ball no problem but clears it in an overhead stroke straight to the opposition who bury it in the back of the net.A brutal start.Made worse by another minor from play by the Four Parishes.And another..We stick manfully to our task and force a wide from play from the opposition.Harrow does well.Confidence back.
Out of nothing we conjure a goal.Not the greatest scramble but it will do.Game on.Bomber is besting their trump card Morris in the middle.So far.Minogue points a free he himself earned.They respond in kind after a Garry infringement.Coogan is fouled far from goal and Sheflin Minogue points.Minogue hesitates and we concede a minor.And another.1-6 to 1-3 against.Octo converts another free.Blackhall do likewise.And convert a seventy.5 points down.Getting anxious.Minogue is fouled and proves he is human too by missing a handy one.We switch Moran and Scannell.Repays immediate dividends as Moran finishes a Wright free ,earned by Dempsey to the net.Minogue misses another minor and they tag one on.
Both teams show great defiance and an unwillingness to concede and the half time whistle sounds.
Am quietly confident.With wind and sun we are in with a chance.
We resume with Scannell at wing back and Coogan at wing forward.Moran stays in the full line.Within a minute we are four down due to a point against from a free.Not the start we wanted.Garry is wounded but survives.From a free on Dempsey Minogue hauls a point back.Garry shows defiance and Coogan scores a point from play.Carty goes into turbo drive and parts to Cougar who bulges the onion bag.What a goal.Puts us one up.Harrow is forced to concede a close in free,which is converted.Coogan conjures a magical point from play.Minogue misses one.A minor hurrock develops and one from each side sees yellow.Handbag stuff..Blackgall counter with a point from play.And another.Morris is imposing his will more and more.Still Bomber plays well.
Minogue converts from a free on Coogan.,who is imposing.Moran points from play.A point ahead now,Wright is fouled and hits the free wide.Blackhall score a point.Level again.And then forge ahead by one.Stefan Clarke replaces Moran.
Carty levels it.Another hurrock.Full time.Draw game.
Extra time.
We take lead via Minogue free.Four Parishes garner a goal.Then a point.WE get a free about forty out on the wing.As Minogue steadies to take it the assumed Landsdown refugee covers himself and the four parishes in glory.What a shit.He misses.Half time.Us 3-10.Them 2-17.
I figure we need a point a minute to have a chance.A Combination man goes down for four minutes and then makes a miraculous recovery.Repeat of a IHC game ? Hope not.Then we attack and two go down.They hop up in due course.We pull a point back from a free.Time is just up.We get a free and Minogue floats it in.Someone buries it .Can' see who .Draw match.
Its re fixed for Sunday 23rd December.Bi ann.
Like the Cat Stanley said when seen turning hay in November"I#m m\aking hay and making history".
Earlier this year our under 16 hurlers ran a combination picked from Kilcock to Ardcath to a replay but lost.
This 21 Combination are a very very good team.They must be very firm favourites.
Santa might give us a present of a watch that's running instead of a stocking full of pony manure from a pony that has ran.
We will die trying.
Both teams were well pumped up for this contest and a high octane game resulted with fortunes swinging from side to side before a decent crowd in this support act to the following higher Grade Final between Trim and Kiltale.
Hurling spectators are usually decent and sporting.Vociferous maybe but always fair.Which is why I assume that what must have been a late returning Leinster Rugby supporter inadvertently strayed into the Pitch from yesterday's game against Claremont and orally heckled our free taker as he lined up to take a free.From his safe perch five yards from the action..As it turned out our boy missed.The four Parishes owe their result in part to this supporter .No doubt he is proud of himself but the true hurlers from that locality might advise him,whoever he is,that while such behaviour may be acceptable in Landsdown Road,where the Leinster fans showed their true class by heckling the opposing free taker at every opportunity ,it has no place in the Game of the Gaels.
Aside from a competent and fair referee in Anthony Healy,who hurled himself and you would know it,there were enough specialist referees present running the lines to adjudicate at several finals.Like the 39A bus tears ago ,no bus for ages but then several one after another.
I am not going to give a blow by blow account of the game but rather a general account of the contest served up by two teams bursting with testosterone and mad anxious to win.
Defenders of the Oak Fort.
C.Harrington
D.Keenan C.O.Shea
S.Coogan B.Wright A.Garry
L.Dempsey C.Farrell
J.Moran K.Minogue J.Martyn
S.Carty D.Scannell.
Playing against a strongish wind and a stronger sun we had our fair share of possession in the opening forays but a Wright stumble while in possession spilled the ball to Blackhall who took a good point from play.From a speculative long ball in to our square Harrow catches the ball no problem but clears it in an overhead stroke straight to the opposition who bury it in the back of the net.A brutal start.Made worse by another minor from play by the Four Parishes.And another..We stick manfully to our task and force a wide from play from the opposition.Harrow does well.Confidence back.
Out of nothing we conjure a goal.Not the greatest scramble but it will do.Game on.Bomber is besting their trump card Morris in the middle.So far.Minogue points a free he himself earned.They respond in kind after a Garry infringement.Coogan is fouled far from goal and Sheflin Minogue points.Minogue hesitates and we concede a minor.And another.1-6 to 1-3 against.Octo converts another free.Blackhall do likewise.And convert a seventy.5 points down.Getting anxious.Minogue is fouled and proves he is human too by missing a handy one.We switch Moran and Scannell.Repays immediate dividends as Moran finishes a Wright free ,earned by Dempsey to the net.Minogue misses another minor and they tag one on.
Both teams show great defiance and an unwillingness to concede and the half time whistle sounds.
Am quietly confident.With wind and sun we are in with a chance.
We resume with Scannell at wing back and Coogan at wing forward.Moran stays in the full line.Within a minute we are four down due to a point against from a free.Not the start we wanted.Garry is wounded but survives.From a free on Dempsey Minogue hauls a point back.Garry shows defiance and Coogan scores a point from play.Carty goes into turbo drive and parts to Cougar who bulges the onion bag.What a goal.Puts us one up.Harrow is forced to concede a close in free,which is converted.Coogan conjures a magical point from play.Minogue misses one.A minor hurrock develops and one from each side sees yellow.Handbag stuff..Blackgall counter with a point from play.And another.Morris is imposing his will more and more.Still Bomber plays well.
Minogue converts from a free on Coogan.,who is imposing.Moran points from play.A point ahead now,Wright is fouled and hits the free wide.Blackhall score a point.Level again.And then forge ahead by one.Stefan Clarke replaces Moran.
Carty levels it.Another hurrock.Full time.Draw game.
Extra time.
We take lead via Minogue free.Four Parishes garner a goal.Then a point.WE get a free about forty out on the wing.As Minogue steadies to take it the assumed Landsdown refugee covers himself and the four parishes in glory.What a shit.He misses.Half time.Us 3-10.Them 2-17.
I figure we need a point a minute to have a chance.A Combination man goes down for four minutes and then makes a miraculous recovery.Repeat of a IHC game ? Hope not.Then we attack and two go down.They hop up in due course.We pull a point back from a free.Time is just up.We get a free and Minogue floats it in.Someone buries it .Can' see who .Draw match.
Its re fixed for Sunday 23rd December.Bi ann.
Like the Cat Stanley said when seen turning hay in November"I#m m\aking hay and making history".
Earlier this year our under 16 hurlers ran a combination picked from Kilcock to Ardcath to a replay but lost.
This 21 Combination are a very very good team.They must be very firm favourites.
Santa might give us a present of a watch that's running instead of a stocking full of pony manure from a pony that has ran.
We will die trying.
Friday, December 14, 2012
Time Catholics toughened up.
I watched a documentary this week about the war in the former Yugoslavia which highlighted the atrocities perpetrated there.Amongst the most horrifying scenes I have ever seen were the beheading of soldiers by their captors,Muslims all.That is the people doing the beheading were Muslims.The fear factor generated by these and similar incidents is what restrains the atheist end agnostic sneers from ridiculing Muslims.
The Catholic tenet of forgiveness and of turning the other cheek is what encourages these cowards to ridicule Catholics at every opportunity.
It is high time that Catholics were more active in standing up for themselves.Time to resurrect the Crusaders perhaps.Certainly militant Muslims have had no problem routing Godless Russian and agnostic Americans and Europeans in Iraq and Afghanistan.The removal of all mention of God from the European constitution and the decrease in the numbers of Christians in England should give pause for thought to all politicians who ponder the future.
Those with no belief in the afterlife have proved no match for those who do believe when it comes to war.Unless Europe wants to be entirely over run by Militant Muslims it is time to convert to Christianity,to stop sneering at Christians and to welcome their presence with open arms.
It is also time for Catholics in particular to stand up for their beliefs.As forcefully as is necessary.
P.S.
Since the above blog a reader has put to me the fact that Muslims themselves are often subject to atrocities also.He cited the way that the Palestinians are treated by the Jewish State of Israel and the slaughter of innocent women and children in the recent Gaza standoff.Israelis seem to regard Palestinian life as inferior to Jewish life in a proportion of 100 to 5.That is one Israeli life is worth 20 Palestinian lives.
I can find little to disagree with in this viewpoint either.
My basic point is that believers should not sneer at nor belittle believers of a different hue,nor should the Godless sneer at nor belittle the faith of believers.In Ireland in particular it seems to me that the printed media and the State broadcaster is top heavy with the Godless who poke fun at and belittle Catholics in particular at every opportunity.
The perpetrators of these barbs should be challenged at every opportunity by the members of the religion concerned .Muslims do take action.It is high time Catholics became more effective also.
On a more general note,I have found that bullies will always pick on those who won't fight back. The ethos of Catholicism is to turn the other cheek.We are therefor prime targets for bullies,from the days of the Roman Arenas to the clever clogs of today.
And most frighteningly of all I recently heard that there are over 1,000 journalists in Dublin alone,each vieing to out do the other in sensationalism.
God help us.
The Catholic tenet of forgiveness and of turning the other cheek is what encourages these cowards to ridicule Catholics at every opportunity.
It is high time that Catholics were more active in standing up for themselves.Time to resurrect the Crusaders perhaps.Certainly militant Muslims have had no problem routing Godless Russian and agnostic Americans and Europeans in Iraq and Afghanistan.The removal of all mention of God from the European constitution and the decrease in the numbers of Christians in England should give pause for thought to all politicians who ponder the future.
Those with no belief in the afterlife have proved no match for those who do believe when it comes to war.Unless Europe wants to be entirely over run by Militant Muslims it is time to convert to Christianity,to stop sneering at Christians and to welcome their presence with open arms.
It is also time for Catholics in particular to stand up for their beliefs.As forcefully as is necessary.
P.S.
Since the above blog a reader has put to me the fact that Muslims themselves are often subject to atrocities also.He cited the way that the Palestinians are treated by the Jewish State of Israel and the slaughter of innocent women and children in the recent Gaza standoff.Israelis seem to regard Palestinian life as inferior to Jewish life in a proportion of 100 to 5.That is one Israeli life is worth 20 Palestinian lives.
I can find little to disagree with in this viewpoint either.
My basic point is that believers should not sneer at nor belittle believers of a different hue,nor should the Godless sneer at nor belittle the faith of believers.In Ireland in particular it seems to me that the printed media and the State broadcaster is top heavy with the Godless who poke fun at and belittle Catholics in particular at every opportunity.
The perpetrators of these barbs should be challenged at every opportunity by the members of the religion concerned .Muslims do take action.It is high time Catholics became more effective also.
On a more general note,I have found that bullies will always pick on those who won't fight back. The ethos of Catholicism is to turn the other cheek.We are therefor prime targets for bullies,from the days of the Roman Arenas to the clever clogs of today.
And most frighteningly of all I recently heard that there are over 1,000 journalists in Dublin alone,each vieing to out do the other in sensationalism.
God help us.
David V Goliath.U 21 B.H.C.F.16/12/2012,11.30 Trim
On Sunday our under 21 hurlers take on a combined Blackhall/Drumree team.Come support our overwhelming underdogs.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Dunderry football Manager 2013
Tom Hanley from Athboy has been appointed Manager of the Inter footballers for 2013.
I don't know who his selectors are yet
I don't know who his selectors are yet
The wisdom of Loman Mark 2
Around here the respect for tradition and the dead and ones neighbour is still paramount.A long standing service still performed is the digging and filling of a deceased's grave by the neighbours..
This is not as simple as it first appears.The grave must firstly be big enough to accommodate the coffin and deep enough to allow sufficient coverage.Knackiness and accuracy rather than than brute force and strength is the order of the day.Although a combination of all four is a great attribute .
Loman was a grave digging neighbour of the highest calibre.
It has also been the tradition that the deceased's family don't dig themselves but send sandwiches and drink to the gravediggers when opening the grave.
Long ago a man with a reputation for stinginess and no close family kicked off this mortal coil.He had gone to the trouble of arranging his funeral to the extent of specifying the supply of a fine coffin and selecting his grave but made no provision for the opening of his grave.
The weather was brutal and his nearest neighbours,too used to his meanness , didn't turn up to dig.Loman alone did.
He dug all day in the teaming rain ,getting soaked to the bone.No sandwiches nor drink arrived.He finished by the light of a Tilly lamp hung on the handle of a digging fork.He missed the arrival of the deceased in the Church that evening.
Next morning he was in the graveyard to greet the funeral as he had to fill in the grave when the coffin was lowered.He had to bail the rain water from the grave with a bucket before the arrival of the burial party.His humour was not good.
The coffin was spectacular.Top of the range,Someone remarked "Jaysus that's some coffin"."It is " said Loman "and that's the boy that's well fit to mind it."
'Nuff said.
This is not as simple as it first appears.The grave must firstly be big enough to accommodate the coffin and deep enough to allow sufficient coverage.Knackiness and accuracy rather than than brute force and strength is the order of the day.Although a combination of all four is a great attribute .
Loman was a grave digging neighbour of the highest calibre.
It has also been the tradition that the deceased's family don't dig themselves but send sandwiches and drink to the gravediggers when opening the grave.
Long ago a man with a reputation for stinginess and no close family kicked off this mortal coil.He had gone to the trouble of arranging his funeral to the extent of specifying the supply of a fine coffin and selecting his grave but made no provision for the opening of his grave.
The weather was brutal and his nearest neighbours,too used to his meanness , didn't turn up to dig.Loman alone did.
He dug all day in the teaming rain ,getting soaked to the bone.No sandwiches nor drink arrived.He finished by the light of a Tilly lamp hung on the handle of a digging fork.He missed the arrival of the deceased in the Church that evening.
Next morning he was in the graveyard to greet the funeral as he had to fill in the grave when the coffin was lowered.He had to bail the rain water from the grave with a bucket before the arrival of the burial party.His humour was not good.
The coffin was spectacular.Top of the range,Someone remarked "Jaysus that's some coffin"."It is " said Loman "and that's the boy that's well fit to mind it."
'Nuff said.
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Blanch.to Brunner in 1965
I was educated in Blanchardston National School,St.Brigids to Primary Cert.standard.Due to the efforts of my parents and of Paddy Murray the then head teacher in Blanch.,who came in every Saturday in our final year there free gratis and gave us extra tuition,myself and a few others got County Council Scholarships to gain us free secondary education.This as a huge deal then as All secondary education was fee paying ,not like now and working class families could not afford to send their children on for further education.
Blanchardstown was then very much a rural village (1965).Only the Main Street,Herbert Road,Mil l lane,Brigid's Park ,Patricks Park ,old Corduff and the cottages on the left hand side of Clonsilla Road were then in existence.And of course Tolka View ,where we lived and a few houses were in the old road that now goes by T.P.Reilly's gaff on River Road.
Us Blanchies were Dublin culchies as far as the city Dubs were concerned.
A fact of which I was forcibly reminded of every day for years when I went to Secondary School in Brunswick STreet (St,Pauls) in 1965
Not only was I different from the other school goers being a culchie but myself and two other boys in a similar situation to myself hadn't gone to the feeder Primary school in Brunner and this distinguished us too.
Boys being boys there were a few who did their best to bully me daily for about two years.I didn't take it lying down and it was rare that a week didn't pass without a fight after school hours on my way to the bus.I never told my parents nor the teachers ,not that they could do much about it.Eventually I suppose I fought each and every bully and got some peace in life.
To paint the picture further I used get the public bus from Blanch each morning about 8.15 .alight in Manor Street at Desmond#s shoe shop and walk up to the school for a nine o clock start.
Most pupils went home for lunch,a thing we couldn't do on account of the distance,so I used bring in a packed lunch and a steel flask full of hot tea for lunch.I had a leather schoolbag and the flask used nestle in the side of the bag in an upright position.As the bus used be full when it reached Manor Street in the evenings I used cross down Smithfield to the Quays and get the bus there before it turned up Manor Street.There was two way traffic on the Quays at the time.
One evening the biggest bully in the school tormrnted me beyond reason and we had a fierce fight in Smithfield.I got the better of him and thought no more of it.
The next evening when heading down through Smithfield I was attacked by his older brother and a friend of his who had an Alsatian dog on a leash.I wast 15 at the time and those boys were in their late teens.I legged it for the bus and they set the dog on me.Just as he pounced ,jaws agape,I swung my schoolbag in desperation.By the grace of God the steel flask was in the corner that hit his jaws and nose and broke something.The dog ran off howling but not the posse.As fast as my legs could carry me I ran for the Quays with them in hot pursuit.
Again by the grace of God the 39 bus was just pulling away from the bus stop as I arrived and I jumped on the open platform on the back as it pulled out.But not before I got an unmerciful belt of a chain on my back from one of my pursuers,who was running after the bus to get me.Was badly hurt but instinctively swung around and swung a boot to deter him.I couldn't have aimed it better.It hit the spot and I'd say his goolies landed somewhere in the Guinness compound.At least I hoped so.
The conductor was nearly afraid to ask for the bus fare but he did and the passengers gaped at me for good while.But not a word was spoken.
I had a fierce job disguising my obvious discomfort from my parents but there was no point in worrying them and anyhow what could they do.They had enough on their plate rearing my other siblings,
The next day when I arrived in Brunner each and every window in the shool was smashed.It had happened overnight.Brother Devane,the head man assembled us all in the school yard and asked if any of us knew why such a thing could happen.I had and have a fair idea but kept st hum.
Not that I could prove it.
Such was life then for me.I well understand why there are bastard bullies still on the go.Fuck them and let them and most important stand up to them.Don't let them win.
And sorry about that Brother Devane.Have a word with the Boss for me.And yes I remember that the way to calculate the weight of the turf in Mac Henry's lorry is to weigh the lorry with turf on board and then subtract the weight of the lorry.
Blanchardstown was then very much a rural village (1965).Only the Main Street,Herbert Road,Mil l lane,Brigid's Park ,Patricks Park ,old Corduff and the cottages on the left hand side of Clonsilla Road were then in existence.And of course Tolka View ,where we lived and a few houses were in the old road that now goes by T.P.Reilly's gaff on River Road.
Us Blanchies were Dublin culchies as far as the city Dubs were concerned.
A fact of which I was forcibly reminded of every day for years when I went to Secondary School in Brunswick STreet (St,Pauls) in 1965
Not only was I different from the other school goers being a culchie but myself and two other boys in a similar situation to myself hadn't gone to the feeder Primary school in Brunner and this distinguished us too.
Boys being boys there were a few who did their best to bully me daily for about two years.I didn't take it lying down and it was rare that a week didn't pass without a fight after school hours on my way to the bus.I never told my parents nor the teachers ,not that they could do much about it.Eventually I suppose I fought each and every bully and got some peace in life.
To paint the picture further I used get the public bus from Blanch each morning about 8.15 .alight in Manor Street at Desmond#s shoe shop and walk up to the school for a nine o clock start.
Most pupils went home for lunch,a thing we couldn't do on account of the distance,so I used bring in a packed lunch and a steel flask full of hot tea for lunch.I had a leather schoolbag and the flask used nestle in the side of the bag in an upright position.As the bus used be full when it reached Manor Street in the evenings I used cross down Smithfield to the Quays and get the bus there before it turned up Manor Street.There was two way traffic on the Quays at the time.
One evening the biggest bully in the school tormrnted me beyond reason and we had a fierce fight in Smithfield.I got the better of him and thought no more of it.
The next evening when heading down through Smithfield I was attacked by his older brother and a friend of his who had an Alsatian dog on a leash.I wast 15 at the time and those boys were in their late teens.I legged it for the bus and they set the dog on me.Just as he pounced ,jaws agape,I swung my schoolbag in desperation.By the grace of God the steel flask was in the corner that hit his jaws and nose and broke something.The dog ran off howling but not the posse.As fast as my legs could carry me I ran for the Quays with them in hot pursuit.
Again by the grace of God the 39 bus was just pulling away from the bus stop as I arrived and I jumped on the open platform on the back as it pulled out.But not before I got an unmerciful belt of a chain on my back from one of my pursuers,who was running after the bus to get me.Was badly hurt but instinctively swung around and swung a boot to deter him.I couldn't have aimed it better.It hit the spot and I'd say his goolies landed somewhere in the Guinness compound.At least I hoped so.
The conductor was nearly afraid to ask for the bus fare but he did and the passengers gaped at me for good while.But not a word was spoken.
I had a fierce job disguising my obvious discomfort from my parents but there was no point in worrying them and anyhow what could they do.They had enough on their plate rearing my other siblings,
The next day when I arrived in Brunner each and every window in the shool was smashed.It had happened overnight.Brother Devane,the head man assembled us all in the school yard and asked if any of us knew why such a thing could happen.I had and have a fair idea but kept st hum.
Not that I could prove it.
Such was life then for me.I well understand why there are bastard bullies still on the go.Fuck them and let them and most important stand up to them.Don't let them win.
And sorry about that Brother Devane.Have a word with the Boss for me.And yes I remember that the way to calculate the weight of the turf in Mac Henry's lorry is to weigh the lorry with turf on board and then subtract the weight of the lorry.
The working class can kiss my arse
"The working class can kiss me arse ,I've got the bosses job at last".Yep 2,900 smackeroos per week.Happy days.Go jigger poker that.Well worth the long wait and the morphing along the way.More faces than big Ben.So what.
I know we took over the Labour Party and jettisoned their soul to achieve our ambition.But so what?We are no worse than some of our fraternal predecessors and associates who were university educated and never did a day's work in their lives. If nothing else they are great at making little of all things Irish and distract the people with talk of Constitutional Amendment.Any thing to keep their minds off basic things like food and accommodation.
I know we are attacking these most basic of needs but everybody knows it is their fault not ours and by the time they cop on we will have our pensions secured and our money made.
Yep Happy days are here again,the sky is blue its Spring again..... Our Dick .now there was some man.Amendment after amendment.Keep them distracted.It worked then.It will again now.
2,900 per week.That's 414 per day.Sure our properly tax is only 1 euro per day.What the fuck are those brain dead idiots complaining about.Don#t know their arses from their elbows them.
But then again what do you expect from pigs but grunts.
Now where are them elastic bands.
Who'd be a Minister ,never mind a T.D.?I mean 414 per day.Of course we understand the pain of those on 180 per week.T's not our fault;t honestly its the others.
I know we took over the Labour Party and jettisoned their soul to achieve our ambition.But so what?We are no worse than some of our fraternal predecessors and associates who were university educated and never did a day's work in their lives. If nothing else they are great at making little of all things Irish and distract the people with talk of Constitutional Amendment.Any thing to keep their minds off basic things like food and accommodation.
I know we are attacking these most basic of needs but everybody knows it is their fault not ours and by the time they cop on we will have our pensions secured and our money made.
Yep Happy days are here again,the sky is blue its Spring again..... Our Dick .now there was some man.Amendment after amendment.Keep them distracted.It worked then.It will again now.
2,900 per week.That's 414 per day.Sure our properly tax is only 1 euro per day.What the fuck are those brain dead idiots complaining about.Don#t know their arses from their elbows them.
But then again what do you expect from pigs but grunts.
Now where are them elastic bands.
Who'd be a Minister ,never mind a T.D.?I mean 414 per day.Of course we understand the pain of those on 180 per week.T's not our fault;t honestly its the others.
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Many ways of saying "mind your own buisiness".
My late uncles often regaled me with the following example of the kind brush off..
Two bachelor brothers made good money during the second world war ,when imported coal was at a premium ,by saving and selling turf ,of which they had a limitless supply due to their incessant toil.
They accumulated good money,which they used to buy and upgrade their cattle.
One summer's morning they were spotted herding a dozen good bullocks towards Navan ,where an open air Fair for cattle was held those times.Curious as to how they got on the neighbour waited for their return.
As dusk approached he spotted the two boys walking home sans cattle.They must have fallen out as Larry was walking about fifty paces ahead of Paul.
"How did ye get on "the neighbour asked Larry."I don't know and its no good asking Paul because he doesn't know either"said Larry.Boom boom.
Two bachelor brothers made good money during the second world war ,when imported coal was at a premium ,by saving and selling turf ,of which they had a limitless supply due to their incessant toil.
They accumulated good money,which they used to buy and upgrade their cattle.
One summer's morning they were spotted herding a dozen good bullocks towards Navan ,where an open air Fair for cattle was held those times.Curious as to how they got on the neighbour waited for their return.
As dusk approached he spotted the two boys walking home sans cattle.They must have fallen out as Larry was walking about fifty paces ahead of Paul.
"How did ye get on "the neighbour asked Larry."I don't know and its no good asking Paul because he doesn't know either"said Larry.Boom boom.
Shoppers under siege.
Any time I go to the Post Office and attached shops in Trim I have to run the gauntlet of facing at least one collector on the way in or the way out.Sometimes there are two or maybe three.I know that times are tough but surely a citizen is entitled to enter a shop without being put under this sort of pressure.The shop owner is a quiet man that puts up with it as God knows how much trade he is losing on account of this behaviour.
Now that pubs have been over regulated to the point of extinction and are mostly empty and that Churches have been denigrated by secularist Government and the media mouthpieces to shadows of their former selves attendance wise ,such premises are the last places that Charity collectors can expect a captive audience to appeal to.
I for one find it very uncomfortable and desist running the gauntlet whenever possible.
I am sure that there are such premises all over Ireland.
Now that pubs have been over regulated to the point of extinction and are mostly empty and that Churches have been denigrated by secularist Government and the media mouthpieces to shadows of their former selves attendance wise ,such premises are the last places that Charity collectors can expect a captive audience to appeal to.
I for one find it very uncomfortable and desist running the gauntlet whenever possible.
I am sure that there are such premises all over Ireland.
Trucker's tip for 9/12/2012
In desperation we are going for Tarla in the 2.15 in Cork on Sunday.This nag is odds on favourite and if it doesn't win its all a matter.
It is all a matter.The fecker fell.
It is all a matter.The fecker fell.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Dunderry Camogie Presentation.
ON Saturday last the presentation night ,previously postponed so as not to clash with the arrival of the late Dermot Foley in the Church,was held in the Parish Hall.The place was jammers, a credit to the wonderful work being carried on these last twenty four years in the promotion of the ancient game.
As honorary president I was overjoyed to have been invited by those over the under 6 and 8 children to present a parchment and sweets to their charges and was greeted most civilly by them..It is indeed wonderful to see the second generation of young ladies partaking so enthusiastically in the Club.If they are as good as their mothers that will more than do.
It is also very gratifying to see so many recent arrivals to the Parish so deeply involved and sharing in the development of what is a new sport to many of them.
We have teams at all stages from under 6 to Junior and a mix of administrators willing to learn and enough old hands to maximise the chances of success on the field of play and ensure the future development of the club.
Tommy Welsh,a selector on the Meath Junior Team and Hurl maker extraordinaire and some members of the successful Meath Junior Team presented medals to the under 15 and 16 teams who were runners up in their respective competitions.
Supremo Tom Byrne did fear an ti,keeping things moving along nicely.Sprocket supplied the music and food and non alcoholic drink of the utmost quality was supplied by a most competent committee.
Major Championship success cannot be far away.
As honorary president I was overjoyed to have been invited by those over the under 6 and 8 children to present a parchment and sweets to their charges and was greeted most civilly by them..It is indeed wonderful to see the second generation of young ladies partaking so enthusiastically in the Club.If they are as good as their mothers that will more than do.
It is also very gratifying to see so many recent arrivals to the Parish so deeply involved and sharing in the development of what is a new sport to many of them.
We have teams at all stages from under 6 to Junior and a mix of administrators willing to learn and enough old hands to maximise the chances of success on the field of play and ensure the future development of the club.
Tommy Welsh,a selector on the Meath Junior Team and Hurl maker extraordinaire and some members of the successful Meath Junior Team presented medals to the under 15 and 16 teams who were runners up in their respective competitions.
Supremo Tom Byrne did fear an ti,keeping things moving along nicely.Sprocket supplied the music and food and non alcoholic drink of the utmost quality was supplied by a most competent committee.
Major Championship success cannot be far away.
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Dunderry beat Clanna Gael in under 21 Hurling Championship.
In a match which warmed the cockles of the hearts of the good attendance in Dunganny on Friday last ,these two Neighbouring Parishes served up a classic and exciting match under lights,the result of which was in doubt right up to the last three minutes.
And believe me your cockles would want to be warmed.The frost intruded to the bone and the excellent pitch froze as the game progressed.But as the man said ,if you had enough dry clothes on you were fine,.Far better than the rain and the damp.Too true.But togged out as a player you would stick to the ground if you stood still long enough.
But none did and a match that would grace the height of summer was served up.
Let me place some personal stuff on record.Killian Minogue and Christopher Harrington saved my life the day I got the stroke.They,Brendan Wright,Damian Bruton and Liam Dempsey cut their farming teeth on my few acres.I know they are made of the rigth stuff.
Mick Minogue and Tommy Keenan invited me aboard the team management for the remainder of this voyage.They have brought these hurlers to this stage of their development.They pick the team.I merely observe and nag.I try to stay unbiased.Such is life.
Team Dun Doire.
Harrington
O Shea Keenan
Garry Wright Kenneally J.P.
Farrell Dempsey .L.
Carty Minogue Moran John
Scannell D. Coogan S.
Subs.
Jordan Martin
Stefan Clarke
Alan Casey
Injured Damian Bruton.
Two lads who cut their hurling teeth here lined out with Athboy,that is Christopher and Ciaran Fitzsimons.These guys are top class hurlers.Our loss is Athboy's gain,Most definitely.
There is a needle in the match.
The match opens in top gear.Before we can blink they have 2-1 on the scoreboard.And the ref awards the first five frees to the Gaels.Were he not a proper hurling referee I would be up in arms.Maybe he is having an off day.Our lads are honest hurlers,not dirty.
Then our luck changes.Fine interplay leads to our first free.Coogan gratefully converts.Coogan is fouled and we miss the free.Dempsey puts his paw up and grabs the puck out and offloads to Minogue who lets in to Scanno,who centres.Goalie collects and clears.Even so that's more like it.
Wright shows his mettle and Moran is fouled in possession,Coogan converts again.
Bomber put the paw up to effect and offloads to Minogue who places an inch perfect pass to the inside forward ,I think Scanno,who converts.It may be Coogan ,not sure in the glare.Dempsey;s paw is in effective action again but Bomber is felled and play stops.O Shea and Keenan show to effect and lead a counterattack and we are fouled on the twenty one.Minogue snakes one to the net,.Nice and casual like.Game on.
We steady the ship.Harrow unhappy at his placement makes a long and relieving clearance.Carty keeps it going and Denise's lad if fouled,He slaps the free over.Minogue slips wide a long distance free and thyme repeat the dose.Wright is fouled and joins the just wide club.
Dempsey reaches for the stars and catches,The Judge grins..A stressed Martin is introduced.John Paul is unlucky.They land a pointed free.Minogue offloads to Carty who eventually delivers an immaculate pass to Martin who picks his spot.A goal for which the word "fatherly" was coined.
They counter attack but first class defending forces the wide.Good play.The teams lock horns and play swings from end to end.Great stuff.The half time clock runs down ,We lead by two.
It gets colder.My left side would freeze seal meat .In Antarctica.
Harry has a hissy fit but earns his bones by stopping a twenty one penalty.Mac an Breitheamh opens his shoulders and plays with abandon for the first time in yonks.Athboy take up the challenge and pull back a minor from play. Then another.Great intensity.The cold recedes.Both teams go at it hammer and tongs.Minogue scores the point of the match so far.Harry pulls off a miracle save ,or does he.The umpire raises a green flag and wont be dissuaded,Two down now.Have we the conjoles.Minoge is at the end of a Dempsey Coogan move and splits the posts.Martyn feeds Carty who gets on his supercharger and scores a goal worth dying for.Yep we have them.Coogan scores another minor from a placed ball.Coogan shits the side netting from play.The Gaels won't lie down.Our exes are inspirational for them.And a good few more.After a hurrock they quarry a point back.And then a goal.What a game.Harry inspires .Martin pulls a minor back.Minogue another.Another minor hurrock.Martin is fouled.We convert.Wright digs in and Coogan passes to Minogue whose first copybook blot results comes from over elaboration.He hits a point wide.He immediately compensates by setting up Martin who narrowly misses.Moran sets up Minogue for a minor.Garry earns his hurling bones and digs deep.Moran is digging in also.Our backs are heroic but the Gaels will not lie down.Dempsey caps it all by scoring a point from play.The auld one,never mind the auld fella,are doing somersaults.And Wright Senior is joining in.O Shea is on the burst and Martyn finishes his inch perfect pass..Coogan scores a minor.Then we got another.Bomber gets thick and stands his hurling ground.Coogan scores a magnificent point from play.Athboy fight on.Martin is beat and limps badly.Coogan gets another.
Its over.
They are all made of the right stuff.
We play the combined might of Blackhall and Drumree in the final.This is nonsense.Leitrim against Cork.Guess who we are.Maybe,just maybe we can do it.We need heroes and we have them.but to win the final we need superheroes.Minogue is arresting Superman this week and Keenan is smuggling him her in the van..I am hiding him in a bunker under the Taj until he shares his secrets.I reckon a steady diet of greasy rashers sugary tay and batch loaf saturated in butter will break him.With plenty of fags thrown in.
Bring it on.
And believe me your cockles would want to be warmed.The frost intruded to the bone and the excellent pitch froze as the game progressed.But as the man said ,if you had enough dry clothes on you were fine,.Far better than the rain and the damp.Too true.But togged out as a player you would stick to the ground if you stood still long enough.
But none did and a match that would grace the height of summer was served up.
Let me place some personal stuff on record.Killian Minogue and Christopher Harrington saved my life the day I got the stroke.They,Brendan Wright,Damian Bruton and Liam Dempsey cut their farming teeth on my few acres.I know they are made of the rigth stuff.
Mick Minogue and Tommy Keenan invited me aboard the team management for the remainder of this voyage.They have brought these hurlers to this stage of their development.They pick the team.I merely observe and nag.I try to stay unbiased.Such is life.
Team Dun Doire.
Harrington
O Shea Keenan
Garry Wright Kenneally J.P.
Farrell Dempsey .L.
Carty Minogue Moran John
Scannell D. Coogan S.
Subs.
Jordan Martin
Stefan Clarke
Alan Casey
Injured Damian Bruton.
Two lads who cut their hurling teeth here lined out with Athboy,that is Christopher and Ciaran Fitzsimons.These guys are top class hurlers.Our loss is Athboy's gain,Most definitely.
There is a needle in the match.
The match opens in top gear.Before we can blink they have 2-1 on the scoreboard.And the ref awards the first five frees to the Gaels.Were he not a proper hurling referee I would be up in arms.Maybe he is having an off day.Our lads are honest hurlers,not dirty.
Then our luck changes.Fine interplay leads to our first free.Coogan gratefully converts.Coogan is fouled and we miss the free.Dempsey puts his paw up and grabs the puck out and offloads to Minogue who lets in to Scanno,who centres.Goalie collects and clears.Even so that's more like it.
Wright shows his mettle and Moran is fouled in possession,Coogan converts again.
Bomber put the paw up to effect and offloads to Minogue who places an inch perfect pass to the inside forward ,I think Scanno,who converts.It may be Coogan ,not sure in the glare.Dempsey;s paw is in effective action again but Bomber is felled and play stops.O Shea and Keenan show to effect and lead a counterattack and we are fouled on the twenty one.Minogue snakes one to the net,.Nice and casual like.Game on.
We steady the ship.Harrow unhappy at his placement makes a long and relieving clearance.Carty keeps it going and Denise's lad if fouled,He slaps the free over.Minogue slips wide a long distance free and thyme repeat the dose.Wright is fouled and joins the just wide club.
Dempsey reaches for the stars and catches,The Judge grins..A stressed Martin is introduced.John Paul is unlucky.They land a pointed free.Minogue offloads to Carty who eventually delivers an immaculate pass to Martin who picks his spot.A goal for which the word "fatherly" was coined.
They counter attack but first class defending forces the wide.Good play.The teams lock horns and play swings from end to end.Great stuff.The half time clock runs down ,We lead by two.
It gets colder.My left side would freeze seal meat .In Antarctica.
Harry has a hissy fit but earns his bones by stopping a twenty one penalty.Mac an Breitheamh opens his shoulders and plays with abandon for the first time in yonks.Athboy take up the challenge and pull back a minor from play. Then another.Great intensity.The cold recedes.Both teams go at it hammer and tongs.Minogue scores the point of the match so far.Harry pulls off a miracle save ,or does he.The umpire raises a green flag and wont be dissuaded,Two down now.Have we the conjoles.Minoge is at the end of a Dempsey Coogan move and splits the posts.Martyn feeds Carty who gets on his supercharger and scores a goal worth dying for.Yep we have them.Coogan scores another minor from a placed ball.Coogan shits the side netting from play.The Gaels won't lie down.Our exes are inspirational for them.And a good few more.After a hurrock they quarry a point back.And then a goal.What a game.Harry inspires .Martin pulls a minor back.Minogue another.Another minor hurrock.Martin is fouled.We convert.Wright digs in and Coogan passes to Minogue whose first copybook blot results comes from over elaboration.He hits a point wide.He immediately compensates by setting up Martin who narrowly misses.Moran sets up Minogue for a minor.Garry earns his hurling bones and digs deep.Moran is digging in also.Our backs are heroic but the Gaels will not lie down.Dempsey caps it all by scoring a point from play.The auld one,never mind the auld fella,are doing somersaults.And Wright Senior is joining in.O Shea is on the burst and Martyn finishes his inch perfect pass..Coogan scores a minor.Then we got another.Bomber gets thick and stands his hurling ground.Coogan scores a magnificent point from play.Athboy fight on.Martin is beat and limps badly.Coogan gets another.
Its over.
They are all made of the right stuff.
We play the combined might of Blackhall and Drumree in the final.This is nonsense.Leitrim against Cork.Guess who we are.Maybe,just maybe we can do it.We need heroes and we have them.but to win the final we need superheroes.Minogue is arresting Superman this week and Keenan is smuggling him her in the van..I am hiding him in a bunker under the Taj until he shares his secrets.I reckon a steady diet of greasy rashers sugary tay and batch loaf saturated in butter will break him.With plenty of fags thrown in.
Bring it on.
Presentation night in Dunderrty Lodge.24/11/2012.
A most enjoyable evening was had last Saturday in Dunderry Lodge ,where presentations were made to the 2011 Division 2 Hurlers and the Manager John Joe Mac Gourty,Division 3 Footballers and Management team Billy Bligh,Kevin Keaveney and Mickey Casey on their success in the respective competitions.
The championship winning 1970 intermediate football team was also honoured by the presentation of trophies to the surviving team members who could be present.
Deceased members of that panel are Peter Callaghan,Henry Callaghan and Matty Lawless R.I.P.For them,members of the deceased Management Team and all deceased members of the Club a minute's silence was observed.
The management of the team ,i.e. Tommy Mac Cormack (Manager and then Chairman ), ,Jimmy Coogan and Anthony ( The Major ) Cregan ,were also remembered .Billy Bligh who did the physical training and a remarkably fit Father Paddy Casey who is in fine fettle at ninety years I think and was also a selector were also present.
Eugene Newman accepted the trophy for his brother Oliver (in America),Pat Coffey for Francis (unable to attend ),Jack Devine for Father Lynskey (on Missions) a rejuvenated Tommy Weldon for Sean (unable to attend) Mrs Tommy Leavy for her father Paddy Cavanagh , Eileen Bruton for Mattie Lawless deceased whose wife Anna couldn't make it,Seanie Callaghan for father Peter and Oliver Callaghan for Henry.
Tommy Dowd quadruple All Star ( numbers 10,11,12 1and 13) presented the football medals and Damian Martin ,former Offaly Hurling great,whose grandchildren the Treaceys play here,presented the hurling medals
The transient nature of life was brought home to me yet again by the realisation that five of the strongest men this Parish has seen in the last half century,Peter Callaghan and Henry,Mattie Lawless ,Peter Smyth and Liam Healy all with huge links to the Club,died well before their time.
Your health truly is your wealth.
Kevin Keaveney was confirmed as Club man of the year and Celie Kelly presented the Hannie Kelly Cup to him.Richly deserved.
A filling buffet was self served and a most pleasant social evening was had by all present.Eddie the Eagle presented the music and while he didn't sing personally his musical selection hit the right spot .
The ambiance provided by the staff of the Lodge was first class and this establishment deserves all the custom it can get in these austere times.Great value too.
The majority of the under 21 team and the more hard core supporters ,yours truly included ,adjourned to the local pubs afterwards and a most interesting and exciting time was had by all concerned.
One thing that the evening did for me is to make me realise that life is for living ,irrespective of the bumps encountered on the way.
I am back in the game.For better or worse.
Hallelujah.
The championship winning 1970 intermediate football team was also honoured by the presentation of trophies to the surviving team members who could be present.
Deceased members of that panel are Peter Callaghan,Henry Callaghan and Matty Lawless R.I.P.For them,members of the deceased Management Team and all deceased members of the Club a minute's silence was observed.
The management of the team ,i.e. Tommy Mac Cormack (Manager and then Chairman ), ,Jimmy Coogan and Anthony ( The Major ) Cregan ,were also remembered .Billy Bligh who did the physical training and a remarkably fit Father Paddy Casey who is in fine fettle at ninety years I think and was also a selector were also present.
Eugene Newman accepted the trophy for his brother Oliver (in America),Pat Coffey for Francis (unable to attend ),Jack Devine for Father Lynskey (on Missions) a rejuvenated Tommy Weldon for Sean (unable to attend) Mrs Tommy Leavy for her father Paddy Cavanagh , Eileen Bruton for Mattie Lawless deceased whose wife Anna couldn't make it,Seanie Callaghan for father Peter and Oliver Callaghan for Henry.
Tommy Dowd quadruple All Star ( numbers 10,11,12 1and 13) presented the football medals and Damian Martin ,former Offaly Hurling great,whose grandchildren the Treaceys play here,presented the hurling medals
The transient nature of life was brought home to me yet again by the realisation that five of the strongest men this Parish has seen in the last half century,Peter Callaghan and Henry,Mattie Lawless ,Peter Smyth and Liam Healy all with huge links to the Club,died well before their time.
Your health truly is your wealth.
Kevin Keaveney was confirmed as Club man of the year and Celie Kelly presented the Hannie Kelly Cup to him.Richly deserved.
A filling buffet was self served and a most pleasant social evening was had by all present.Eddie the Eagle presented the music and while he didn't sing personally his musical selection hit the right spot .
The ambiance provided by the staff of the Lodge was first class and this establishment deserves all the custom it can get in these austere times.Great value too.
The majority of the under 21 team and the more hard core supporters ,yours truly included ,adjourned to the local pubs afterwards and a most interesting and exciting time was had by all concerned.
One thing that the evening did for me is to make me realise that life is for living ,irrespective of the bumps encountered on the way.
I am back in the game.For better or worse.
Hallelujah.
Truckers Tip for 2/12/2011
Pockets bulging from last week's winner the Trucker's fraternity network tips Rising Time in 2.05 Fairyhouse on Sunday.
I remember cycling there on a bad bicycle in my youth on Easter Mondays.Ben Dempsey was on the crew,Maybe Larko and Eddie Read too.Can't remember.
I'll chance a fiver win.
Came in fifth.Fiver lost.Truckers would want to up their game.
I remember cycling there on a bad bicycle in my youth on Easter Mondays.Ben Dempsey was on the crew,Maybe Larko and Eddie Read too.Can't remember.
I'll chance a fiver win.
Came in fifth.Fiver lost.Truckers would want to up their game.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)