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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRhjBq2kYj4

British actor Christian Bale launched a vicious harangue against a director of photography on the set of Terminator Salvation, the fourth sequel in the blockbuster Terminator franchise. The profanity-laden verbal tirade, which occurred on July 18, 2008, was audiotaped and has now surfaced. Bale, 35, got furious after Shane Hurlbut, director of cinematography, accidentally ruined a scene by walking onto the set during filming, which had been taking place on the Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico. During the tirade, Christian is heard screaming, "I will kick your ass" and "You're a nice guy but that doesn't cut it when you're bullsh*tting and f*cking around on set!" to Hurlbut. Several hundred people reportedly heard the outburst.

Galway docks this morning. Frozen over.

No talk yet about this monstrosity of a woman. Fair play though. She must have a neck like a jockey's bollocks.


Cowen to confront Flynn over €41,000 extra payout


By Michael Brennan Political Correspondent
Monday January 05 2009

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen is set to confront Beverley Flynn over her decision to continue receiving a €41,000 allowance for independent TDs, having rejoined Fianna Fail.

Despite the Mayo-based TD's determination to keep the allowance, it is expected that Mr Cowen will force her to give it up. The tax-free payment comes on top of her salary of €106,581 and the range of expenses for which she and all other TDs qualify.

Yesterday, Mr Cowen said he would be taking up the matter with Ms Flynn this week.

"I have to give the opportunity for Deputy Flynn to talk to me about it, and we'll have to have a discussion about it, and we'll end up with whatever is appropriate being done," he told RTE yesterday.

Mr Cowen's intervention came as one of Ms Flynn's own party colleagues called on her to give up the €41,000 annual payment. Fianna Fail councillor Barry Conway, who is based in Blackrock, Co Dublin, said that she should not be relying on technicalities to keep it.

"By retaining this allowance, it is obvious that Beverley Flynn cares little for the standing of Fianna Fail in the public mind," he said.

Mr Conway came to public attention last year when he became the first Fianna Fail representative to publicly criticise the IR£30,000 house loan to Bertie Ahern's former partner Celia Larkin in 1993 as "totally unacceptable". He said that he expected Mr Cowen to force Ms Flynn to give up the payment.

Ms Flynn has said that she considers herself to be quite close to Mr Cowen, despite the fact that he originally proposed her expulsion from Fianna Fail in 2004, following her failed libel action against RTE.

Although she did not return a call seeking comment last night, she told the Mayo-based Mid West Radio station over the weekend that she would keep receiving the special allowance for independent TDs.

"What I'm saying is that I'm entitled to that allowance, as every other independent TD is, and I'll use that allowance for the benefit of my constituents -- and it certainly is badly needed," she said.

She was re-elected as an independent TD in the Mayo constituency in the 2007 general election, and rejoined Fianna Fail at the request of the outgoing Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, last April.

The Department of Finance has confirmed that Ms Flynn is entitled to claim the €41,000 a year allowance until 2012, due to the fact that she entered the Dail as an independent.

Ms Flynn claimed that she was entitled to retain the allowance because she did not receive it after being expelled from Fianna Fail in 2004, and had to pay for additional expenses "out of my own pocket".

But Fine Gael has accused her of bringing politics into disrepute by retaining the allowance and has called on her to give it up.

Dublin TD Tony Gregory dies

Friday, 2 January 2009 15:16

Independent TD Tony Gregory has died at the age of 61.

The Dublin Central independent TD passed away today after a long illness.

Reacting to the news, Sinn Féin councillor Christy Burke said Dublin Central had lost a champion for those marginalised in our society.
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'It's the people's loss. There will never be another Tony Gregory,' Mr Burke said.

Born on 5 December 1947, Mr Gregory was first elected to the Dáil in 1982. He was a member of Dublin City Council from 1979 until 2004.

Tony Gregory first came to national prominence when he negotiated a multi-million pound deal for the north inner city to ensure his support for the minority Fianna Fáil government in 1982.

He was first elected that year as an independent left wing TD although he had started out as a member of Official Sinn Féin and was later a founder member of the breakaway Irish Republican Socialist party.

But he often said he felt he could best represent his constituents as an independent rather than being strangled by party politics.

On his first day in the Dáil he caused comment when he turned up not wearing a tie, he explained many of his constituents could not afford ties.

Later in the 1980s, he served time in Mountjoy Prison along with Cllr Christy Burke in support of Moore St traders.

Originally from the North Strand area of the north city, he worked for a time as a history teacher before entering politics.

He is survived by his brother Noel and partner Annette.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen said: 'Tony served his community of the inner city at a national level with great dedication and distinction for over a quarter of a century.

'He was a proud Dubliner, a great advocate for his community and a diligent public representative. Tony was always courteous and had a fine sense of humour.'

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny paid tribute to Mr Gregory's work in helping his constituents.

Mr Kenny said: 'He was an original mould-breaker, both in creating the Gregory Deal, so influential in transforming inner city Dublin, and in refusing to wear a tie in the Chamber of the Dáil, thus disrupting the cosy comfort of Dáil tradition.

'Tony Gregory was a fearless defender of his inner city constituents, proud of his heritage, and absolutely courageous in standing up to drug barons and drug pushers.

'I admired his conviction and his total commitment to his people. We shall miss him

Tustin, California - Hope Jacoby, a 23-year-old athletic trainer at Tustin High School, in Tustin California was arrested on suspicion of having an ongoing sexual relationship with a male student.

Jacoby was arrested on suspicion of engaging in oral copulation of a minor and unlawful sex with a minor, according to Orange County Sheriff's Office spokesperson, Jim Amormino.

Authorities first became aware of the alleged activity on Friday after a student-witness reported seeing text message photographs on the student's cell phone.

Following an investigation, authorities believe Jacoby began a sexual relationship with the teen shortly after she began working at the school in September, 2007. The relationship allegedly continued for about a year, resulting in numerous instances of sexual contact between the two.

Investigators say the sexual activity occurred at various locations including Jacoby's San Juan Capistrano residence and car. One such incident of sexual activity allegedly occurred in the parking lot of an elementary school.

Jacoby reportedly submitted a letter of resignation in November, stating that Friday was to be her last day working at the school. She was arrested however before the day was over - the last day before Christmas/winter vacation began at the school.

Jacoby was booked into Women's Central Jail In Santa Ana, Calif. She was released on Saturday after posting a $100,000 bond.

Top Tyrone GAA official accuses arts minister of 'broken record syndrome'


By Barry O'Donnell

THE top GAA official in the county has criticised the 'broken record syndrome' of the Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure over his ongoing attacks on the Association.

Pat Darcy, who was re-elected as Tyrone County chairman this week at the annual convention in Moy, used the opportunity to hit out at Gregory Campbell, MLA, accusing him of failing to understand the GAA or the communities in which it is rooted.

Mr Darcy told Gaels from across the county that he applauded the visit of the high-ranking DUP politician to the St Brigid's Club in Belfast during the past year, before taking issue with some of the Minister's subsequent comments about the flying of Tyrone flags and bunting around the time of the All-Ireland Final.

"This visit was a significant step forward in recognising the GAA. However, it was disappointing when he took two steps back with his subsequent criticism of the Association. Linking these two issues was an error of judgement on his part.

"The Minister reverted to the same old 'broken record syndrome' regarding the naming of trophies, clubs and grounds after individuals who he alleges were involved in violence. The Minister fails to understand the GAA is deeply rooted in real world communities who place importance on remembering historical figures. GAA communities are proud of these traditions and no amount of shouting from the sidelines will change this reality."

The GAA chief argued that in the perfect Ireland all names and places would be community friendly but 'our shared history dictates otherwise'.

"If we can live with the Craigavons, Mountjoys, Kings, Queens, Windsors and Royal Victorias, then I would ask the Minister to tolerate the Casements, Wolf Tones, Kevin Barrys, Pearses, Sam Maguire and the Clarkes."

Mr Darcy continued: "I share with the Minister his concern with improving community relations through sport and culture but I disagree that this can best be done by highlighting our differences. We must respect our differences and seek common ground."

He argued that the GAA was committed to inclusivity and was working hard to promote cross community initiatives.

" In this context I had no difficulty in committing Tyrone GAA to the cross community 'Respect' programme in partnership with BACTIV. This programme aims to encourage children from different backgrounds to respect each other.

He concluded, "Regardless of the efforts by the GAA to reach out, our games continue to be excluded from the sports curriculum of state schools which are predominantly Protestant.

"My Unionist friends tell me there would be no point because young unionists have no wish to play Gaelic Games. My answer to that comment begins with a question- How do you know if you do not give them a choice?"

Crashed and Byrned is the William Hill Irish Sports Book of the Year for 2008

Crashed and Byrned by Tommy Byrne with Mark Hughes has today been named the William Hill Irish Sports Book of the Year for 2008 following a presentation in Dublin.

The book details the story of Tommy Byrne from Dundalk, and his controversial career in motorsport. From a poverty-stricken childhood in Dundalk to becoming the only racing driver that Ayrton Senna ever feared and how it all went wrong when he was so close to the top of world motorsport.

Byrne's tale is one of the great untold stories of Irish sport. He depicts his tough battle to the top and his spectacular fall from grace when for a brief period he was arguably the world's greatest driver. The book goes into every harrowing detail of Tommy's life from his fame in motorsport, to his drug problems, driving for a billionaire madman and working for gun-toting Mexicans in the 1990's.

Sounds like an interesting read. I have to say I'd never even heard of the man.

A YOUNG Ulster Unionist from nationalist west Belfast stood out at the conference as an example of the new territory into which the UUP and Tories want to expand.
In an address to delegates, Stephen Goss said that despite coming from a nationalist background he joined the UUP to help build a new future for everyone inside the UK.

The 21-year-old student said the unionist party of the old Stormont regime was gone and the pact with the Conservatives could help build a modern vision for unionism that crossed the old divides.

He said of his decision to join the party: "It really is pragmatic: I realise that we are better off as part of the UK, economically and socially and so on.

"I also like living in the UK. I wanted to get involved in politics and this seemed the natural party."

Mr Goss, who is chair of the Young Unionist Association at Queen's University, said his family traced its political roots to an iconic nationalist of the early 20th century – Joe Devlin.

His great-uncle had campaigned alongside Devlin, but Mr Goss said he joined the UUP because he felt it best suited his vision for the future.
"The party has changed. Since 1998 it's easier for someone like myself to get involved and I have been welcomed," he said.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OPwHHI9sy0

New Galway hurling manager John McIntyre has omitted Alan Kerins, Tony Og Regan, Eugene Cloonan, Conor Dervan and Kevin Hayes from his preliminary squad.

Kerins is the most glaring omission, having been a regular on the Galway senior side for the past 11 years, while Cloonan is also excluded after returning to the fold this year. Hayes, who featured at centre forward in this year's All-Ireland qualifier defeat to Cork, also loses out, as does Dervan, who came on as a sub in the same game:

Centre back Regan last played for Galway in their National Hurling League final defeat to Tipperary last April.

Provisional Galway hurling panel: J Skehill, C Callanan, O Canning, B Costello, E Lynch, J Lee, F Healy, G Mahon, F Moore, J Canning, N Healy, R Murray, K Hynes, K O'Donovan, B Burke, G Farragher, S Kavanagh, A Coen, D McLearn, E Forde, K Huban, B Mahony, J Gantley, M Ryan, C Donnellan, A Smyth, P Killilea, M Kerins, D Hayes, A Cullinane, D Joyce, D Tierney, N Hayes

Of the players omitted I think Alan Kerins might feature yet at some stage next year. Few players not included as they are coming back from injury. These include Iarla Tannian, David Collins and Kerrill Wade.

From last Friday. Pat's transformation into Alan Partridge is almost complete.

Satanic sluts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEEAJOOBv-8

Pat and the miserable bat from Cork

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeFiOi0bTiI

Paul Doyle
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday November 18 2008 11.16 GMT

The Football Association of Ireland is hoping to persuade England to accept an invitation and take part in the first match at Dublin's redeveloped Lansdowne Road when it re-opens in August 2010.

The last time the two countries met, in February 1995, English fans made a premature a case for renovating the stadium by tearing up bits of it to use as weapons. The ensuing riot led to the match being abandoned midway through the firsthalf, with the Irish leading 1-0.

Since proper work began on transforming Lansdowne Road into a 50,000 all-seater stadium, Ireland have been playing their home games at Croke Park and the FAI chief executive John Delaney has admitted it would be virtually impossible to host England there because of the historical associations with Bloody Sunday in 1920. However, he is eager to invite England to Lansdowne for a game he insists his country is owed.

"At some stage, I would like to see England play in Lansdowne Road because there is a game owed," said Delaney. "There was a time when we drew England all the time, back in the late 80s and 90s, but we haven't come across them too much in the last couple of years. Murphy's Law is that if you do organise for them to come to Ireland, you'll draw them in a competitive game. Bringing them to the old Lansdowne Road would have been difficult, and bringing them to Croke Park wouldn't have been correct given the history."

Memories of 1995 would inevitably raise security issues, although Delaney is confident the potential problems are not insurmountable. "There are heightened issues when England play, we all know that," said Delaney. "But at some stage, we have to get over the issue of the game being abandoned. The English FA have promised a game for many years to make up for that incident. There are heightened issues, but that could happen in a qualifier. A friendly should be a more benign fixture."

If the game does go ahead and the countries' current managers are still in situ by the time it comes around, the match will be given even more intrigue by the fact that it will see two of the greatest ever Italian managers, Fabio Capello and Giovanni Trapattoni, pit their wits against each other.

What Anto and Deco will be wearing from the O'Neills Summer 09 collection.

[Two more players are reportedly due in soon, and 20 year old Tom Parsons has stayed on since the International Rules Tests to look for an AFL contract.]

What's that all about? I thought he had no interest in AFL.

http://www.worldfootynews.com/

Monday, November 10 2008 @ 08:08 PM EST
Contributed by: Brett

The first Gaelic football players from player agent Ricky Nixon's talent search program in Ireland are arriving in Australia. Nixon has sought to become the conduit by which Irish players are introduced to AFL clubs (see Nixon makes good on Irish scouting pledge).

The Age has reported that Conor Meredith (18) and Niall McKeever (17) arrive this week in Australia, McKeever to spend 1 week each with North Melbourne and Richmond, and similarly Meredith with Richmond and St Kilda. James Kielt arrives later to trial with the Roos and possibly the Saints.

Two more players are reportedly due in soon, and 20 year old Tom Parsons has stayed on since the International Rules Tests to look for an AFL contract.

"We have got to look to new markets to find talent, especially with the two new teams (Gold Coast and West Sydney) on the horizon in the next four years and us being hamstrung in the draft by the concessions they will receive," said Richmond football manager Craig Cameron.

 

Get your bets in gents.

Boylesports 2009 All-Ireland Football Odds

7/4 Kerry

7/2 Tyrone

5/1 Dublin

12/1 Cork

20/1 Galway

20/1 Mayo

25/1 Armagh

25/1 Derry

33/1 Meath

33/1 Monaghan

40/1 Donegal

40/1 Down

66/1 Wexford


Paddy Power 2009 odds

Kerry 13/8

Tyrone 10/3

Dublin 5/1

Cork 8/1

Galway 16/1

Armagh 16/1

Derry 18/1

Mayo 20/1

Meath 2/1

Donegal 33/1

Monaghan 33/1

To provoke some discussion. Agree or disagree?

Setanta Hurling Team of the Year

The curtain fell on another year of championship hurling on Sunday, so
we at Setanta Sports have put our heads together and come up with our
very own team of the year.


Donal Og Cusack [Cork] - Picked the Rebels off the floor when they were
struggling against Dublin down in Pairc Ui Chaoimh with two brilliant
saves. Got sent off against Galway, but delivered a rousing Pacino-esque
half-time speech to the Cork players that surely kept them in the
championship this year. Inspirational.

Michael Kavanagh [Kilkenny] - Scarcely needs justification, but his
All-Ireland final display against Waterford buttressed claims that he is
one of the best defenders of the modern era. Just 29, the quiet man of
Kilkenny hurling has already amassed six All-Ireland medals. Amazing.

Noel Hickey [Kilkenny] - The rock upon which this brilliant team has
been built. The Graigue Ballycallan man is a colossus, his ability to
dominate the square the main reason why the Cats conceded just one goal
in the championship this year. Destroyed Joe Deane in the semi-final and
gave Eoin Kelly a roasting in the final too.

Jackie Tyrrell [Kilkenny] - Tempted to give the award to Shane O'Neill
from Cork just to break the Kilkenny hegemony. However, Tyrrell's
ability to play just about anywhere should not detract from the fact
that he is a tough nut to crack in the corner of a much-vaunted defence.


Tommy Walsh [Kilkenny] - No contest. Tommy is one of the greatest
wing-backs of his - or any - generation. He's a force of nature that
shows no sign of wilting as he enters the midpoint of a stunning career.
Superb under the high ball, Walsh is also an incredible man-marker. He
ate Seamus Prendergast without salt on Sunday, and gave Cork's Pa Cronin
a lesson in the semi. Tommy will take on all comers and come back
looking for more.

Conor O'Mahony [Tipperary] - Has established himself as the best
Tipperary centre-back since the great Bobby Ryan. Has fantastic hands
and commands the position brilliantly. Shone against Cork and Clare and
takes a spot in our team ahead of Kilkenny's Brian Hogan.

JJ Delaney [Kilkenny] - The 2003 Hurler of the Year may not have hit the
same dizzy heights this year, but was again impressive in a brilliant
defensive unit. Commanded the high ball in the final and was quietly
effective throughout the championship.

Shane McGrath [Tipperary] - A relative latecomer to the inter-county
scene, McGrath was a phenomenon this year for Tipp in just his second
season at this level. McGrath established himself in Liam Sheedy's plans
with an eye-catching league campaign, before brilliant displays against
Cork and Clare in Munster saw him achieve universal acclaim. His ability
to run at defenders, eye for a score and boundless energy give him the
nod ahead of Derek Lyng.

James 'Cha' Fitzpatrick [Kilkenny] - If you gathered a group of genetic
scientists and locked them in a room for a week charged with the task of
coming up with the prototype for the perfect hurler, they wouldn't make
someone as good as 'Cha'. The guy simply has no flaws. For a relatively
small man, he dominates the middle of the park, chips in with a few
points and generally hurls with grace and freedom.

Henry Shefflin [Kilkenny] - Do we really need to justify his inclusion?
Though not. Finished the season with 38 points.

Seamus Callinan [Tipperary] - Liam Sheedy has unearthed some fresh
talent since taking over the Tipperary reins and Callinan is probably
the perfect example of this. The Drom clubman has been in devastating
form all year and he showed the capacity to be profligate in front of
goals in the closing stages of the Munster final victory over Clare. PS.
Callinan scored a point in the recent Tipperary Mid-Championship final
against near neighbours Thurles Sarsfields that 'had to be seen to be
believed'!

Eoin Larkin [Kilkenny] - Has had a fantastic season for the Cats;
whether he is on the '40 or in the full-forward line, Larkin is a
constant threat and a joy to watch. Cemented his place in the team with
1-4 in the final, but was also brilliant against Cork and Wexford.

Eddie Brennan [Kilkenny] - 'Fast' Eddie has that rare ability to flit in
and out of games. When he decides to peek his head above the parapet,
the Cats' attacker is deadly. Two goals in as many minutes against
Waterford were further enhanced by four points. Man of the match on
Sunday, but also shone against Wexford with a similar two-goal salvo.

Joe Canning [Galway] - A hurling genius at just 19 years of age. Canning
is one of those players with the rare ability to transcend the ancient
game. People in the know reckon he could be one of the greatest players
to pick up a stick. So much was made of his arrival on the inter-county
scene, and, amazingly, he delivered. His one-man show against Cork will
live in the memory forever, while his 4-27 season-ending total says it
all.

John Mullane [Waterford] - Controversially, we have opted to leave Eoin
Kelly - the championship's top scorer - out of our selection. Why?
Simply, Mullane demanded inclusion. Love him or loathe him, Mullane was
immense for the Deise this year. Never gave up in the game against Clare
- something that cannot be said of some of his team-mates. Kept going
until the end in the final too, scoring three points in the end in a
game that had become an exercise in damage limitation.

Honourable mentions: Eoin Kelly [Waterford], Joe Bergin [Offaly], Derek
Lyng [Kilkenny], Tom Kenny [Cork], Shane O'Neill [Cork], Ben O'Connor
[Cork] David Franks [Offaly], Eoin McGrath [Waterford], David
O'Callaghan [Dublin], Colin Lynch [Clare], Eoin Quigley [Wexford].

Keep it in here folks.

Pot one

Manchester United
Chelsea
Liverpool
Barcelona
Arsenal
Lyon
Inter Milan
Real Madrid

Pot two

Bayern Munich
PSV Eindhoven
Villarreal
AS Roma
FC Porto
Werder Bremen
Sporting Lisbon
Juventus

Pot three

Marseille
Zenit St Petersburg
Steaua Bucharest
Panathinaikos
Bordeaux
Celtic
Basel
Fenerbahce

Pot four

Shakhtar Donetsk
Fiorentina
Atletico Madrid
Dynamo Kiev
CFR Cluj
Aalborg
Anorthosis Famagusta
Bate Borisov

Population of Ireland to reach 6.7million by 2060


CARL O'BRIEN, Social Affairs Correspondent

IRELAND'S POPULATION is set to increase to 6.7 million in just over 50 years' time, according to official forecasts compiled by the European Union.

The 52 per cent increase - up from a current population of around 4.4 million - would make Ireland one of the fastest growing countries in Europe.

Ireland's population is expected to be significantly older, with a quarter aged 65 or over, and one-in-10 aged 80 or older.

The UK is also projected to have strong population growth and is expected to have the most people in the EU (77 million), followed by France (72 million) and Germany (71 million).

This strong growth is in sharp contrast to countries such as Poland, the Baltic states and some central European countries which are expected to fall significantly over the next 50 years.

Poland's population, for example, is forecast to fall by around seven million, from its current level of 38 million. The biggest projected drop is in Bulgaria, where numbers could fall by almost 30 per cent, from almost 8 million to 5.5 million.

Overall, the population of the EU is projected to increase to a high of around 520 million in 2035 before dropping to around 506 million by 2060.

In just seven years the annual number of deaths will outnumber annual births and the natural population growth will end, according to Eurostat, the EU's statistics agency. From that point on, the European population will grow only as a result of migration.

The overall population will also age significantly, with the proportion of dependent older people compared to working-age people expected to rise. Currently there are four working people for every one dependent older person. In 2060, there will be somewhat less than two.

Ireland is due to buck the trend, but only slightly, with the current ratio of almost six people of working-age to one pensioner likely to change in 2060 to a ratio of 10 people of working-age to just over four pensioners.

This rapidly ageing population will be of major concern, given the increasing strain it will place on welfare systems. Measures already being considered include revising the retirement age upwards, to reduce the age-dependency ratio.

However, officials at Eurostat say their population predictions should be treated with caution as they are based on current population trends. They say the estimates are based on the population on January 1st, 2008, and on the assumption that fertility, mortality and net migration will progressively converge between states.

The 2006 census showed the population of Ireland at 4.2 million. The Eurostat study indicates this figure has risen to 4.4 million and will rise to 5.4 million by 2020, 6.2 million by 2040 and 6.5 million by 2050.

Eurostat projections would see Ireland returning to a population not seen since the aftermath of the famine in the 1840s. Estimates at the time put the numbers resident in Ireland at around 6.5 million.

Responding to the figures yesterday, Age Action Ireland said they provided clear evidence of the need for the Government to begin planning for the country's ageing population.

[The poll was commissioned by the Ulster Unionists and Conservative Party]

Nationalist support for Union revealed


UUP leader Sir Reg Empey has welcomed the poll's findings

By Staff reporter

A SURVEY of Northern Ireland voters has found significant support among nationalists for maintaining the Union.
The YouGov poll has revealed that almost a third of SDLP supporters (28 per cent) would be happy to remain in the UK. And only a minority of their voters (44 per cent) wanted a united Ireland.

Perhaps more surprisingly, still, 16 per cent of those surveyed who were Sinn Fein voters said they too would opt for the Province remaining in the UK.

In all, across the supporters of the five main political parties here, 55 per cent wanted to remain in the UK; 24 per cent supported a united Ireland; the rest either back independence or had no definite opinion.

The poll was commissioned by the Ulster Unionists and Conservative Party as part of joint research to inform their merger talks

UUP leader Sir Reg Empey said: "While all polling must be treated with caution, I thought the figures were very stark and should be a great source of encouragement to unionists because they suggest that if unionism conducts itself in the right way, it could appeal to a much broader base.

"It was not a total surprise to us that there is a significant pro-Union support amongst what is ostensibly a 'nationalist' electorate when you refer to the party they feel comfortable with voting for, for other reasons."

Conservative shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Paterson said: "I think more and more people, post the Belfast Agreement, St Andrews, the Referendum, are interested in issues and especially national issues across the UK.

"The poll confirms there is a demand for what we are currently talking about with the Ulster Unionists, which is national politics, and that people do look more to mainland Britain than perhaps to southern Ireland."

Coincidentally, DUP MLA Nelson McCausland has said "the nationalist community no longer believes in the inevitability of a united Ireland".

Mr McCausland based his assertion on the findings of a straw poll conducted at the West Belfast Talks Back event held as part of the West Belfast Festival.

"A clear majority did not believe it would happen," he claimed.

The YouGov polling was done in May of this year.

FRUSTRATED Antrim manager Sambo McNaughton didn't hold back at the weekend when asked about the variety of experiments he has experienced which are designed to lessen the chasm between the First and Third Worlds of senior hurling.

"We (the GAA) are about to celebrate 125 years, but only seven teams have won an All-Ireland. If it was a f**king business they'd all be sacked," he blasted. "We have 32 departments and only seven of them are working."

His comments came less than 24 hours before fewer than 19,000 fans bothered to pay in to see the Leinster hurling final, primarily because it ended with Kilkenny handing Wexford out a now-annual thrashing to win their 10th title in 11 years.

In two short days, Wexford, Laois and Antrim were beaten by 19, 20 and 21 points respectively in the championship, proving the massive disparity of inter-county hurling standards which seems to be growing every summer.

Which is why, by the end of this month, the Hurling Development Committee (HDC) will present GAA president Nickey Brennan with the most radical set of proposals ever to restructure the senior hurling championship, including an option to have a Champions League style format in both Munster and Leinster.

Radical options are what Brennan has asked for, and he and the GAA director general, Paraic Duffy, are making a key trip themselves next week when they travel to meet the Galway County Board.

Galway have been asked to bring forward their own suggestions and have canvassed their members extensively over the past three months.

"We have had three forums," Galway hurling secretary John Fahy said. "All the club officers were invited to one. Then we had team managements and interested past players to another one and then there was a general meeting, involving all interested parties, in Athenry a few weeks ago."

Fahy stressed that Galway's proposals are being put together and presented not by him, but by the County Board, and he would not comment on them.

Fahy, who is also a member of the HDC, stressed that, despite comments or opinions voiced by particular individuals, Galway have not "formally" received any invitation to join the Leinster championship in the past three years.

The HDC have already put two radical proposals together and are awaiting the feedback from the Galway County Board before they finalise a third, and that may yet be an 'open draw' system.

But, if the GAA really wants to grasp the nettle and produce an ultra-competitive All-Ireland series, what they need is a Champions League style open draw between the top 12 teams.

Problematic

The problem is that this would involve the downgrading of the provincial series.

And what is noticeable in the two HDC proposals to date is that both still retain the provincial championships, even though there is clearly a growing acknowledgement in Leinster that theirs is doing no one, not even Kilkenny, any favours.

But getting rid of the Munster championship, which is regarded as so competitive and sacrosanct in that province, is clearly the road-block to a complete 'open draw'.

The HDC stress that their only guiding principle is to increase the number and competitiveness of hurling championship matches.

"Hurling is clearly way too under-exposed in the summer, when it is the best time for it," HDC chairman Ned Quinn said.

"One of our proposals will not just give counties more games within their province, but also give them two home games each, which will bring hurling championship matches to venues like Wexford Park and Tullamore and Salthill that counties have been denied for years."

And he stressed that their proposals are also designed to ensure that there are no longer the sort of 'dead rubbers' in the championship which are increasingly turning fans off.

This first HDC proposal suggests Galway playing in Leinster, playing it and Munster as two round-robin competitions, and then letting the Christy Ring Cup feed its two finalists into the All-Ireland quarter-finals.

This would also include a further incentive to teams involved in the second-tier competitions __ a special 'package' of finance and coaching support to improve their standards locally.

The second HDC option would need both Galway and Antrim to agree to play in a revamped Leinster championship. Both the Leinster and Munster championships would be played on a knock-out basis, but beaten teams would have further games designed to lead into the All-Ireland quarter-finals.

As of yet, the HDC has not revealed its third suggestion, but it is expected to be some form of an open draw.

Quinn freely admits that "the present structure, in attempting to eliminate certain problems, has created some others.

"Personally, I would prefer the first option, to bring more games to the counties, give everyone an increased number of games and make sure they are all competitive," he said.

"But that is just my personal view. It is our job in the HDC just to come up with proposals, we will not decide it."

Indeed, a special Congress is expected by the end of the year to decide next year's championship format.

As a member of the HDC, Galway man Fahy admits he would have some different views, but he feels everyone should be guided by non-selfish interests to ensure the long-term future of the game.

"The good of hurling in the country has to be given the same priority as the good of hurling in Galway," he said.

"What might suit Galway might not be palatable to other people but, clearly, even at minor and U-21 level at the moment, there are inequities in the current system and solutions must be found."



HDC'S PROPOSAL A

l Leinster (+ Galway) and Munster play their championships as a round-robin. Every team would be guaranteed two 'home' games and each province would have more games with more at stake because there would be no replays and points would decide placings.

l The provincial finals would be retained. The champions would go straight to the All-Ireland semi-finals and the losers would go to All-Ireland quarter-finals where they'd meet the top two finishers in the second-tier competition.

l The latter is designed to give 'second-tier' teams a chance to compete in the Liam McCarthy, and, as an added incentive to agree to this system, they would be given a financial and coaching package to improve standards.

HDC's PROPOSAL B

l Galway and Antrim would go into a seven-team 'Leinster Championship.'

l The Munster and Leinster Championships would be knock-out competitions as usual but the losers of the first round in each province would go into a group that would also play-off and eventually produce a winner.

l The provincial champions would go to the All-Ireland semi-finals and the beaten quarter-finalists would go to All-Ireland quarter-finals. There they would meet the two eventual winners of the 'loser's groups.'

THERE'S ALWAYS C ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL

This has still to be revealed but if they plumped for a full 'champions league' format the GAA would have to agree to sacrifice the provincial championships for the sake of producing an ultra-competitive elite competition with massive promotional potential.

l Crossing provinces and seeding, if necessary, two groups of the country's top 12 hurling teams would produce an ultra-competitive All-Ireland competition.

l The first stages could be home/away round-robin. Imagine a first round that featured Kilkenny v Cork in Nowlan Park, Tipperary v Wexford in Wexford Park and Galway v Clare in Salthill, with no replays and every point to count.

l It could still feed through to knock-out stages

Inspired by the Irish speakers thread can we pick a team of the greatest footballers from Gaeltacht areas of the country? To kick it off with some quick names from recent times

1.
2. Marc Ó Sé
3.
4.
5. Tómas Ó Sé
6.
7. Seán Óg de Paor
8. Darragh Ó Sé
9. Sean O'Domhnaill
10.
11. Pól Mac Fhlannacha
12.
13.
14. Dara O Cinneide
15.