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Someone iconic - Bowie, Elvis, Dylan, Cohen, Queen, Stones?

I find it very strange that  Norn Iron  still play GSTQ/K at all , considering Wales and Scotland are very comfortable belting out their own  anthems

What is their alternative?  Ive heard Oh Danny Boy mentioned. It would put ya to sleep and sure they cant even agree on the name of it.

I had heard your man John Laverty journalist who was discussing Casement the other night once propose Be Thou My Vision. It's a hymn of Irish origin. Or as we used to sing in our house when the old black and white Ferguson broke down: F#%€ that Television, the scourge of our heart...

Same attitude that stopped a university in Derry in the 60s. Can't now be having the best stadium in the North in West Belfast run by the GAA. Can't have Irish language signs. Cant't extend the Wild Atlantic Way to the Causeway Coast. Can't have same EU rules for milk in North and South. Can't even talk about an all-island economy. We've a command paper now to prove it doesn't even exist. The most apt line in Cahair's great article is that from a media perspective everything in North must be from a Unionist viewpoint. They must give permission and that permission won't be extended to anything that looks like the greening of the North.

On Wednesday, Stephen Nolan had three people on his television show discussing Casement Park. None of the three were in any way associated GAA. Indeed, one of the three was from the TUV (not Jim Alister) and had to keep reading his notes before talking.

On Thursday evening Mark Carruthers also discussed Casement Park and had commentators including one actual gaelic football journalist.

Caruthers had a much higher quality discussion with even the former DUP minister Simon Hamilton spoke in favour. Nolan not happy until he is ramping up the sectarianism. BBC has a lot to answer for.

Israeli media at it again:

https://www.balls.ie/football/ireland-israel-u17-fai-statement-588657

Tyrone v Mayo  - Draw
Dublin v Kerry - Draw
Galway v Derry - Derry
Roscommon v Monaghan - Roscommon

Fermanagh v Cork - Fermanagh
Louth v Cavan  - Draw
Meath v Kildare - Meath
Armagh v Donegal - Armagh

Down v Offaly - Down
Clare v Wicklow - Clare
Sligo v Antrim - Sligo
Westmeath v Limerick - Westmeath

Wexford v Waterford -Wexford
Longford v London - Longford
Carlow v Leitrim - Leitrim
Tipperary v Laois - Laois

I imagine Casement will have no problem attracting American football games. Yanks will have no trouble spinning that as some kind of post-conflict Belfast Bowl or the Good Friday Peace Agreement Showdown. Even with a smaller capacity, if these games generate 147 million for Dublin then they will be very lucrative for Belfast too.

https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2023/08/25/american-football-dublin-welcomes-largest-number-of-americans-to-travel-abroad-for-sporting-event/

To host an event like the Euros, governments have to invest. London spent £14 billion in the Olympics. If each game brought about 30,000 visitors to Belfast area (going with assumption North haven't a hope in hell of qualifying) , and each spent £500 (which is conservative) that's £75 million into the local economy. With concerts, American football one offs like Aviva, Ulster finals, it will well pay for itself.

Most famous globally: Boyle's Chris O'Dowd, he played minor goalie for Ros back in the day.

It's not Leo's money.

It's not but at least his government has been generating surpluses to be in a position to do so. There's not one vote for Irish gov in 26 for any of this. This €800m is on top of €50m already signed off on for Magee, paying to keep North in Erasmus, €10m to fund nursing places, €200m contribution to EU peace fund, and of course a lot of work to keep North in EU customs union which provides free access to lucrative EU market for farmers and business while 26 is a net contributor not to mention letting EU raid our seas for the privilege. And I was and am a strong supporter of Dublin funding Casement as can be seen earlier in this thread.

I'd disagree there. The 600m on roads will benefit the people of Donegal and such who will use that road. While in a roundabout way the 50m for Casement will benefit the 3 Ulster counties not in the North. h emay get a few votes on the back of it

It will great for the whole country to have a top class GAA stadium in Belfast and a safe motorway connecting Derry to Dublin. I doubt it's a vote winner in 26 but you never know. I wouldn't think Clones will be too happy if Ulster Finals move on a permanent basis to Belfast. That's revenue shift for local business.

It's not Leo's money.

It's not but at least his government has been generating surpluses to be in a position to do so. There's not one vote for Irish gov in 26 for any of this. This €800m is on top of €50m already signed off on for Magee, paying to keep North in Erasmus, €10m to fund nursing places, €200m contribution to EU peace fund, and of course a lot of work to keep North in EU customs union which provides free access to lucrative EU market for farmers and business while 26 is a net contributor not to mention letting EU raid our seas for the privilege. And I was and am a strong supporter of Dublin funding Casement as can be seen earlier in this thread.

That should soften some coughs.

The problem is if you are a manager that tends to say what's on your mind like Davy Burke, your comments will be a section on the podcasts as the 65 training sessions was on Parkinson's Smaller Fish and the RTE one above. The difference is at least Eamon Fitzmaurice knew that was normal if 3 + 2 gym sessions a week since early Nov whereas Wooly was as usual like the immature little child.

Davy however would be better off becoming a bit more like Jack O'Connor or Dessie Farrell and offer a few meaningless soundbytes, and also be a little less available to the media. Offering his level of detail is an unnecessary distraction to the team.

However 55-64 is 64% to 28% in favour of Union. Is the disparity that great in that age group or would it indicate as they near retirement, good few nationalists opt for the status quo in the absence of a plan from Dublin/clarity over pensions they've paid into.

I don't think there's too much analysis required on that one. Support for the union is strongest in that age category because that's the age categry with the biggest majority of unionists. The protestant/unionist population is ageing one.

Union goes down to 48% again on 65+. Reality must set in. Crumbling NHS and pension higher in Republic. But agree the Union is depending on a greying vote as one can see at any Jim Allister Orange Hall rant.

Some telling stats on that poll.

Staying in the Uk now and in the future is at 44% and that number will likely only go down. Direction of travel is clear unless the younger change as they get older...

However 55-64 is 64% to 28% in favour of Union. Is the disparity that great in that age group or would it indicate as they near retirement, good few nationalists opt for the status quo in the absence of a plan from Dublin/clarity over pensions they've paid into.