THURSDAY
Free tickets
Ongoing controversy about UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s receipt of free tickets for top sporting events gives me an excuse to once again roll out a classic story involving the great English comedian Tommy Cooper.
At the end of a Royal Command Performance, it was common for the artists to line up in a row and meet Queen Elizabeth (or any other royals present). Usually the performers were very nervous, and certainly not inclined (or advised) to speak, unless first spoken to.
On one such occasion, as Queen Elizabeth shook hands with Tommy Cooper, the entertainer leaned forward and had this exchange with Her Majesty.
TC: Mam, do you like football?
Queen: No, not really…
TC: In that case, can I have your cup final tickets?
FRIDAY
Maggie Smith
Maggie Smith stood out quite magnificently as the superior and disdainful Violet Crawley in Downton Abbey. The great British actress also starred in the Harry Potter movies, but while many people knew her for those two roles, she had a long career on stage and screen before those cultural phenomena came into our lives.
Dame Maggie, who died today at the age of 89, was the recipient of many honours and awards. But I hadn’t realised that the recognition given to this doyen of the British acting world included two Oscars. They came for her role in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (Best Actress, 1969) and California Suite (Best Actress in a Supporting Role, 1978).
During her remarkably long career – spanning over 70 years – Maggie Smith won great acclaim for her roles in movies, TV productions and on stage.
Across the water, they’re mourning a major star who has been in the public eye since the 1950s. Even actual royalty has paid tribute to acting royalty, King Charles describing Maggie Smith as “a national treasure”.
SATURDAY
Crime wave
The crime wave in rural Roscommon is an issue of huge concern for the public. Irrespective of whether or not instances of crime are on the increase, the reality is that an environment of fear prevails. Fear, and a growing sense of anger too. We’re often told that ‘perception is everything’… and the perception is that rural Ireland is once again under attack from criminal gangs.
At the time of writing there is some welcome evidence of progress by the Gardaí… with arrests having been made, charges ensuing, and suspects brought before the courts. I will not comment on those specific developments.
In a more general sense, it is clear that an urgent, short-term response is needed in order to reverse the current trend, stop the gangs, and restore public confidence.
In last week’s Roscommon People, we brought readers Castleplunkett publican Sinead Flanagan’s harrowing but calm account of being confronted by a gang of criminals in the middle of the night.
As people were reading that article last Thursday afternoon, criminals were brazenly donning balaclavas at 5 o’clock that same evening in Roscommon town. On being confronted, the gang’s driver tried to ram a Garda patrol car, before some of their associates made off on foot through the fields.
In recent months, numerous houses, shops, businesses and farms have been targeted by roving gangs.
There is a need for more Gardaí on the beat, and for longer sentences when people are convicted, but there could also be a short-term initiative, albeit one that would be costly.
Over 20 years ago, at a time when the public was similarly on edge, ‘Operation Shannon’ was set up. It involved hundreds of Garda checkpoints being placed on rural roads and bridges. The clampdown lasted for several months. It was very effective, leading to an immediate significant drop in criminal activity.
We need something of that scale now. The public are sick and tired of the current crime wave.
SUNDAY
Hurling final
Off to Hyde Park today for the 2024 Kepak Roscommon Senior Hurling final, where defending champions Four Roads were facing a young, hungry St Dominic’s team, the Knockcroghery club seeking to bridge a 25-year gap since their last senior success.
If they were to dethrone the champs, St Dominic’s needed to make a good start, and it could hardly have gone any better, ‘Thady’ Beirne’s team sprinting into a big lead, boosted by Mickey Joe Egan’s early goal.
A critical score came just before half-time when Conor Morris scored a goal for Four Roads. It meant they just about had the ‘flying Doms’ within their sights.
Going by the scoreboard, St Dominic’s were still on course for championship glory as a scrappy second half unfolded, but Four Roads were slowly reeling their prey in.
The signs were ominous for the challengers once Four Roads got that lead down to a handful of points. By full-time, they were level. In time added on, the Dominic’s dam finally burst under the weight of pressure, substitute Adam Donnelly scoring the game’s decisive goal. St Dominic’s had left everything on the pitch, but Four Roads were champions again.
As the final whistle blew, St Dominic’s manager Thady Beirne at first stretched his hands out in dazed exasperation. So near, yet so far. Then Beirne and a couple of his mentors walked over to comfort their full-forward, Naos Connaughton, a forlorn figure on the sideline, still nursing the injury that had necessitated his withdrawal from play a few minutes earlier. Connaughton’s redundant hurley lay a few feet away. Around me in the stand, a pocket of St Dominic’s supporters were lost for words.
*More of my reflections on Sunday’s final in ‘Sports Desk’ column.
MONDAY
Kris Kristofferson
Sad news overnight, with the passing of the great Kris Kristofferson (RIP). The legendary country singer-songwriter (and actor) died on Saturday, with his death announced on Monday. A sing-song in Ireland at any time over the past half-century without ‘Me and Bobby McGee’ was a rarity. Kris Kristofferson seemed to have been around forever, his music a backdrop to our lives. A wonderful, timeless artist, his songs will live on and on.
