Greetings from our bustling sports division, where every day feels like the weekend during this season. At present, we are encompassed by various sporting events such as the All-Ireland hurling tournament, Euro 2024 quarter-finals, First Test versus South Africa, Wimbledon, Tour De France, and countless others. Sport remains incessant, specifically throughout July.
However, the universe continues to move unabated. Here’s a roundup of some noteworthy happenings that have piqued my interest during the week amidst the fun chaos.
1. Our neighbours across the sea were embroiled in elections last Thursday, resulting in scores of fatigued individuals on the following Friday. I find these gargantuan, historic instances fascinating, mainly due to the grave nature with which the media approaches such events, promoting in-depth investigative journalism. An exemplar of this would be Mark Paul’s in-depth exploration about the life of the newly appointed British prime minister Keir Starmer – it was filled with unknown facts about Starmer’s past and the factors that led him to his newly assumed position.
2. I don’t usually find myself drawn to articles relating to travel – a failing on my part, I confess. I hardly take an interest in an individual’s recounting of their holiday. But somehow, Kevin Power’s account of his week at Center Parcs managed to capture my interest. It was perhaps due to the fact that I myself have enjoyed a vacation there with my family. The narration, filled with humourous dread of parenthood, completely resonated with me.
3. Although appearing in the sports section, this isn’t fundamentally a sports-related article. Sonia O’Sullivan’s daughter, Sophie, emerged victorious in the 1,500m race at the national Athletics Championships last Sunday. Sonia, Ireland’s most successful athlete, conveyed the experience. Her matter of fact approach to these events is striking – it was only in retrospect did she realise that she and Sophie will be entering into the annals of history as the first mother and daughter duo to represent Ireland at the Olympics when Sophie participates in Paris next month. Sonia’s piece is true to her nature – informative, professional, and endearing.
Upon learning of the demise of Paul Howard’s pet basset hound Humphrey, I sensed that the untimely event would inspire him to pen his feelings. And when he eventually did, it proved to be every part true, genuine and touching – as expected from Ireland’s intensely emotional author. Detailing the intricate moments, as Paul so skillfully does, truly illuminates his brilliant writing. The accompanying pictures were equally heart-wrenching.
In other news, while roughly connected to the sports circle, Dave Hannigan’s commentary on Conor McGregor’s latest shenanigans is brutally honest. McGregor, who has been far removed from the octagon for quite some time, has seemingly abandoned the concept of fighting again and shifted towards supporting some crude, bare-knuckle boxing. However, Dave didn’t mince words in his criticism.
Among prominent political pundits, Marina Hyde of The Guardian has steadily held our attention throughout the past ten years. Some considered British elections over once Starmer had delivered his speech. However, for many others, it wasn’t truly over until Marina had shared her viewpoint on the matter.
The highlight of her commentary? Perhaps this line: “Oddly, we thought we had successfully eradicated measles and Nigel Farage not too long ago. But both have made a comeback, primarily thanks to the same set of people.” Simply splendid.
Taking a broader, international perspective, a considerable amount of debate has surrounded US President Joe Biden’s advancing age. Despite the discussion feeling somewhat stagnant, media commentator Brian Seltzer offers a fresh perspective in his detailed piece on vox.com. The commentary delves into the mainstream media’s portrayal of the US president’s psychological state in recent years.
One needs to remember that understanding any subject is seldom straightforward. The most engaging narratives tend to highlight the complexity and intricacy of matters at hand, without necessarily providing clear-cut solutions.
Amongst the most popular reads of this week are: Michael McGrath: ‘Things are often not as straightforward as they seem. We are blessed with seven children, but we’ve experienced losses too’ and ‘Local residents identify mother and daughter tragically killed in a Co Mayo accident’.
Spending a week at Center Parcs in Longford, you can practically sense your bank balance gradually depleting while standing amidst the forest. In an unfortunate incident, a Canadian tourist succumbs following an assault on Dublin’s O’Connell Street. Reminiscing about his beloved pet, Paul Howard confesses that in his 13 and a half year journey together, he felt a depth of love for Humphrey like he had for no other animal, making the pet his perennial friend.
Looking ahead to the week, it is All-Ireland hurling semi-final weekend. The anticipation builds up as we head to Croke Park to find out if Cork can disrupt Limerick’s momentum towards their success streak, and whether Clare can finally best Kilkenny. To stay updated about it all, continue following the insights from Seán Moran, Denis Walsh, Gordon Manning, Nicky English and myself over the coming few days.