As the curtain falls on the 2024 Olympics, Team Ireland can pause to appreciate a phenomenal fortnight of sports history. The team’s record-breaking haul includes four golds and three bronze – an unparalleled achievement in Irish history.
Kellie Harrington headlined this impressive performance with a powerful victory in the 60kg boxing finals where she defended her title. This win makes Harrington only the third Irish Olympian to secure gold in two consecutive tournaments, following the footsteps of Paul O’Donovan, who secured the feat on the prior Friday.
There were also significant successes from Daniel Wiffen in the 800m swim and 1500m bronze, Rhys McClenaghan’s triumphant gold in pommel horse, along with bronze wins by Daire Lynch and Philip Doyle in rowing and Mona McSharry in the 100m breaststroke event. The Paris 2024 Olympics will indeed be etched in Ireland’s memory for ages.
However, such triumph generates high aspirations. As Malachy Clerkin observes in his last column from Paris, the focus now shifts to enhancing this medal count at the upcoming LA 2024 Olympics.
“If one were to imagine an ideal Olympic setting designed for Irish players to flourish, Paris would certainly be at the top of that list. The closeness to their homeland allowed Irish supporters to easily make regular appearances. This had a significant impact both on the athletes and in the stands. The easy access for athletes to their friends, family, and support team cannot be replicated in forthcoming Games in LA or Brisbane,” writes Clerkin.
As the Olympic Games progress, major developments have been unfolding elsewhere. This week’s US presidential elections took an unexpected turn as Kamala Harris made her pick for a running mate – Governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz. A few weeks ago, few Democrats could identify the 60-year-old, but recently, he has quickly become notable in the race with exuberant rallies alongside Harris in several swing states. His views on JD Vance – Donald Trump’s running mate – labelling him as “odd”, have ruffled feathers on either side of the political spectrum.
Jack Sheehan, reporting from New York, lauds the decision by Harris and her team to pair with Walz, who is seen as authentic and genuine – traits that are hard to find in today’s political sphere. Walz is known for his friendly demeanour and his ability to build consensus. He openly shares his joy in the party’s diversity – a significant departure from the usual sniping that has become commonplace within the party establishment over the years, notes Sheehan.
Columnist David McWilliams, meanwhile, raises concerned over the ongoing deterioration of Dublin’s city centre, potentially heading for an urban crisis. He highlights the unsettling shift in people’s attitudes – both old and young – expressing reluctance to venture into the city center anymore. He speculates that this negative trend may be attributed to rising rents, criminal activity, limited availability of venues, high number of office buildings, not enough residential areas, and steep prices that are gradually suffocating the city. He questions whether, after three decades of success, the city is regressing.
In other news, anti-immigration demonstrations were once again in focus this week, as riots broke out across England and Belfast following the tragic murder of three young girls in Southport last week. The anti-immigration protest outside the police headquarters in Dublin turned turbulent as internal disputes broke out among the group over the participation of a faction from Coolock, who had previously stood with Loyalist protestors in Belfast. The Taoiseach, Simon Harris, condemned the use of the Tricolour during the Belfast violence as “disgusting”. On Friday, Justine McCarthy harshly criticised the “idiotic combination of Loyalists and ‘Irish patriots’,” saying it stirred up unsettling memories of the Troubles era.
She comments that elements of society more radical than Sinn Féin are on the rise, leading a resurgence of fascism, driven by manipulation of public opinion. Irish writers, Mark O’Connell and Adam Doyle, who uses the pseudonym ‘Spicebag’, share similar views this week. O’Connell suggests these purported patriots align more with global racists than local citizens, while Doyle warns of the difficulty in reclaiming the tricolour if it is surrendered to such racist groups.
Andrew Hamilton reveals that disputes within the Doolin Coast Guard have led to the formation of an independent rescue service by Caitríona Lucas’ spouse. Bernard Lucas recalls the enthusiasm in the early days when he joined what he believes was the best and busiest rescue service in the country. However, he does note that the dynamic started to shift around a decade ago due to internal issues that gradually compounded.
Lighthouses have been integral to Ireland’s coastal safety for multiple centuries. Acting as guiding lights during turbulent storms, they captivate land-based dwellers and provide assurance to sea voyagers. The piece explores the history and evolution of significant Irish lighthouses such as Ballycotton, Blacksod, Wicklow Head, Hook, and Fanad in the context of the current era.
Hugh Linehan and Pat Leahy have also announced a new podcast series this week, titled ‘Charlie v Garret’. The first episode delves into the lives of Charlie and Garret – born within a year of each other with a Northsider-Southsider divide. They are the children of Civil War veterans and represent their respective parties, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, with unique personalities, beliefs and social backgrounds.
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