Wednesday
GAA glory
They used to say that you wait ages for a bus and then two (or three) arrive at once. We’re experiencing some Roscommon ladies GAA version of this at present, and it’s making for a welcome thriller of a season finale.
The latest development came in Kinnegad tonight, when Roscommon won the LGFA All-Ireland U-16 B final with a terrific 4-14 to 0-10 win over Laois. And so, invoking our buses analogy, it’s over to our minor and intermediate ladies, who have both already achieved so much by reaching the All-Ireland final in their respective grades.
Our minors take on Cork in the All-Ireland Minor A final this Saturday, while Roscommon will play Fermanagh in the All-Ireland Intermediate final at Croke Park on August 2nd.
Three ‘All-Ireland final buses’ have arrived, and the three Roscommon teams have excelled. The question is: How many of those buses will bring Roscommon to the ultimate (title) destination?
Thursday
The late Brenda Fricker
Brenda Fricker was very special, not that she would have seen it that way. She was understated but
magnificent as Christy Brown’s mother in the 1989 film My Left Foot, for which she won an Oscar. It elevated a very talented character actor (by then really only recognised in the UK and Ireland) on to the world stage. Numerous Hollywood film roles then beckoned, including as the Pigeon Lady in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. In So I Married an Axe Murderer (1993), she played the eccentric mother of Mike Myers’s lead character, revealing her considerable comedy range.
Brenda Fricker had a long and highly successful acting career, starring on stage, TV and the big screen. In latter years, there was a distinct touch of melancholy about her, and she spoke in many interviews of being a victim of physical and sexual abuse in her youth. Her autobiography (published just last year) was very positively received, including for its raw and honest account of the trauma she endured.
I said she was very special, and she was. Ireland was deeply proud of this eccentric woman of talent. I was very sorry to hear of her passing today, aged 81. Brenda Fricker’s accomplished work will continue to light up our screens for decades to come. May she rest in peace.
Wednesday – Friday
Percy French Festival
The annual Percy French Festival, held over the past three days in Castlecoote House, was a great success. I had the pleasure of being MC each day – and what a buzz there was in this historic house and grounds as guests gathered from all over the country to enjoy the various talks and recitals.
In glorious sunshine, we welcomed special guest speakers including Kenneth Egan, Maria Steen and Peadar Tóibín. See full report on pages 30 & 31.
Saturday
After three very busy days in Castlecoote, an opportunity to relax… with a family barbeque. Later, the World Cup third place play-off between England and France was a 10-goal bonanza, the otherwise dejected (at their semi-final exit to Argentina) English winning 6-4. That scoreline suited me, as I hadn’t seen a single stroke of Wimbledon…
Sunday
On the sporting stage
It promised to be a memorable day of sport. Well, I wish to report a broken promise…
Contrary to a narrative much loved by the ‘hurling media’ over the past decade or so, not every game in
the latter stages of the All-Ireland SHC series is a classic.
Today’s final was an anticlimax, which is no fault of Limerick’s. They simply overpowered a Galway team that was unable to cope with the green-eyed monster. Limerick are worthy champions, this their sixth All-Ireland senior title in nine years.
Galway had some impressive season highs, but today was desperately disappointing for players, management and supporters. Still, it’s a young team that can bounce back in the near future.
The expectation that this evening’s World Cup final would ‘rescue’ the sporting day proved to be misplaced as Argentina v Spain was a big disappointment.
Spain produced their familiar ‘tippy-tappy’ football, but without much end product. Argentina were uncharacteristically ineffective, unable to create penetrating attacks and spending long periods starved of possession. Instead, they spent much of their time indulging in the dark arts, i.e. kicking passing Spanish players!
After a largely tedious game, Spain won the World Cup, courtesy of a late goal. While a Messi loyalist, I was fine with the result, as the great man won the big prize four years ago. Spain, who only conceded one goal in the tournament, were worthy winners of what was a memorable World Cup.
As for the half-time show, it featured Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber and The Muppets – hardly what connoisseurs particularly wanted!
Monday
‘New series’ at Number 10
Over in London, and with summer now pressing on, they’ve started a new series of ‘Celebrity Prime Minister’ or is it ‘I’m A Wannabee, Get Me In There’ or ‘Strictly Come Chancing’?
As far as I can make out, each series features a relatively well-known ‘celebrity’ politician who puts themselves forward – they don’t have to be elected – to be Prime Minister for a short period.
They begin by addressing viewers/the public outside 10 Downing Street (usually at a lectern), always invoking flowery language filled with hope, positivity, and promises.
In Episode One, the new incumbent accepts the applause of sycophantic supporters, while fully aware that at least a handful of these beaming movers and shakers are most likely plotting to overthrow them and star in a forthcoming series themselves.
For light relief, ‘extras’ are provided by media organisations that have – for the most part – dumbed down, with old favourites like Beth Rigby and Sam Coates of Sky News, Gary Gibbon at Channel 4 and
Nicholas ‘Nick’ Watt of BBC’s Newsnight strategically positioned on the pavement, from where they shout inane questions to politicians for the supposed amusement of viewers and to feed their own egos.
Within a week or so the new ‘PM’ is feeling the pressure and each nightly episode of this soap opera – which started around the time of the Brexit vote build-up over a decade ago – becomes a kind of political Love Island. Eventually, after lots of plot twists, the short-term PM is booted out and a new series starts again. Naturally, as with Big Brother and other reality shows, some series’ are more memorable than others. Who will ever forget the ‘Lamentable Liz’ or ‘Boris the Bucko’ classics?
Now it’s over to Andy Burnham, new occupant of 10 Downing Street as of today. Let the drama begin…
