The Screenplay of Relegation
The so-called 'relegation battle', that joyous struggle for survival which permeates the entirety of Premiership coverage in the month of May (as X, Y or Z have already won the title and have begun...
View ArticleSucidava
Southern Romania. On the buses that carry you between the small towns along the bank of the Danube a curious arrangement is in operation. At each stop the driver passes up and down the aisle collecting...
View ArticleFights don’t come any bigger than this – Floyd Mayweather Jnr. Vs Oscar De La...
On May 5th, Floyd Mayweather Jnr (37-0, 24 KO’s) challenges Oscar De La Hoya (38-4, 30 KO’s) for the WBC world light-middleweight title at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas. Not only is Mayweather’s...
View ArticleLille Farce Churns Out Dangerous What Ifs
Now we’ll see how hard line Michel Platini really is. At the Stade Felix-Bollaert in Lens on Tuesday, Lille effortlessly undermined their sprightly, hard working performance against Manchester United...
View ArticleWalking in Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s Barcelona
When Daniel Sempere visits the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, his father invites the boy to take his pick from the shelves. Daniel settles on The Shadow of the Wind by Julian Carax; a Barcelona writer...
View ArticleRed Card for Racism
Immigrants now account for ten per cent of the Irish population yet it’s rare we talk to them when we’re not at the McDonald’s drive-through. Stuck with low paying jobs Irish people don’t want to do,...
View Article7 Dublin Festivals to Catch in 2012
Dublin is always a great place to visit; it doesn’t matter what time of the year – particularly as, weather-wise at least, it makes precious little difference whether it’s Spring, Summer, Autumn or...
View Article5 Reasons that Emilia-Romagna is ‘the new Tuscany’
Tuscany’s success in presenting itself as the ideal Italian destination is legendary. To the British it’s affectionately known as ‘chiantishire’, while for thousands of American and European readers it...
View Article5 Things to do in Limerick City
Co. Limerick has a fairly distinct advantage over the Republic of Ireland’s capital, Dublin, in terms of its scenic setting. Limerick city itself curves around the full rush of the river Shannon- the...
View ArticleSeven European Cities to Visit in 2012
It’s that time of year, when big newspapers publish long lists of hot travel destinations for 2012, often without rhyme or reason (and the distinct suspicion that lobbying and pr push have more to do...
View ArticleThe Cricket Renaissance – or why cricket has a place in Irish society.
The Cricket Renaissance. Some are still stuck in the closet, but the number of people coming out over the past couple of weeks has been steadily increasing. What was merely a trickle, a few stray...
View ArticleThe Arsenal Project Coming Undone?
Arsene Wenger has long been regarded as somewhat of a football enigma. He is a respected manager, who espouses confidence in both himself and his team. He speaks like a child of the enlightenment, an...
View ArticleWhat the Hell do Ireland do Now?
To claim that the Republic of Ireland football team is swirling in a quagmire of shit is a bit of an understatement. In truth, Ireland's fate in Group 4 of the World Cup 2006 qualifiers was as...
View ArticleThomand Legends – Pat Spillane in interview
He's barely sat down in his seat. With one swig taken from his orange juice the pulp nestles on the neck of the glass. The all too familiar catch call rings in his ears.“Look! It's that bollocks off...
View ArticleRoy Keane and the Old Trafford Legacy
Manchester United, more so than any other football club, is beset with icons. The legacy of Old Trafford is and always will be underpinned by the memories of those men who fought, and even died, for...
View ArticleForza Cork City! It’s a Love Affair
There are few transgressions less forgivable than that of supporting a second football team. If football is a ritual replication of warfare, then adopting a second squad is rightly seen as nothing...
View Article
