THURSDAY
Just a thought
Should those businesses that spell the word ‘inconvenience’ incorrectly when putting up ‘Sorry for any inconvenience’ signs ideally produce a second sign… apologising for any inconvenience caused to fussy readers by the misspelling in the original sign?
FRIDAY
People in shock
All over the country, people are dismayed, distraught even. There are reports of ashen-faced folks wandering around aimlessly.
A veteran people watcher told us: “It’s grim out there. The people are stunned, they just don’t know what to do or say. There are farmers outside Roscommon Mart today who are just speechless… they had all their ‘Shocking weather’ and ‘Did you ever see the likes of it?’ phrases ready.
“Two women who meet for a coffee every Friday morning had to completely change their script at the last moment. People are just completely thrown off course by today’s very warm sunshine and glorious conditions… 25 degrees ‘in the car’ no less. It’s an awful shock to the system”.
SATURDAY
Toothless Ireland
Not for the first time on Irish soil, England came, saw and conquered.
This evening was one of firsts… when the Republic of Ireland hosted England in a UEFA United Nations game at the Aviva Stadium, it was our first fixture under new manager Heimir Hallgrimsson, and England’s first under their new (interim) manager, Lee Carsley. England won 2-0 (see more in ‘Sports Desk’).
Carsley is a former Irish international. Ireland’s new manager comes from Iceland. As well as being an established football pro, he’s also a qualified dentist.
In fact Hallgrimsson still does the odd bit of dentistry. There is however no truth in the rumour that as he sent the team out to face the daunting, star-studded opposition, our new manager told his players: “This might hurt a little bit…”
SUNDAY
On national anthems
With the British press and the folks on X/Twitter still ‘debating’ interim English football manager Lee Carsley’s ‘refusal’ to sing God Save the Queen before games (he’s a former Ireland international) my mind went back to a nicer England-Ireland national anthem episode.
Back in the 1980s, I was regularly in pubs in Rooskey (either working or socialising) at a time when throngs of English anglers visited. After fishing by day, the men would enjoy a few pints in the local bars at night. I distinctly remember the English fishermen being bemused in Reynolds’ bar when the nightly music would end with the playing of the Irish national anthem, the commencement of which prompted everyone to stand to attention. And yes, the English visitors respectfully joined in.
In my book Nothing About Sheep Stealing (2013), one English angler recalled: “Reynolds bar was the place to go. Peter and his daughters sang every night along with the locals (and quite a few English)… so many characters and what a place to meet fellow anglers too. Peter used to play the national anthem. Everyone stood up. The anthem would finish. Peter would lock the doors and everyone would continue on drinking, including the local Garda. Unbelievable!”
MONDAY
Hats fall into ring!
Everyone who’s in the know, and indeed those who aren’t, expects the General Election to be held this November. No surprise then that activity locally has stepped up a gear or two.
Cllr John Naughten recently put his hat in the ring for Fine Gael, and will challenge Senator Aisling Dolan at convention.
Meanwhile, there was a very interesting development tonight when well-known Ballygar-based GP Martin Daly confirmed that he will be seeking a Fianna Fáil nomination. It follows years of speculation linking him with a General Election bid.
By any criteria, Dr Daly will be seen as a strong contender (at convention) and later if on the ballot paper. His declaration puts it up to former TD and current senator, Eugene Murphy. Others, such as Cllr John Keogh and Cllr Paschal Fitzmaurice may also declare.
There is of course every possibility that FF might opt for a two-candidate strategy. Their convention is expected to be held later this month. The Fine Gael Convention is scheduled for Friday, September 20th where the clear frontrunners are Senator Dolan and Cllr Naughten.
Watch out too for possible developments on the Independent/Independent Ireland front. There are rumours that sitting Roscommon-Galway Independent Ireland TD Michael Fitzmaurice might switch his focus to Galway East constituency, but he is by no means certain to do so.
Of course Independent Ireland want to make gains. Should the Glinsk man move constituencies, Independent councillor Emer Kelly is one possible replacement; another is well-known councillor and businessman, Declan Geraghty.
TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY
Harris v Trump
That debate was somewhat unedifying at times, the man from Sky News said.
I was in no position to nit-pick on the choice of word. It was 3.45 am in the morning, and yes, I had stayed up to watch the entire Harris-Trump US presidential debate.
Kamala Harris started very nervously, but once she found her stride, she exceeded expectations. The Democratic Party candidate delivered some impressive ‘verbal blows’ on former President Trump, to the point that he was clearly riled.
I’m not sure if Harris is fully qualified to be President of America – she’s in the race due to previously unforeseen circumstances, after all – but she did her prospects no harm whatsoever here. The Vice-President was brilliant in denouncing Trump’s role in the January 6th Capitol Hill attack, stinging in her criticism of his policy on abortion, and mocking when stating that world leaders are laughing at him – and when alleging that people are leaving his rallies early due to boredom.
For his part, Trump constantly sought to return the debate to the subject of immigration, that and inflation which – true to form – he claimed was at a record high. His claim that some immigrants are eating family pets (not their own) was vintage Trump. Many of his core voters love that sort of stuff.
The Republican Party candidate landed some verbal blows of his own, but Harris won this on points.
