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Messages - Ed Ricketts

#1
General discussion / Re: Price of a Pint
March 26, 2024, 04:26:05 PM
Hospitality sector in Belfast city centre is almost entirely priced for the tourist market now. International tourism is strong, and domestic tourism is through the roof since the pandemic.

The city centre is quite small, and, due to obvious historical reasons, few non-locals venture far from the middle of town. So this funnels all those visitors towards a relatively small number of businesses, who in turn can charge almost whatever they want.

They'll say it's the cost of fuel, food, wages, tax, etc. But it's really just a scarcity problem.
#2
Laois v Leitrim by 3
Down v Westmeath by 3

Donegal v Armagh by 3
Derry v Dublin by 3
#3
Derry v Roscommon
Dublin v Tyrone
Kerry v Galway
Monaghan v Mayo

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

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

Carlow v London
Waterford v Laois
Wexford v Longford
Leitrim v Tipperary
#4
GAA Discussion / Re: Division 2 2024
March 17, 2024, 12:11:04 PM
Quote from: Armagh18 on March 17, 2024, 10:40:20 AM
Quote from: yellowcard on March 17, 2024, 10:15:02 AM
Quote from: David McKeown on March 17, 2024, 09:34:21 AM
Quote from: bennydorano on March 17, 2024, 08:08:46 AMIve lost a lot of faith & interest in Armagh this year. Near half way through D1 last season I remember discussing how we should push on and try and win the league. We ended up relegated and then doubled down on the disappointment in the USFC & AI series. This year's league cakewalk just reinforces what a waste its been. Who can tell if any lessons have been learned?

I'm actually quite the opposite, the year in Division 2 has to me at least allowed Armagh to develop and hone a new game plan as well as unearth/develop a few new players. I'm not sure that would have been possible in Division 1. The proof of the pudding Will obviously be in the eating but I'm more satisfied with a league campaign than I have been in nearly 20 years.

I'd be the same. Less hype and media scrutiny playing in division 2 and we have produced a few new players that might not have been possible playing division 1 football. It didn't do Derry or Dublin any harm last year anyway. The League won't define our season but for the longer term good of Armagh football it's much better to be back up in the top division again.

We have the best defensive record in the country whilst not compromising our attacking threat so from that point of view I don't think we could asked for much more from this League campaign.
Up against very very little bar the Donegal game so hopefully we get a good competitive game in Croker to set us up well for Ulster. Only slight worry for me is the fitness of the 2 O'Neills. Won't beat a big team without them imo but if we'd them both in top form it would take a very very good team to stop us. 

Rian will come back in for the serious stuff, but I don't get the feeling Oisin will play much this year. Maybe bits and pieces off the bench. Seem to be very cautious with his workload, which is sensible enough considering his injury history. Stamina probably needs building back too given how long he has been away.
#5
General discussion / Re: Cost Of Living
March 12, 2024, 12:32:21 PM
Quote from: snoopdog on March 12, 2024, 08:11:52 AM
Quote from: RedHand88 on March 12, 2024, 08:06:22 AMhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-68534537

1 in 5 not working or seeking work. Mad.
Working age. I don't see it accounting for students from ages 16 to 24 or early retirement for late 50s.

Students and retirees make up about 40% of the figure. 50% is ill-health and carers.

In the north it's over 1 in 4 not looking work, with 60% of that due to ill-health or caring responsibilities. In other words, about 1 in 6 working age people out of action directly/ indirectly due to ill-health. Huge obstacle to ever making this place pay it's own way.
#6
General discussion / Re: The IRISH RUGBY thread
March 12, 2024, 12:48:29 AM
Quote from: yellowcard on March 11, 2024, 06:40:09 PM
Quote from: Ed Ricketts on March 11, 2024, 05:01:07 PM
Quote from: yellowcard on March 11, 2024, 01:23:36 PM
Quote from: tonto1888 on March 11, 2024, 07:33:59 AM
Quote from: Wildweasel74 on March 10, 2024, 05:45:29 PMBoring,? U watch much soccer?

yes. It is boring but less boring than rugby union

Rugby is a game based primarily on physical strength and brute force. There can't be many sports where the level of technical skill required is much lesser than rugby. Massive amounts of hype, sponsorship and clever marketing shouldn't cover up that fact. The reality is that for an awful lot of supporters it's just about the big occasion rather than the actual game itself. Otherwise the game would be flourishing at club level. I'd say the majority of people tuning in for the big internationals watch very little, if any rugby in between.

Soccer can be boring but the balance is much more towards technical ability rather than physical attributes.

Is that phenomenon really unique to rugby in Ireland? What percentage of Irish soccer viewers are making their way to Oriel, the Brandywell, or the Showgrounds of a Friday evening?

The League of Ireland is in a much better place than it has been in a long time. Attendances are up across the board and it is much more authentic than what you see in the big League across the water. No doubt there are plenty who just follow the big English sides but as a proportion I'd say there are significantly more LOI match going fans following the Irish soccer side than AIL fans following Irish rugby.   

https://www.extratime.com/articles/32963/loi-attendances-2024---growing-pains-in-the-league-of-irelands-increase-in-popularity/


Why compare with the AIL? The URC is the league competition for Irish rugby clubs.

Average ROI soccer international home attendance 2023: 42,000
Average total LOI round attendance 2023: 22,000
Drop off = 48%

Average Ireland rugby international home attendance 2023: 49,500
Average total URC round attendance for Irish clubs (- Ulster) 22/23: 37,500
Drop off = 24%

Both sports could do a better job attracting event junkies to lower profile club games, but there's clearly a very strong appetite for watching rugby in Ireland beyond the heavily marketed national side.
#7
General discussion / Re: The IRISH RUGBY thread
March 11, 2024, 05:01:07 PM
Quote from: yellowcard on March 11, 2024, 01:23:36 PM
Quote from: tonto1888 on March 11, 2024, 07:33:59 AM
Quote from: Wildweasel74 on March 10, 2024, 05:45:29 PMBoring,? U watch much soccer?

yes. It is boring but less boring than rugby union

Rugby is a game based primarily on physical strength and brute force. There can't be many sports where the level of technical skill required is much lesser than rugby. Massive amounts of hype, sponsorship and clever marketing shouldn't cover up that fact. The reality is that for an awful lot of supporters it's just about the big occasion rather than the actual game itself. Otherwise the game would be flourishing at club level. I'd say the majority of people tuning in for the big internationals watch very little, if any rugby in between.

Soccer can be boring but the balance is much more towards technical ability rather than physical attributes.

Is that phenomenon really unique to rugby in Ireland? What percentage of Irish soccer viewers are making their way to Oriel, the Brandywell, or the Showgrounds of a Friday evening?
#8
GAA Discussion / Re: Ulster U20 Championship 2024
March 11, 2024, 02:52:06 PM
Quote from: Duine Inteacht Eile on March 10, 2024, 10:03:56 PMI'm not saying that those factors aren't true. I'm just wondering why they aren't presenting themselves as clearly at minor level as they are at senior.

For example, I imagine their pick at minor level is completely enormous in comparison to the other Leinster counties.

You'd imagine there are cumulative effects at play.

At underage grades, they're only rolling with two or three years of advantage at any particular time. Perhaps natural variation in other counties is enough to overcome those advantages more often than not.

But at senior level, they enjoy the cumulative effect of 12-15 years of advantage. This seems to have eliminated the possibility of any other county gaining the upper hand through natural variation.
#9
Galway v Dublin
Tyrone v Monaghan
Roscommon v Kerry
Mayo v Derry

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

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

London v Waterford
Laois v Leitrim
Tipperary v Wexford
Longford v Carlow
#10
Derry v Dublin
Mayo v Roscommon
Kerry v Tyrone
Monaghan v Galway

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

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

Carlow v Wexford
Laois v London
Tipperary v Waterford
Longford v Leitrim
#11
GAA Discussion / Re: Division 2 2024
February 26, 2024, 03:27:21 PM
Armagh and Donegal was entertaining enough yesterday without an awful lot of quality on display.

Weird enough flow to the game, with both sides losing their way for long periods. Also thought both looked very leggy as the second half went on - a lot of poor wides at either end in the 20 mins would speak to that.

So, perhaps with neither putting too much focus on proceedings, I'd say everyone is quite happy with the draw.

Best for Armagh were Hughes and Murnin. Also thought Duffy made a real difference when brought in. Bit of a nightmare showing for JOB on his introduction, got on the ball plenty but nothing seemed to go right. Maybe his weekend had already been too busy.

Looks like that's Donegal home and hosed now. Cavan the only real threat to Armagh. Looks like that round 6 game will be winner takes all - wouldn't like to be heading to Breffni for that, but home advantage should see Armagh over the line.
#12
Tyrone v Mayo
Dublin v Kerry
Galway v Derry
Roscommon v Monaghan

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

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

Wexford v Waterford
Longford v London
Carlow v Leitrim
Tipperary v Laois
#13
Derry v Monaghan
Dublin v Roscommon
Kerry v Mayo
Tyrone v Galway

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

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

Waterford v Longford
Laois v Carlow
London v Tipperary
Leitrim v Wexford
#14
General discussion / Re: The DUP thread
February 07, 2024, 03:34:06 PM
Quote from: marty34 on February 06, 2024, 12:28:04 PMI'd say they'll stick ELP in a safe seat to get her over the line.

Plus this will help her raise her profile.

Poots will go at the end of the term and she'll be back to the safe DUP South Belfast seat.
#15
General discussion / Re: Car Problems!!
January 30, 2024, 10:26:20 PM
Quote from: giveherlong on January 30, 2024, 09:57:17 PMCar tax runs out on 31 Jan and car is out of MOT. Can't get an appointment until March at the earliest. Have this booked. Been on every morning on nidirect trying to get a cancellation but nothing. Is there anyway around this? No doubt if caught by a tax camera I'm in bother 

Was in the same boat a couple of weeks ago. Just book a test for whatever date comes up, then look to reschedule. When in the reschedule section, keep refreshing the page until a more reasonable date pops up. Might take a fair few refreshes, but something will come up for you.