Recent posts

#1

GAA Discussion / Re: Murder of a GAA Chairman

Last post by paddyjohn - Today at 01:23:01 PM

I remember at the time it sent chills through the whole  nationalist community. Just listening to Talkback and Trevor Birney talking about and how attacking someone like Sean Brown was a deliberate ploy as he was decent and could not be associated with any paramilitary organisation. It was purely to put fear and Terror through a whole community by striking at its centre.

We had just won the AI and had beaten Bellaghy in the Ulster final before Christmas 1996. There was a crew of us living in Belfast and we had close relationships on and off the field with a lot of the Bellaghy lads. It struck hard. I remember travelling home at the time and we regularly changed out pick up spots etc. Going to matches in Lurgan and that was always a concern as well. How the f**k was that normal? 

Unfortunately we normalised it at the time and adopted

My dad handed me the book The Shankill butchers when it came out

Made me read it before I headed out that weekend, needless to say that put the willies up me for that period of heading out! 

Absolutely horrible book. Really tough. I read the book called committee. Really opened my eyes as a teenager growing up.

Only policeman you trust is a dead one.

Is that the  one by Sean mcPhilemy?

Yeah.

#2

General discussion / Re: Name your three favourite ...

Last post by weareros - Today at 01:16:51 PM

Sadly never saw them live with Freddie in concert but did catch Brian May and Roger Taylor who I'd have up there with all the great guitarists and drummers of all time. Deacon was unsung bass player too - his riff in Under Pressure was something else. Add Freddie's vocals and you had some band.

Killer Queen

Love of my Life
(when Brian now sings this with a video of Freddie completing song, it's very haunting)

Bohemian Rhapsody
(went to see original lyrics at Sotheby's auction and was originally called Mongolian Rhapsody. Epic piece of music).

#3

General discussion / Re: Name your three favourite ...

Last post by tiempo - Today at 12:59:42 PM

In no particular order...

Under Pressure feat. David Bowie
Hammer to Fall
Bohemian Rhapsody

Have seen 3 or 4 documentaries and the movie on Freddie, always found them emotive, Live Aid was one hell of a performance

#4

GAA Discussion / Re: Ulster Senior football cha...

Last post by p3427977 - Today at 12:55:58 PM

I dont think Mickey Harte will be too upset that Derry are out of the Ulster. They have the medals from the last 2 years in their pockets. Its all about SAM for them now. They get a nice 4 week break to get themselves ready. I would not be writing them off at all.

Will they definitely be playing in 4 weeks or could it be 5?

#5

GAA Discussion / Re: Murder of a GAA Chairman

Last post by general_lee - Today at 12:50:41 PM

A positive development for one family I suppose:

https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/laurence-maguire-to-be-prosecuted-over-plan-to-murder-rory-and-gerard-cairns-GVSCCWN5LBHMTCQOJEJI3NME3M/

#6

General discussion / Re: Name your three favourite ...

Last post by AustinPowers - Today at 12:43:33 PM

Looks like Clapton has  had his day...

Another?

How about Queen?

#7

General discussion / Re: The far right

Last post by Eire90 - Today at 12:27:01 PM

https://twitter.com/Niall_Boylan/status/1782867145300365459

[phone queue system]

#8

General discussion / Re: GP's & Hospitals - What is...

Last post by Applesisapples - Today at 12:24:47 PM

Firstly it would be valuable to put a phone queue system in place to say you have reached such and such surgery you are now 15 in the queue, it would help a lot of folk especially older folk and give you some semblance of getting somewhere instead of redialling 100 times only to be told there is no appointment.  I would save some appointments each morning for very vulnerable people who ring in after the 8.30 deadline so they can be seen the next morning, it would be great if a doctor rang back instead of a receptionist to say go to A&E instead they are so protected it's impossible to get speaking to them.

Alot of surgeries have this already, but it depends on the number of phone lines coming in to the building. Digital lines are able to cover as many as you want pretty much and will be the norm in 5 years or so.

It also doesn't improve your chances of getting an appointment. There will still be the same amount of people dealt with in a day.

at my doctors if you dont get an appointment in the morning you can ring back and get it recorded that you tried. If this happens 3 days in a row you get a call from the doctor on day 4. I think its a fair system

Same with mine

#9

General discussion / Re: The far right

Last post by Eire90 - Today at 12:14:23 PM

dont know if you can describe him as far right but nial boyalan announces hes running for European election.

#10

General discussion / Re: Holidays

Last post by armaghniac - Today at 12:12:50 PM

Anyone been round Tuscany on thier travels?

Yes, I went in 2018 (I Think) and it was amazing. It was just me and my now wife so no kids, and I think the type of holiday we done kids would find it pretty boring, so take that into consideration.

Flew into Pisa, hired a car and travelled down to a town called Castiglione della Pescaia, we loved it here. It is a lovely seaside town, not touristy at all, but clearly a place favoured among Italians for a weekend trip or staycation.

From there we headed inland to Pienza (small walled town, with stunning surroundings and scenery) and Montepulciano for a vineyard visit.

We then headed north to San Gimignano, stayed in a local Agriturismo, which was a nice experience, they produced their own olive oil and wine.

The food on the trip was stunning throughout, as was the scenery and the locals all very friendly (we found that if you make a small effort to speak Italian they warm very quickly to you).

Driving was abit nuts however, luckily we avoided any accidents, but the locals are very fast, and lack lane discipline even on blind corners.

Also done a night in Pisa, which has nothing in it bar the tower, have to get the picture, but I'd avoid staying any longer than the time it takes to visit it.

We stayed clear of the bigger cities, but thats just our preference.

Overall we loved it.

There is a reason that the great and good go to Tuscany on their holidays, it is hard to go wrong.
Florence is a bit crowded, but with good reason. North of Florence is Prato, Pistoia and Lucca, if you are on public transport stay in one and visit the other each for a day.
Siena is smaller than Florence and is excellent for a few days.
In addition to the places mentioned about, Montalcino is nice to visit for glass of the local vino.

Driving isn't so bad, you can drive between smaller places and it is like being in Donegal, bendy roads, maybe a boy racer. Parking requires parking on the outskirts and walking in, there are often restrictions closer to town, Siena has carparks at the bottom of the hill and long escalators up to the town. Volterra is a good spot too, with fewer tourists.

If you can get there this time of year or Sept/Oct the weather is more pleasant and it is less crowded.