A warm welcome from the Sports Bureau, where for the majority of this week we’ve been left awestruck by Cian Healy’s enduring stamina, scrumming for Leinster 17 years post his initial game, while we tirelessly wait for lifts to transport us to our third-floor workplace.
Healy clocked his record-breaking 281st game for Leinster on a chilly Friday evening at the Aviva stadium, wrapping up a week when the crisp fingers of winter first brushed across Ireland. Prepare yourselves, it’s time to unwrap the hot water bottles.
But along with this, the budget season is fast approaching, soon to make way for the election season. The very week that saw Healy making headlines, was also ripe with Irish politicians rehashing worn-out narratives.
The announcement of grants from the generous €230 million Government’s Community Sport Facilities Fund on Wednesday had politicians hustling to get photographed, ergo endorsing their unabated benevolence. However, the shimmery security booth at Government Buildings was noticeably less popular as a photo backdrop within the same timeframe.
This week’s readings: A disturbing American football story and a journey to the Falkland Islands.
Weekly reading: A troubling Dublin daycare incident and strange motorist behaviour.
This week’s readings: The uncovered reality of Irish living in a Letterkenny courthouse and the civil unrest in Sudan.
This week’s readings: The sorrow surrounding Grenfell and the Germanglophiles’ fascination with undress.
Nevertheless, the grant allocations across various sports are certain to trigger a good bout of criticisms. The excessive grants for GAA and football, and the insufficient ones for lacrosse and orienteering, often come under fire. Ever tried orienteering? Work that one out.
But in terms of non-sporting attractions, here’s my list of compelling reads of this week:
1. Paul Howard’s touching account of his visit to the Falkland Islands/Las Malvinas left a lasting impression. His adeptness at evoking the spirit of locations through his writing is clearly evident, transporting the reader right to the desolate island- from the stark landscape, reminiscent of “the English moors,” to the unforgettable scent of “peat.” Before you know it, you are there with him.
The article provides an intriguing insight into the island and the warfare that took place between Britain and Argentina, aligning with Howard’s enduring curiosity towards this remote location in the South Atlantic.
“An exceptionally descriptive phrase encapsulates the conflict perfectly: ‘Argentinian author Jose Luis Borges depicted the scenario as ‘two bald men arguing over possession of a comb”.
Sally Hayden is persistently delivering impressive and critical reports from challenging areas across the globe. This week she embarked on a journey to Lebanon and spent recent days covering stories straight from Beirut. Her article outlining the volunteerism occurring in Beirut provides a raw insight into the evolving circumstances on-site.
Switching gears to sports, an initial read of the headline had me assuming a blunder had been made by someone handling the sports column: During the first month of high school football season, eight fatalities occur due to the twisted nature of the game.
Could this possibly be true? I read it again for the second, then a third time. The stipulation was unchanged. I was aghast.
A profoundly shocking piece was then presented by Dave Hannigan, elaborating on American high school sports, regarding the demise of Jayvion Taylor (15 years of age) and Caden Tellier (a 16-year-old).
“Taylor and Tellier are among the eight students of American high schools who began to participate in American football during the kickoff of the new season and didn’t return home. The absence of a strong reaction to such a high fatality rate is even more astonishing. The media coverage has been subdued, and calls for change have been weak.”
The uproar over an absurdly expensive security booth at government premises wasn’t long after a similar fuss over a ridiculously priced bicycle shelter within the same area. The situation currently calls for a generous helping of Miriam Lord’s wit and wisdom.
Leaving the topic of politics, let’s delve into the unexpected delights life offers. Personally , I’m fond of The Cure, oblivious to their current situation. However, onto my pleasant surprise, Ed Power conveyed on Thursday about the launch of the band’s inaugural song in 16 years ( almost the same duration of Cian Healy’s Leinster career).
Power writes, “The Cure’s resilience is noteworthy.” To hear them maintain their characteristic despondent tone brings delight.” Precisely. Could someone please pass me the black kohl!
Just in case you missed it!”
This week, Iwao Hakamada, an 88-year-old previously believed to be the longest-serving prisoner on death row globally, was acquitted in Japan. Hakamada was initially found guilty of committing four murders in 1966 based on his defence attorney’s claims of a coerced admission and falsified proof. In 1980, the supreme court of Japan imposed a death sentence on Hakamada. A retrial was granted and commenced last year, ten years after his release, culminating in his exoneration on Thursday.
In other news, the Counter Ruck podcast is spotlighting the emerging generation of Irish scrum halves, a topic of discourse this week. The conversation was as engaging as usual, with Nathan Johns, John O’Sullivan, and Gordon D’Arcy offering conversation to counteract the chill of winter.