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There was an article in the Irish Times recently where Eamonnn Mallie said that Emma Pengelly was more cross-culturally aware than people realise. He said he had created a poetry reading group during COVID and when she was asked to recite, she chose a poem by Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin. I think Givan was by DUP standards on the more liberal side and left the Free Presbyterian church when they criticised him for attending an ecumenical service. But it's still the party of extremists, a good few of them now sitting in the home for the bewildered called the House of Lords.

Back to the title of the thread....we're as good as relegated, losers of Monaghan v Tyrone likely to join us.
2 of Derry, Dublin, Kerry to make the Final.

We seem to be a total mess in many ways this year and a totally abject 2nd half last Saturday doesn't inspire confidence.
Maybe we have a cunning plan.....

Roscommon reverting to the mean again.

Personally I'd prefer to have teams with realistic chance of winning an All Ireland in Division 1.

Donegal, Armagh and even Cork if they ever get their act together will be great additions to Division 1.

Sure I know ye miss us down there but on the optimistic side, we still have a shout of staying in Division 1 despite the major players who were unable to commit for 2024 (Murtagh, Daly, McKeon), and the injuries to some of our more promising young players (O'Carroll, Heneghan, Doyle). Not to mention good goals disallowed. I think we'll start to hit better form for our final two games with the goal of being ready for Mayo in the Hyde in April. Early days yet. No need to panic. There's never 8 teams in contention for Sam. There may not even be 2.

Since you did the beatles maybe it's time for The Rolling Stones?

That's a great choice

Sittin' on a Fence
Out of Time
It's All Over Now

Am I correct  in saying the original cost was £77 million? Now it's £308  million?  That is mad

Would a squad of  Polish builders do it for less?

That was 2011. GAA was not planning for a stadium that meets UEFA requirements. Even Croke Park or Páirc Uí Chaoimh or indeed any GAA stadium in Ireland would not meet UEFA requirements. Construction costs have also gone through the roof post Covid.

Yes it was 2011, but £77m was also  the cost for a  bigger stadium (38k if I recall).  So that makes the current  Price even madderer.

Why would Croke Park not meet UEFA requirements?  Sure it hosted  soccer  qualifiers. As does Landsdowne Rosd currently

What exactly  are these supposed UEFA requirements ? A heli-pad for the suits  to fly in?  A mono-rail  for  them to get to their seats?

I believe they don't allow temporary seating for the Euros which would mean the Hill end would be empty.

The main point is U.K./Ireland bid submitted Casement Park so the British government should do the honouable thing and pay up. It's not as if the Euros won't be contributing to their economy. Heaton Harris is playing to the bigots of the world with his we won't pay if it costs too much. They committed to hosting and committed to this stadium so get the wallet out.

Am I correct  in saying the original cost was £77 million? Now it's £308  million?  That is mad

Would a squad of  Polish builders do it for less?

That was 2011. GAA was not planning for a stadium that meets UEFA requirements. Even Croke Park or Páirc Uí Chaoimh or indeed any GAA stadium in Ireland would not meet UEFA requirements. Construction costs have also gone through the roof post Covid.

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

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

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

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

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.