THURSDAY/FRIDAY
Charlie Kirk
The assassination of Charlie Kirk feels like a (grim) moment in time, a historic one indeed. Like the vast majority of people in Ireland, I’d never heard of him until the news of his brutal assassination.
I’ve since discovered, somewhat unsurprisingly in this social media age, that our children were familiar with Kirk. Your children probably were too.
The conservative political activist and influencer was shot dead at Utah Valley University on Wednesday evening, while addressing an audience of about 3,000 people. His wife and two young children were present. Kirk, a charismatic, controversial figure, was just 31 years of age. Fiercely conservative, he was very influential in delivering a strong youth vote for Donald Trump in the last US presidential election.
The brutal nature of this murder has led to an outpouring of sympathy and outrage across the world. Millions of supporters of Kirk are distraught, millions more – many of whom had never heard of him – stunned that a young father and husband was gunned down because of his beliefs.
But it doesn’t end there. Not in the age of social media, and not at a time when the American political scene is utterly toxic.
Kirk’s murder has ignited ferocious discourse on the already fraught so-called ‘culture wars’. Some of the reaction on social media from many on ‘the left’ has been disgusting, with gleeful posts celebrating the murder. The noxious social media commentary of some people has ranged from joking about the murder to mocking Kirk and gloating over his death.
As insensitive and cruel as much of that reaction has been, it is an example of free speech. And it is very disquieting to see the US authorities reacting to critical commentary by removing some individuals from their jobs because of their social media posts.
Kirk’s death, and the ongoing reaction to it, has further exposed the dangerously partisan nature of a deeply polarised America.
SATURDAY/SUNDAY
On late goals
Provided they are a decisive factor in terms of a game’s outcome, late goals bring joy or heartbreak to football supporters. No matter how boring a game might be, the prospect of a late goal – with all its power – is always very real.
The new Premier League season ‘across the water’ is already playing with our emotions.
On Saturday, I watched the Sky Sports team – ex-players and former referee Mike Dean – bring viewers the various score updates (Dean there to comment on VAR calls).
My club, Leeds United, were drawing 0-0 away to Fulham as the game entered stoppage time. There would be six minutes of same. Halfway into the fifth of those six minutes, I got up to leave the room, pleased with my team’s result. It was a drab game, the Sky experts had assured me many times over. Nothing to see here.
As I began to walk away – very happy with the away point coming our way – a Leeds player sent a firm header past the goalkeeper. Unfortunately, it was his own goalkeeper.
There’s only one thing more sickening than a decisive late goal against your team – and that’s a decisive late own goal against your team. My face dropped to such an extent I almost made Mike Dean look cheerful.
On Sunday, Liverpool’s remarkable habit of producing decisive late goals continued. Frustrated by Burnley for the regulation 90 minutes, the defending Premier League champions were drawing 0-0 going into stoppage time. That’s when the aptly named Hannibal Mejbri… handled the ball… gifting a penalty to Liverpool. Mo Salah gratefully scored the winner.
Late goals… they can bring joy or heartbreak. Only 34 games to go!
SUNDAY
Aoife’s gold
On another busy sporting Sunday, this afternoon belonged to heroic Irish women. While County Roscommon’s Aoife O’Rourke was storming to gold medal success in the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool, the Irish team were simply magnificent in their Rugby World Cup quarter-final against France.
Unfortunately, Ireland just came up short against the fortunate French. 13-0 up, Ireland produced a superb 35-phase move just before half-time, but it didn’t yield a score. France slowly got back into the game, moving 18-13 in front. A very impressive Ireland were pressing the French line right up to the final whistle.
Meanwhile, Aoife O’Rourke won gold in Liverpool, emulating her sister Lisa (a world champion in 2022). Indeed Lisa was herself unlucky to miss out on a medal last week. See our extensive coverage on pages 16-21.
SUNDAY
A working class hero
The death of former world champion boxer Ricky ‘The Hitman’ Hatton at just 46 years of age (which was announced today) is profoundly sad.
Hatton was a terrific boxer, and a working class hero who certainly never forgot where he came from. Indeed the Manchester native – a world champion at two different weights – was renowned for his down to earth personality, sense of humour, and ‘man of the people’ status. He was truly a people’s champion.
MONDAY
Not so special
I watched about an hour and a half of today’s special meeting of Roscommon County Council… with a mixture of curiosity, admiration (of sorts) and boredom.
The ‘special’ meeting turned out to be not that special. In all, fourteen people with aspirations of running in the forthcoming presidential election made their pitch to our local councillors. Would-be candidates (outside of those chosen/supported by political parties) need the blessing of four county councils or 20 TDs in order to get on to the ballot paper.
All fourteen surely knew they had little or no chance of securing sufficient support over this week and next, during which period (most) councils are going through the rather pointless exercise of holding these meetings.
Of the ‘Gang of 14’ who chose to address Roscommon councillors, the only one who has built a profile of some note in recent months is Nick Delehanty, who has gained quite a lot of traction on social media.
My curiosity – and the admiration I hold for people who put themselves forward for election – was followed, I must admit, by a sense of boredom.
All who spoke came across as earnest, but it felt pointless, like trying to unlock a door with a key that just doesn’t fit.
TUESDAY-THURSDAY
Shock and awe
A Government minister – who spoke to this column under guarantee of anonymity – has admitted he did NOT attend this year’s National Ploughing Championships.
The political world has been stunned by the revelation that a senior politician did not go to the ploughing and pose for hundreds of photos of varying degrees of cringiness.
A spokesperson for the Taoiseach said: “We are aware of reports that at least one minister did not high-trail it to Offaly for a day or two this week and indulge in shameless self-promotion while giving the impression they are ingrained in the agricultural tradition… obviously this is very disturbing.”
Speaking in a shaky voice, and wearing an Oliver Callan mask (to protect his identity), the politician in question admitted to the Roscommon People that he had not gone to Screggan armed with wellies, a coat, scribbled notes on the Mercosur agreement, and leftover ‘Vote for me’ leaflets from the 2016 election.
“I don’t know what came over me… I know it sounds bizarre, but I’m telling the truth… I just didn’t join the exodus to the ploughing. It’s only now when I reflect on it, that I realise how out of character this was. I’m tossing and turning in bed at night, thinking of all the missed opportunities… the photo-ops with ice creams, Marty Morrissey, ploughing champions, huge tractors… it’s a nightmare.”
The politician, who said his biggest regret was not getting to pose for a photo while adopting a ‘man of the people’ look in wellies, rolled up sleeves, no jacket or tie – concluded: “It was just a terrible error of judgement. Obviously I’ll be urgently seeking some behind-the-scenes PR tips from the Healy-Raes and others over the coming weeks and hopefully by next year’s ploughing I’ll be as nakedly opportunistic as the rest of them!”
