The Revenue and the GAA

In the past week we have seen the issue of tax payments come to the fore within the GAA. The issue of managerial payments was highlighted once again with Tommy Lyons, the former Dublin manager, claiming Mayo approached him asking him to name his price to take over the senior team in 2010. He asserts that he was asked to name his price, put it in an envelope and hand it over. James Waldron, the then Mayo County Board chairman vehemently denies the allegation.

23 months ago the Director General of the GAA, Paraic Duffy expressed his concern at the emerging culture of under the counter payments to GAA managers in particular inter- county mangers. Christy Cooney more recently described the culture of payments as a cancer in the association. In recent weeks the Revenue Commissioners have hinted they are ready to investigate county boards and clubs with regard to under the counter payments to managers and personnel. They did not realise what they were up against when they decided the officials involved in the GAA were to come under scrutiny.

The referees of Longford and Wexford exercised the power they have when they decided to take action at the news of a cut in their expenses at the behest of the cold hand of the Revenue Commissioner. Up until last year referees were officiating for a flat rate of €40 for a senior fixture and €25 for an under-age fixture on average however there is no uniformity among counties with some counties opting to pay managers immediately after a game and others deciding to pay on receipt of expenses. Payments can also vary.

However referee’s were informed this week that their rates were to be cut to a meal expense of €13.71 and a price of 50c per mile for travel expenses. Monday two weeks ago, Longford’s officials voted to take action and strike against the proposed flat rate. 24 hours previously Wexford’s referee’s had threatened to withdraw their services only to back down after being told they would continue to receive the original flat rate of €50 for a senior game and €30 for an under-age game. Waterford’s officials were also told there would be no cut in expenses.

The ball has now returned to the Revenue’s court and it is up to them to clarify the controversy among referee’s with regard to their expenses which National Referee’s Association chairman Mick Curley admits is an issue of major concern. The burning issue is whether the official’s will be subject to tax liabilities at the end of the year if the Revenue do decide to alter referee’s expenses. Croke Park will continue to engage with the Revenue in relation to how expenses can be claimed.

The power at the officials disposal was one notable aspect of this stand-off. Their value is far greater than any monetary gains that may be made. Players, managers, the public and the media don’t quite realise the importance of the referee. For the GAA this could potentially be a more contentious issue than that of payments to managers. The games will continue to be played whether a manager is paid or not and there is always another willing to manage. It could far outweigh any controversy over players expenses. There is always another player ready to step into the breach if the first choice is not available. However without the referee the game cannot be played and this is the tool at their disposal. That is why the GAA sought time to allow for further discussion surrounding this issue. It is interesting to note how the matter of payments to managers could also become of secondary importance if the expenses row with referee’s is not clarified and cleared up soon. The GAA has found itself caught between the Revenue and a body within the GAA that is of seminal importance and cannot be done without.

The very spirit of one of the finest sporting associations on earth could be brought into question however if the revenue decide to start investigating every nook and cranny to line their coffers. The plight of many GAA clubs at the moment is they’re saddled with incoherent debt after over-indulging during the boom times. As a result of the “boom times” managers started to get paid but it is quite evident whether we like to admit it or not that a lot of these payments were not declared. And who can blame the personnel of clubs in particular not declaring a little extra cash in the fear that the tax man will take at least half? I know of one physiotherapist involved in a small junior club who for a minimal fee helps the club during weekends currently monitoring the situation with regard to the Revenues impending intrusion.They use this fee to cover their grocery shopping. The person in question is unlikely to return for another season if they are going to be taxed. It will simply not be worth their time and effort.

It will be the small “man” or club that suffers. Imagine a lost corner of rural Ireland, painted with the bright colours of its parish team and the pride invested by the local parishioners in the local footballers and hurlers. The GAA, for these small communities that the IMF or Troika or ECB can not even comprehend, provides a service. If the Revenue were to intrude in these lost corners of Ireland that run on a sense of community spirit who put away that extra euro or two to help the local club bring life into their communities, what might they be achieving or even dismantling? Will it be worth dedicating your time as a manager or referee or physio to the local club if the Revenue are going to tax you for the most part. Is it time for the GAA to be the voice for these lost corners of Ireland?

Rampart Review

In homage to perhaps Bad Lieutenant, Training Day and even Dirty Harry, Rampart addresses that almost iconic enduring image of the dirty cop that harks back to the days of the Rampart scandal that almost swallowed and enveloped the LAPD in a swathe of investigations that eventually led to the convictions of 58 police officers who were involved in corruption, bribery, drug dealing and even murder in the late 1990′s.

Rampart sees James Ellroy, the word smith behind L.A. Confidential and Oren Moverman the man in charge of the camera for L.A. Confidential re-unite in a gripping tale of drama, suspense, misanthropy, racism, family struggles and heartbreak. Dave Brown, played by Woody Harrelson, is a police officer in Los Angeles at the turn of the century, a turbulent time in the LAPD. Brown can only be described as a man who fears no law and is even a law unto himself.

We see glimpses of his hardened, cold manner in the opening scenes where he bullies a new female officer seemingly for the sake of it when he forces her to finish her lunch time fries when she offers him the remainder. It then cuts to him advising her on a patrol and in the same fell swoop he demonstrates how to intimidate groups of Latino’s by driving straight at them, sirens blaring.

We initially see him cruise the streets of L.A. on patrol,aviators on, almost acting as a type of barrier to the world that he so evidently hates. We are witnessing the demise of a police officer who is a throwback to the old school cop who took names and asked questions later. We later learn his father was a LAPD officer which evidently has an influence on his controversial policing tactics.

Brown outside of work is no stranger to controversy either. He has fathered two children with two women who happen to be sisters and the family unit immediately becomes a distorted arena of potential chaos. The eldest daughter, Helen, is an individual who demonstrates her mistrust of her father several times throughout and also demonstrates an unyielding melancholic attitude towards life. She is played by Brie Larson of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World fame and can only expect attention in the future after a commanding performance.

The sisters and mothers of his children, played by Anne Heche and Cynthia Nixon, ironically both lesbians in the screenplay that is life, have obviously witnessed Browns propensity to create situations for himself that do not necessarily make life easy, being victims themselves of course. Which brings us to the issue at hand. Why is Brown so controversial? His daughter Helen repeatedly refers to Brown as “Date Rape” throughout, a moniker afforded to him after he allegedly murdered a serial date rapist. This establishes his dalliances with trouble.

With the LAPD embroiled in scandal after scandal, Brown while driving is careered by another car and he proceeds to chase down the culprit and use excessive force thus only serving to enhance the LAPD’s tarnished reputation. This happens to be caught on camera and aired on news channels. In an age void of YouTube, Flickr and Tumblrs this inevitably leads to Browns suspicions that this may have been set up by the Mayor and the LAPD to deflect attention from their offices. Displaying an eloquent understanding of the law throughout, alluding to his past failures at the Bar, Brown when questioned on the matter at hand promises to make life difficult when he is approached to make amends for his actions by the Mayor and his superiors. Sigourney Weaver is at best featured intermittently as his superior and Steve Buscemi has a standard bit part as Mayor.

Clearly able to handle himself, Brown when asked has he considered retirement wonderfully executes the script while threatening to use his Vietnam past, legal nous and the chance that he could have a show on Fox within a week to squirm out of the topic. At one stage he even offers to return to the Bar and qualify if forced to leave the LAPD and come back to work for them as their “token fascist”. Legal fees are building and he is fast running out of cash and only sees one way out of it.

Without giving away too much of the plot we see how this potentially likeable character is flawed beyond repair. His actions lead to his ultimate deterioration and character suicide which leads to a DA investigation. Ice Cube attempts to bring the DA agent to life but he fails to ignite any soul in the character and is not convincing and as an actor sadly will never be.

Engaging in illicit behaviour has become a token of this characters framework and his relationship with a DA lawyer, played by Robin Wright is no different to any other aspect of his life. Messy, tainted, controversial, ambiguous and fundamentally flawed. Another cast member who is integral as the homeless man who poses a threat to the livelihood of Brown through being in the right or wrong place at the right or wrong time, whichever way you see it, is Ben Foster.

At the climax of the film we see Brown eventually succumb to his true characteristics but we also see the broken and lost soul within the character itself. The only flaw for me in the film was the ending which may leave audiences a bit frustrated.

Interestingly Overman, Harrelson and Foster all collaborated on the much lauded The Messenger, which somewhat seemed to pass under the radar this side of the Atlantic and Overman obviously places trust in these masters of their craft. Overman who directed Harrelson in The Messenger also, in which Harreslon was nominated for an Academy Award for his turn as a Casualty Notification officer, has obviously learned how to tap into the dark side of Harrelson and eke out a performance in him that truly portrays that of a tortured and troubled soul. Overman captures the essence of this beautifully and the camera work lends itself to the style of Michael Mann’s Collateral however the director has his own unique touch and must be applauded for managing to wrap cinematic chaos in a blanket of eloquence.

Choice Music Prize

Tonight, the Olympia, one of Ireland’s oldest and renowned theatres will play host to some of Ireland’s newest and rawest talent from the thriving Irish music industry. Independent Irish music is riding on the crest of a wave at the moment with live music echoing throughout the villages,towns and cities of Ireland. If you visit any bustling town or city in Ireland at the moment you will see a vibrant live music scene not only above ground but also underground. There is dubstep, indie, pop, dance, metal, electronica, hip hop, trip hop, grime and even some good old rock n’ roll to be found no matter where you go. You name it, the chances are it will be in a club pub or venue near you or coming soon. Whatever it is about desperate times, it seems to produce far from desperate music. The Irish music scene is in an extremely healthy state.

Belfast is churning out successful acts like Led Zeppelin did records in the 70′s crossing all genres and Dublin is a whole other column. There is a burgeoning music scene in the capital and it had been bubbling under the surface for many years. International acts now see Dublin as an important stepping stone to building a reputable fan base. Ticket prices are still a little too expensive but that’s another days work. Unfortunately the reason Dublin is a whole other columns work is because if you want to establish yourself in Ireland, that is where you need to be 9 times out of 10. You may be able to build up a minimal fan base touring the country but the crowds you yearn for and dream of as a performer, musician, singer are in Dublin. Trends are made and broken in the city by the Liffey. That is why most of the acts that will take to the stage in the Olympia tonight are based in Dublin. Tonight will see the 7th annual Choice Music prize take place at its new home. It has moved from Vicar St. down the road.

The Choice Music prize was set up by Irish Times music impresario Jim Carroll along with Dave Reid in 2005. Initially set up as an alternative to the Meteor Music awards it is now ironically sponsored by the very same Meteor. Put it this way, it is Ireland’s Mercury Prize or the closest you will get to that. Celebrating and championing the cause of Irish music and using it as a platform to showcase the finest Irish albums of each year for the last seven years, it has enjoyed relative success as the alternative music lover’s chance to celebrate the best albums of the year and can be considered the antidote to the mainstream drivel we hear on most radio stations every day.

This years judging panel will see the co-founder Jim Carroll handing over the reins to his colleagues and will watch with intrepid anxiety tonight as an album will be plucked from obscurity and hopefully propelled into the stratosphere. The judging panel for the 2011 awards is a veritable mix of DJ’s, journalists, producers and all manner of media professionals. There is 11 on the judging panel. Over the last number of years there have been a few surprises with perhaps the most surprising being Super Extra Bonus Party in 2007. There have been a notable number of acts whose profile was immeasurably enhanced by the prize which I forgot to mention is €10,000. Past winners include Julie Feeney, The Divine Comedy, Jape, Adrian Crowley and Two Door Cinema Club. The nominees this year include:

And So I Watch You From Afar (ASIWYFA)- Arguably one of the hardest working bands in Irish music right now, the Belfast band have experienced many line-up changes over the years but maintained their gritty alt-rock sound without fail and this is their first Choice nomination but second album called Gangs.

Bell X1- Almost the paternal group among the rest of the relative newcomers Bell X1 are stewards of the Irish music scene and are the most successful out of all the nominees, This isn’t their first nomination but they will be hoping their Bloodless Coup album will be  the winning nomination. This is their fifth studio album.

Cashier No. 9- More natives of Belfast, these guys are considered among the favourites to go home with the accolade for their supremely laid back effort To The Death of Fun. Swirling, chilled out, pop tunes intertwined with a rustic feel and groove these guys have certainly given themselves a chance to cash in!

Lisa Hannigan- No longer referred to as Damien Rice’s sidekick, Hannigan has carved out a career of her own cementing herself as a singer songwriter of stature and note with profound ability to wrap charm around a note of sweet effervescent ear tingling lyrics. Her sweet, soulful voice could land her the prize for Passenger, a strong follow-up to 2009′s Sea Sew, a Choice contender itself in 2009. One of the favourites.

The Japanese Popstars: Their debut effort Control Your Allegiance could fit seamlessly into their back catalogue in years to come as  an album that belied its years and with samples and contributions from Robert Smith, Lisa Hannigan and James Vincent McMorrow it feels and sounds like an album that was produced from a much more experienced outfit. Oh and it’s electronic/dance beats. An unusual nominee for the Choice prize given previous ones, however with the re-emergence of dance, not surprising. Another group from up North serving to underline the vibrant and healthy scene surrounding Belfast and neighbouring counties.

Jape: A previous winner it is unlikely his Ocean of Frequency will win but don’t be shocked if it does. Electro infused eclectic music is the staple sound of Richie Egan and don’t be surprised if the extremely talented musician is back in the future with another offering for the Choice Music Prize.

Patrick Kelleher and His Cold Dead Hands: An artist I am not overly familiar with and a genre I am not overly enthused about, synth driven 80′s weird drum machine hair-raising bleh, all signs and talk point to the outsiders tag for this album. Considered one of the more ‘alternative acts’ in a list of alternative acts could work for or against Kelleher but with an open-minded panel any one of these acts is in with a chance.

Pugwash: When I first listened to Pugwash, Supergrass popped into my head but I don’t know why because they are not very similar to Supergrass at all. They do however have their own brand of timeless pop that would make you whistle, hum and smile when you hear it because it is quite quirky. These guys have been around a while and not necessarily working together during that time-span but they are veterans compared to most of the field and perhaps for this alone they may deserve an award just for seemingly being fun. Everybody likes fun people right?

Tieranniesaur: A wife and husband duo who recorded this album at home I would consider these guys to be very strong outsiders but that may be because I love this album. She is the sister of Mick Pyro of Republic of Loose fame so is no stranger to the music business. They seamlessly fuse indie and funk together and seperate it again from track to track and for sheer creativeness, ingenuity and the enjoyment factor I am going to make this my tip for the Choice Music Prize.

We Cut Corners: Take two teachers. Put them in a blender. Pulse for 10 years or so and you get We Cut Corners. Probably my second favourite album of the year, these two teachers (still teaching) took a long time to realise they were musicians and musicians capable of coming up with an award-winning album. Albeit it is a very short album but there is no need to make it any longer with such panache and honed sounds attached to it with confident and loud lyrics to fuse the whole project together, Today I Realised I Could Go Home backwards is probably right alongside Cashier No. 9 as the favourite.

Just as a little bit on the side, I am going to be bold and daring and predict that at least some of the following bands will be on the Choice Music Prize list in the next year or two. Little Green Cars whose music I cannot get enough of recently, check out their Bandcamp page, Funeral Suits, Le Galaxie, The Minutes, James Vincent McMorrow (baffling that he isn’t already a winner), MMOTHS, The Cast of Cheers, Squarehead and Girl Band. Keep your eyes peeled and ears open. Good luck to all the acts competing for the prize, you are all winners in your parents and fans eyes.

Unsung Heroes of the GAA

On a recent trip to Belgium I participated in a World War I tour that consisted of visiting hundreds of graveyards. In these graveyards, some littered with thousands of headstones, others with just a handful, lay hundreds of soldiers that lay down their lives for a cause they believed in to the limits of their very virtues. As I wandered through one particular graveyard I noticed there were intermittent headstones that were simply marked “A Soldier of the Great War”, unmarked graves. Nobody knew who these men were but understood they fought and were vital components in the name of a greater cause.  

Afterwards, I thought to myself it must be soul destroying to give so much and take so little and where in modern society could this be evident. I then turned to domestic affairs and thought of a situation where this could apply.

What have an accountant, an electrician, a doctor, an unemployed, person, a student, a teacher and an IT consultant among many other professions and walks of life got in common? Out of the 2,500 domestic clubs and counting and the other 195 clubs across the world what is their common bond? If you were blissfully unaware of Ireland and some of its many unique cultures and associations you would hazard a guess at a political alliance perhaps or a religion or a cult even. However, the GAA is responsible for the unification of such varied backgrounds.

An amateur association envied by many professional ones that is run on blood, sweat, tears and voluntary work. An unparalleled amateur sporting organisation that is played and run at a professional standard. The effort required to excel in the competitive environment that is the GAA is one of almost superhuman effort. The effort put in at the grassroots level of a GAA club right up to the top at county level is highly admirable. The majority of this is done at a voluntary level.

If I am going to be honest I sometimes question the sanity of people involved in the GAA. I, as a frequent  participant from a very young age, have witnessed the processes involved in the running of a GAA club at first hand. It is no easy task to run a GAA club no matter how small or big and I can only imagine the time and dedication needed to run an inter county team. At club level however is where it all begins. There are pitches to be maintained. Dressing rooms to be swept and kept in working order and presentable.  Money to be found to make them presentable.  Jerseys to be bought and replaced again.  Money to be found to buy the jerseys.  Transport to and from games to be organised.  Money to be found for the transport.  Camans to be bought, insurance organised, treasurers to keep a tightrope on the purse, money to be raised to expand the club, coaches courted and poached, players to be kept happy, the best facilities to be found to train the players to a high enough standard so this process can be repeated the following year at a higher level hopefully. All on fundraising.

The men and women responsible for this, Presidents, secretaries, treasurers, grounds men, coaches are constantly oiling the cogs of the machine behind the scenes, often out of their own pocket, sometimes to no great avail and without success for years or decades, without praise. All for the love of the GAA. In between their forty whatever hour working week they go to the greatest lengths to keep their respective club’s heads above water. They are under no obligation to do this and yet they do. They sacrifice time with their families and loved ones for the sake of the club. They forego that family holiday because it clashes with an important date in the clubs calendar or the club needed financial assistance and “sure they didn’t really need that holiday”. They are the reason players have a pitch to showcase their talents, jerseys to take pride in and successful careers to bask in.

You may ask why? I am afraid there is no clear cut answer to that question. That is why I question their sanity. Is it a generic GAA disorder that a person who is born into a GAA orientated family will dedicate their valuable time to a cause that brings communities together and unites beings that would never otherwise cross each other’s paths. Is it the common cause to bring that cup back to the parish and display it with pride at the local schools and churches and convention’s. That cup that may not cost a whole lot yet is priceless. That cup is the culmination of not only the players resolve, determination, grit and sacrifices but the efforts of those behind the scenes, those unknown soldiers, their unmarked graves representative of their unrecognised efforts.

 I write this in recognition of these men and women, soldiers of the GAA, they are the rock the GAA is built on and without them we would never have Croke Park, the Kilkenny 4 in a row team, the exciting new generation of Tipperary hurlers, the Down team who brought joy to hundreds of homes last year, Jack Lynch a former Taoiseach, Christy Ring, John Doyle, Mick O Dwyer, Jack O Shea, the great Meath teams of the late 80’s and the great Kerry/Dublin clashes of the 70’s. We simply would have no GAA.

The right to life? How about the right to die?

"Well, let's take what people think is a dignified death. Jesus Christ, was that a dignified death? Do you think it's dignified to hang from wood with nails through your hands and feet bleeding, hang for three or four days slowly dying, with people jabbing spears into your side, and people jeering you? Do you think that's dignified? Not by a long shot. Had Christ died in my van with people around Him who loved Him, the way it was, it would be far more dignified. In my rusty van."


-Dr. Jack Kevorkian, July 29, 1996


Think of the person or people you love the most in the world. Now think of them suffering from a terminal illness or an insufferable disease or pain that renders their quality of life obsolete. There are a countless number of people worldwide who have no quality of life or can't bear the thought of another day in an inescapable prison of pain. I ask you, nay I implore you, to ask yourself what would you do to alleviate your loved ones as they deteriorate before your very eyes?


If they wished to avail of a service that would grant them relief from this torture, you would consider employing that service, would you not? Well it's not available unless you live in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Oregon or Washington. That leaves roughly 190 other countries in the world where the person in question will almost certainly have to die an undignified death, suffering and in pain.


Euthanasia is a very contentious and controversial topic. It usually involves debates between liberals and religious fanatics. Dr. Jack Kevorkian or Dr. Death as he was "affectionately known", in the HBO film You Don't Know Jack portrayed a period in his life where he was known worldwide for the service he provided to very sick people. He provided a way out for the terminally ill. He provided a way out and an end to endless pain for those who could not see a reason to live anymore. Their quality of life almost or on the brink of being extinguished. Their candle that burned so brightly once, almost down to the wick. He was persecuted, ridiculed and branded a murderer. When all it appeared he wanted to do was help people.


Throughout the film you see time and again cases of people who have no quality of life left. Who have no reason left to live. People afflicted with disease such as cancer, motor neurone disease and MS. Debilitating diseases that leave these people in excruciating pain 24/7. In this country we cannot provide a way out because it would be murder if we were to avail of an assisted suicide service. Under the Criminal Law Suicide Act it is an offence to aid, abet, counsel or procure the suicide of another person to commit suicide. Or else face a penalty of up to 14 years in prison. The only other way is to voluntarily refuse medication or treatment and almost certainly die a painful undignified death.The concern is the current legal stance could result in people travelling abroad, while they are physically still able to do so, to avail of a euthanasia service before they feel they are ready to die.


The closest alternative is palliative care which allows the person to die a dignified death surrounded by their loved ones.However, the argument is, the person in question cannot die on their own terms. They may want to be remembered as they were, not as a shadow of their former selves. Not possible. Not fair, I say. The right to life and human rights are paramount in every human rights doctrine and constitution universally. However the right to die is almost non- existent in every one of these doctrines.


A person's autonomy is a basic human right. It is accepted that as an expression of a persons autonomy they can refuse medical treatment even if it will result in imminent death. However for some reason or another there is widespread condemnation of the notion of euthanasia. Euthanasia allows the terminally ill to die with dignity and without pain. Individuals should be able to choose a time and place where they wish to die peacefully. Surely it violates human rights to force people to carry on living against their own wishes. Surely it is immoral to compel people to carry on living in unbearable pain and suffering.


It would of course be vital to implement prudent and strict legislation. Examinations would have to take place with perhaps three to four mental and physical examinations taking place over a period of a year or eighteen months on the patient in question. Every precaution would have to be taken but the at the end of it all, if the candidate is legitimate, the right to die should be available.


The question shall be put to you again. Think of the person or people you love the most in this world. Now think of them suffering from a terminal illness or an insufferable, unbearable, agonising disease. What would you want for them? Surely you would want the option to relieve them of their suffering? Surely euthanasia should be an available option? The passage from life to death should be serene and dignified, not an agonising ordeal.


"Many are needlessly condemned to suffering by the chief anti-euthanasia argument: that murder might lurk under the cloak of kindness." - A.C Grayling, Guardian 2001


The below video shows the suffering of Dr. Miklos Somogyi who was refused the right to die and escape the torture of his disease:

The Marathon Man

It was a September evening, like any other, the sun was patrolling the sky and an Indian summer of sorts was being enjoyed by all!


I sat down at the kitchen table in my friends house with two of my closest friends and we began to chat. I had just returned from a trip away and I was in jovial but tired form. I was aware one of my friends had been visiting the doctor with a problem he was experiencing but while I was away he reassured me everything was just fine, routine problem.


I was eager to know what exactly was wrong with him upon my return and have all the news relayed to me anyway just to make sure he was ok (and that he was fit for a pint or two that evening probably) and I approached the subject. In no uncertain terms my close friend informed me of the inevitable diagnosis. He had cancer. Speechless. I immediately reacted as much for his sake as for mine with a defence mechanism, I used humour. "Aw sure youll be going bald quicker than you expected now" was my retort, knowing my good friend took pride in the fine jet black, spiky hair adorning the top of his cranium. And no doubt he did become bald quicker than expected but with the ultimate dignity.


I absorbed the shocking and mind baffling information while trying to keep myself from breaking down. I was screaming and sick, inside. I returned to my humble abode that evening and had a quiet whimper/sob to myself. However, in the face of things I was positive. I knew my friend had the strength and courage to beat this but he would need all the support possible.


Fast forwarding to today he has gone beyond a display of courage and strength and played an amazing 16 holes, theres two more to go my friend hang in there! As far as I can see this man has stared the beast that is cancer in the face and spat back at him and informed that particular beast that he can, in no polite terms, return from whence he came! Right from that day in September when he was diagnosed his attitude has been one of inspiration. However at this juncture, perhaps the real story of inspiration comes from those closest to him. Words cannot describe the admiration I have for his parents and sibling and his adoring girlfriend who have been there every step of the way. They have been his rock.


He began his course of chemotherapy several weeks after diagnosis and no doubt this was a shock to his system. He had lost an enormous amount of weight at this stage and I was tempted to sneak a steak or McDonalds or seven into him in his hospital bed. Alas, I formed the opinion this may not be such a good idea. The effects of the chemo began to take form. He had become weak and thin beyond recognition. At this stage, and I hope he does not mind me saying this, I was heartbroken. The man I knew and looked up to was but a shadow of his former self but at the same time staring adversity in the face. He was displaying characteristics you or I may never see in ourselves in our lifetime.


Weeks passed,as did chemo sessions. It's a tough business, cancer is. Hard to get ahead. However in true entrepreneurial and business like manner that this man is so accustomed to(Smurfit and taxis know all about him, you definitely made a profit on taxis!!) he was one step ahead of his opponent and still is. Times were tough, especially Christmas where the customary pint and hug and banter with your nearest and dearest lacked a certain presence due to the absence of one enormous personality. This personality has shone through in every way in his presence consistently and not one day have I been allowed a slip up in his presence no matter how sick youve been!!!


Days, weeks and months passed. Bald now. Unrecognisable to some. Could never be to us. I still hadnt heard a word of complaint and still havent. I consider myself the biggest moaner alive now when im around my brother!!! Another battle was on our dear friends hands at this time. Our fine political system, functioning like never before, are disgusting. In the face of every revelation and resignation nothing the government does now to reconcile the ordinary people of Ireland could justify their inclusion in future governments. The social services have a lot to answer for also. Think of your nearest and dearest suffering from a serious ailment. They seek benefits to help them financially. They expect benefits. They find it hard to function in every day life, never mind working. They are told they should be working, no benefits for you, no siree. Now, what would you do? This was the scenario facing this particular person.


Soldiering on, chemo session after chemo session he has taken everything in his stride. Nothing is getting in his way. This may seem menial to you or anybody else but there was one action on my friends part that has made me extremely proud of him. Apart from the inspiring attitude, the strength, the courage, the pride I have in him there was one thing that reassured me that everything is going to be ok. He was applying for graduate positions next September and I have no doubt he will occupy one. Drive and ambition are the name of the game for this man. Every time I ask him what the next step is he replies "oh I dont know well see", vague city has a new resident. However, it becomes apparent to me that this man is waking up every day with a glint in his eye and a fresh approach. Maybe making plans has been the key to his attitude.


With the gaunt appearance gone, meat back on his bones (could be a bit too much now my friend you might need to get into the gym soon, lay off them burgers, take a tip or two from a man who knows) and hair reappearing it is evident he is one step ahead, he is cruising in on the 16th hole 2 up and a putt for eagle. He is conquering all around him.


I have so much more to say and perhaps I could have worded this better. I sat down with just you in mind. Right now you are in a hospital bed itching to get home and see your loved ones. I wish I could spend every night with you there just to keep you company. Radiotherapy awaits but its no match for you. You are on top of this. You are an inspiration to us all and im sure I can say that on behalf of everybody. A braver, more courageous and inspirational person I have never met. We are proud of you.

A Law Unto Themselves

Well what can I say, we live in turbulent testing times but at least we have a government of stature and stability to rely on and a church of true values, morals and reliability!!!

You are excused if you are not outraged, frustrated, disgusted, baffled, speechless, surprised, shocked and appalled at the behaviour of some of the leading authorities of this country but only if you have been living in a cave on Valentia Island or somewhere of equal isolation.

The afflictions which trouble my mind and this small island of ours in particular are those that relate to politics and the faith of its people in every sense of the word. These may not be your typical page turning topics but they merit the space on a white blank page because they are so important.

It troubles me to see our small land of tradition, poets, storytellers, heroes, political revolutionaries, brave war heroes, a country that prides itself on the generosity of its people, the vivaciousness of its people losing its way and falling apart at the seams.

We are currently in political turmoil. This correlates and trickles all the way into the national psyche and drains confidence in the people of this nation, sapping hope from the many people that are lost in the mire of financial obscurity, health problems and so on in these troubled times.

Over a sustained period we have seen the downfall of several leading political figures that were cornerstones of this so called "government". I suppose the ball started to really pick up the collective proverbial shit that these idiots have left strewn on our nation when it became apparent that tax payers were being taken complete advantage of when the tale of "The Expenses" came to light. Leading figureheads using taxpayers money to enjoy the finer things in life and make life as easy as possible on themselves while other people worked and suffered to grant those privileges. These politicians are meant to represent and serve the people not drain them of their earnings for their own benefit and take advantage of them. It seemed to me that John O Donoghue, the Ceann Comhairle who had to retire because of this matter, was made a scapegoat for this particular debacle. He was not the only guilty party with many other TD's weighing in but not taking responsibility for their actions which in my eyes painted them as cowards but that's their prerogative.

We then saw the resignation of poor old George Lee from the leading opposition party Fine Gael. Mr. Lee was seen as the great white hope of Fine Gael when he was voted in in the last general election with the second most first preference votes in the country. The people saw something in him that they believed could make a difference to the ailing fortunes of this country. An economist with RTE that saw into the future,he was considered a saving grace. However it became apparent to George a couple of months into his tenure he had become nothing more than a face for the party and felt he was not getting his fair crack at the whip. I personally don't know what he was thinking being such a public figure in the first place and secondly why did he not expect to have to bide his time to have a lasting impact on the party. He resigned in abject failure and in a whimsical fashion expecting the people to sympathise in his plight of not getting his way.

Then came the farce that was the Willie O Dea affair. The then Minister for Defence had the audacity to swear a false affidavit in court. He accused a candidate in the 2009 general elections of operating a brothel and was subsequently taken to court. He was taken to court on the basis of these allegations but swore in court he had made no such allegations. However it emerged an out of court settlement was made and the matter was put to the side until early in 2010 a vote of no confidence in Mr. O Dea was motioned. The Green Party conceded they had lost all confidence in Mr. O Dea and he subsequently resigned citing that he felt the furore surrounding these matters was taking away from the vital job the government was doing. The irony in this matter is Willie O Dea happens to be a qualified barrister who seemed unaware it was a crime to lie in court. Farcical. I rest my case.

Then came the resignation of Deirdre De Burca from the Green Party. A woman who felt she could not operate in the confines of a political party she felt no longer was true to itself which was quite refreshing it has to be said. Good enough reason and noble enough reason to resign, staying true to your values.

And last but not least we had dear old Trevor Sargent, the Green Party TD who embodied their values and probably should not have been lambasted over his actions which led to his honourable resignation. Formerly leader of the Greens, he contacted Gardai about an ongoing investigation regarding one of his constituents. It may not have been right but you could see where his loyalties lay,in those of his constituents which seems to be rare these days.

Cervical cancer vaccine, child deaths in the HSE not being investigated and 58,000 X-rays being left unchecked resulting in a death and numerous undiagnosed patients. These are just a few of the many revelations that have come to light in recent times about our health service. The woman responsible for overseeing these matters and safeguarding their implementation is none other than our very own Mary Harney. The most recent case to come to the nations attention was the Tallaght hospital X-ray scandal. The utter neglect of this matter is inexcusable yet Ms. Harney is not shouldering the blame. When news broke of the national scandal she was away on a "fact finding" mission in New Zealand and did not feel the urge to come home and manage the crisis. Her head should be on a platter.

The ongoing seemingly never ending church scandals are continuing to unearth fresh wounds with the news that Cardinal Brady one of the most senior bishops in this country was involved in a cover up back in the 1970's involving a priest and his penchant for children. It came to light some of these children were forced to keep quiet upon threat of ex-communication which was a very serious matter in those days. Cardinal Brady then quite blatantly explained he did not feel it was his responsibility to report this matter to the Gardai. He believes resignation on his behalf is not a matter warranting contemplation or discussion.

There is something rotten at the core of this country and its authoritative figures.

Banjos, raspy voices & poetry

Thursday night saw me enjoying the fine wordsmiths and musicians that are Mumford and Sons at The Academy. The four piece outfit from London have burst onto the scene in Ireland in particular over the last six months cementing a reputation as men of poetic lyrics combined with bluegrass/folk music priming you for a hoedown and a nice relaxing listen all at the same time. Debuting this year with their seminal album Sigh No More they have opened up a generation to a whole new genre of music and diverted tired eyes and ears away from the cumbersome indie scene of late that is becoming saturated with carbon copies and lacking in immediate imagination.

That is not to say that Mumford and Sons themselves may be guilty of recreating their own sound over and over again on their own debut album. However I think they may be excused because of their existential lyrics that ring through like a young poet seeing the world with fresh eyes.Or just check out CSNY. You may be forgiven for thinking you have heard the same notes twice on different tracks but you wont mistake the lyrics. Songs like The Cave, Roll Away Your Stone, White Blank Page and Winter Winds are stand out tracks. What amazed me at the gig was the sheer talent of every single member of the band. They chopped and changed at ease from drums to piano to bass to lead vocals and every single member carried out their task with aplomb. Marcus Mumford's (the lead vocalist) voice is unmistakeable and leaves an indelible mark on the mind. Whoever has heard this man singing will recognise his voice immediately.

They have supported the songstress Laura Marling but have toured extensively over the last two years in England in particular and forged a reputation as live force to be reckoned with. With their melancholic voices and love of folk and bluegrass they seemed to have identified and a hit a chord with people on this side of the ocean. They have managed to sell more albums here than anywhere else. Perhaps it is the inherent love of folk and storytelling that appeals to the people of this island. With Marcus Mumford explaining Little Lion Man and White Blank Page to be a part of an ongoing story line, I have no doubt they will continue onto bigger and better things and will always have a place in the hearts of people who love a story in song.

Mumford and Sons with their pianoes, double bass', guitars and banjoes are Marcus Mumford, Country Winston, Ben Lovett and Ted Dwane.

What do you think?

Peoples faith moves them to evoke all manner of emotions. Today, I was directed to a YouTube link(thanks Lib!) that entailed a thoelogical debate of sorts. This debate firstly was about the effect the Catholic church has on the world and whether it is for good or for worse. Arguing in favour was the Archbishop of Nigeria, John Onaiyekan and British MP and Conservative Ann Widdecombe. In the opposing corner were controversial journalist and commentator Christopher Hitchens and acclaimed author,comedian,actor and jack of all trades Stephen Fry.

Brought up in a Catholic household in suburban Ireland and educated in a Catholic school both primary and secondary I was subjected to the teachings of the Catholic church throughout my youth. Like a lamb in a menagerie I grew into a sheep and stayed with the flock until my late teens wherein I strayed from my mandatory faith and embraced what the world had to offer and its surroundings. This, needless to say, caused consternation in my household but to this day I hold firm in my beliefs. My parents, fantastic in every aspect of life as they are, even to this day I believe still long for my return to my faith. This is however not their fault. I would subscribe to the theory that they are a product of the environments they grew up in,the Bible bashing society that existed in pre Celtic Tiger Ireland. Dont get me wrong I would never question their commitment to their faith and theyre entitled to their beliefs but it's just not my cup of tea. I am probably a believer in the world religions and perhaps could be described as an "a la carte" believer. I think almost every religion has some valid points and I see no reason why I cannot subscribe to a theory from whichever religion I choose. A deity and one true deity,I do believe in. But I would like to think this deity does not belong to a religion but to people in general.

Anyway, my eyes were opened to the vast bowlful of knowledge waiting for us when I started studying Jurisprudence and listened to messrs. Rousseau, More, Foucault, Marx, Chomsky etc.... I learned about the Summarian Gods and how they rose from the dead after three days(sound familiar anybody?) and how the Nicene Creed shaped the Christian etiquette and festivals we know today,deriving from Pagan festivals. I began to question my faith and impending scandals at the time sealed my fate. The sex abuse scandals in the Catholic church broke. My ears burned as the facts were revealed.In a nutshell,priests raping children. These guardians of faith and of the community had betrayed their followers and they and the powers that be had the gall to cover up these appalling acts. At this time I do not categorise all priests in the same boat, I am on friendly terms with priests and more genuine,nicer people you could not meet.However, those responsible for these horrific acts had to be made accountable, which some since have but it is a slow process. I had lost my faith. To add to this the churches stance on condoms, to which they vehemently oppose the use of, has surely contributed to countless problems in Africa and farther reaching areas with regard to venereal diseases, their patriarchal and chauvinistic attitude towards women who are surely more sacred than men seeing as they alone are enamoured with the ability to give life, their stance on marriage towards clergy members and celibacy which surely is not natural and so on. I just cant subscribe to this club any more. In my opinion they have used fear as a crutch to stand on and beat people with over the centuries gathering believers over time to create the biggest but perhaps most disillusioned and betrayed fan club of all time. As Stephen Fry quite elegantly and aptly put it, what would Jesus, a very enlightened and clearly admirable individual think of the church today and the abomination it has become. The power corrupting power.

Which leads me to the debate. Both sides argue their theories with composure and self assured belief but the fascinating manner in which Mr. Fry delivers his argument is compelling and fascinating to watch. If you wish to listen and watch just follow the link below and the rest will follow.

January

Seeing as it's not the end of January I am still allowed to say Happy New Year and I hope it's a prosperous one for all.

It's been a topsy turvy month with a few swings and round about's thrown in but it's coming to an end now and everything that is most important in my life is still there and intact and looking good. The new year started with a trip to the border town/metropolis that is Dundalk to ring in the New Year with my better half,Libby. Drunken thrills and spills were had and a good night resulted in a bad hangover the next day as is customary. The big freeze ensued upon the country then, which turned out to be a mini farce of sorts. The good citizens of this country embarked on a course of chaos,including myself believing there was every possibility I may not be able to make a long distance journey ever again because we were entering a new ice age and we had no salt!!! Noel Dempsey,our Minister for Transport,would be okay however because he was in sunnier climates. This was foresight at its best on his part as he would be able function better and sort out the chaos from another country as he was abroad and therefore more mobile,rather than being stuck in an ice palace in his house in Ice Age Ireland as it was now known!!!Schools closed,businesses ceased operations,roads became ice rinks,lakes disappeared,we were entering an new dawn in Ireland where you could go nowehere and do nothing. Everything was changing except for one minor detail,our existing Government were still existing.I am beginning to think that perhaps God was giving us a chance to start afresh and we did not embrace this chance. Then the thaw came. As quick as that. Back to normality.

We also learned of Brian Lenihans battle with pancreatic cancer which created its own furore. All I will say is he should be left alone to fight his own battles and I wish him all the best and hope he defeats this disease but also the public are entitled to know that such a political figurehead is in ill health and may not be able to perform to full capacity. As for the man himself perhaps he should step down and fight this in private and let somebody else take up the mantle on such a high pressured job. All the best though.

Recently through my studies and coincidental programming I have become acutely aware of the situation in the Middle East between Israel and Palestine. It seems that the problem that faces these proud tribes is so deep and complicated at this stage it would be very hard to ever see a solution or compromise. There are different factions,ideas,ideals,minds have been polluted to the extent that these peoples goals now seem distorted.They both believe they have divine rights to the lands they are fighting over.The dying and violence and human suffering is insurmountable and both sides are suffering. However in two recent programs it became apparent to me that it is the Palestinians that seem to be suffering the most. Jon Snows "Unseen Gaza" and Ross Kemps documentary highlighted several problems facing the Palestinians in every aspect of their life. It is rare to have cameras and available footage from Gaza and its surrounding areas which Jon Snow sought to highlight in his program. The lack of knowledge about these areas is astounding and it is mainly due to Israeli authorities preventing entry to the territories. 


There are blockades in place that have ruined any sort of an economy that was in place and unemployment is high. This has led to illegal smuggling rearing its ugly head. There are tunnels in place with the borders of Egypt and other surrounding places to smuggle in vital supplies that the Israelis are preventing. These tunnels are death traps and deaths are regular. Surely this is inhumane. The funny thing is the Palestinian government are regulating this as it is a very important facet of their economy. However as a result there are exorbitant prices on these products and its a vicious merry go round that only adds to these peoples problems. Meanwhile on the other side of the wall,life seems to be as normal as it is in Ireland.

Where you see billboards in Ireland advertising perfumes, energy drinks, celebrities etc...in Palestine instead you see "martyrs", heroes adorned across the walls looking down on the rubble filled streets. You see men who for some reason or another believed that to become a suicide bomber they would somehow make a difference.The children in Palestine now gaze up at these effigies while they are playing cops and robbers or something worse with their replica machine guns and idolise these people. This is only going to lead to a whole new generation of suicide bombers and a continuation of death, human suffering, hell on earth. 


There is a poignant scene in Ross Kemps documentary in an orphanage. Children,who have lost family due to Israeli shells or attacks have been orphaned. Ross Kemp quizzes these children on their feelings about the conflict and their hatred is apparent,unfettered and concentrated. People this age should not have a care in the world and even know what hatred is. They are describing horrific ordeals as a result of this terrible war, when a small girl,silent for the duration of the scene,interjects and begins to describe the suffering she has endured. She could not be more than 7 years of age. She describes witnessing her family being slaughtered by Israeli "soldiers",her mother being raped and seeing her fathers brains spilling out of his head. Shocking imagery,described by a girl who has not even seen a decade pass in her life. This is not normal. She then describes it all in one phrase, she feels like she is stuck in a cage and there's no way out. She hates that country and its servants that took her family from her,such hatred so young,tragic. This madness will only breed madness. 


The programme finished with a young man preparing himself to be a suicide bomber,just like hundreds before him. This man believes he will make a difference by taking his own life and the lives of countless innocents. The difference is this man is a student of the law,he could make a difference in his way of life,by fighting in the courts or in politics but he is blinded by the madness of a war, ready to take precious life when he could save so many.

My heart goes out to the people of Haiti,may they find light at the end of the tunnel.

January out!