Messages

Anyone with an interest in Irish Athletics would possibly already be aware of them but the Renton twins look to be very talented athletes and what they achieved at the weekend was pretty special. Finished 1st and 3rd in the U17 Celtic International Cross Country at Parliament Hill, with Freya who finished first also finishing a long way clear of the winner of the U20s. They are 15.

You can only hope they continue to develop at the rate that they are.

Best of luck to the Official Antrim GAA representatives playing for Aquinas Diocesan Grammar School in the Ulster Schools GAA MacLarnon Cup Final v St Eunans Letterkenny tomorrow evening at the Dub.
 
Antrim players include;

Oliver Quinn
JJ Higgins
Johnny Higgins
Rhys Bray
Thomas Gormley
Owen McCrory
Rory Magee
Ethan Irvine
St Brigids Belfast

Oscar O'Connor
Padhraig O'Hare
Naomh Éanna CLG

Joshua Wilson
Naomh Padraig

The choice of venue for that game is farcical, as difficult as it is to get suitable venues this time of year.

well done to OLSPK lady footballers on winning the U20 A championship last night.

Is this the first time a Down school has won it?

I believe so Johnny, exceptionally strong team with a lot of the Carryduff girls who won the Ulster Club involved, plenty of Bredagh girls involved too. it has become increasingly difficult for the schools in the 6 counties to compete in this with the age groupings so fair play to them.

Is that U20 thing to align with schools south of the border?

Yeah.

Looking a bit of guidance from posters who have had a hand in developing club gyms.

My club are looking at a development project involving installing a steel-fab shed on club grounds, and fitting it out with a full spec gym.

Any advice on the following:
- Recommendations for steel manufacturers who specialise in these kind of builds (around Ulster preferably)
- Recommendations for Gym fit-out providers for small community gym
- Approx costs of the different stages of development
- Any aspects you'd do differently if doing it over again

Thanks.

Best advice I could give on this would be to avoid the prefab shed option if possible and if not to fit an air circulation/recovery system.

Did you find there were condensation issues with a shed? Air circulation/condition can be expensive.

I have seen a few with this issue alright. Yesh it can be expensive. I suppose it all comes down to what you hope to get out of the facility and the budget available.

As much as people will/would complain about it, water charges need to come in. It should obviously be metered, although initially will probably be a charge per dwelling. That said a reform of NIW is badly needed.

[extortionate amounts we already pay]

Daft move all round to be raising any type of rates or taxes at the minute, given the extortionate amounts we already pay and the ridiculous state of silly little things like hospitals and roads..

Where do you think the money for hospitals and roads will come from?

Ok, so with nothing more coming in, presumably you think everything can and should be funded through spending cuts?

I'd fully sign up to public sector reform, but we all know it'll never happen.

Welfare reform? Good luck with that.

Perhaps you disapprove of how so many of your fellow county men (as openly discussed on this forum) readily avoid paying VAT and insist on cash. You'd advocate a real clamp down on this, yeah?

Where on earth is the money going? The ordinary man is paying more than his fair share of VAT, tax and rates. Start by taxing the 1% of earners a lot more.

Not too bothered by John up the road saving a few quid by doing cash jobs, a drop in the ocean compared to the top earners

We all want the benefits of the public sector, education, hospitals, infrastructure, social housing and so on, but when asked to pay for it lets just hit the big earners for it, shouldn't have to work like that as they are actually paying more anyways

The money coming in is being wasted one court case after another, there are enquiries every week, there is bickering over street names in Irish, why the f**k should there be street names in Irish in Loyalist areas, neutral maybe, Catholic yes but ffs cop on..

Wasting money on too many other shite things, too many to mention

Point is we are paying plenty for it, well I know I am anyway and getting feck all in return- can barely drive up the road without having to dodge potholes, god forbid you'd need to go to A&E or need cancer screening or treatment.

The biggest earners are paying feck all in tax.

Serious money being wasted as you say.

44% to 60% tax is feck all, do you you know who pays feck all tax? The lad in the pub all day or bookies? the one clogging up the NHS waiting times and doctor surgeries, the lad living in free housing cause he's got a bad 'back' but manages to get on Jet skis when on holidays lol!

Not talking about the ones on 150k a year paying their 40% plus tax which is loads, think a level above that.

And just how many of those do you think there are in the North?

Looking a bit of guidance from posters who have had a hand in developing club gyms.

My club are looking at a development project involving installing a steel-fab shed on club grounds, and fitting it out with a full spec gym.

Any advice on the following:
- Recommendations for steel manufacturers who specialise in these kind of builds (around Ulster preferably)
- Recommendations for Gym fit-out providers for small community gym
- Approx costs of the different stages of development
- Any aspects you'd do differently if doing it over again

Thanks.

Best advice I could give on this would be to avoid the prefab shed option if possible and if not to fit an air circulation/recovery system.

well done to OLSPK lady footballers on winning the U20 A championship last night.

Is this the first time a Down school has won it?

I believe so Johnny, exceptionally strong team with a lot of the Carryduff girls who won the Ulster Club involved, plenty of Bredagh girls involved too. it has become increasingly difficult for the schools in the 6 counties to compete in this with the age groupings so fair play to them.

Awful goal, poor shot from Cassidy and nightmare from keeper Derry well on top.

Ball like a wet bar of soap might be the excuse used by the keeper. Meath looking flat so far.

1-4 to 0-2 after 20 minutes.

Meath right back in it with a silly Derry breach. 1-5 to 0-5.  Keeper makes up for his error with that two pointer free, another point follows and Meath lead 0-9 to 1-5 after 30 mins.

Pure dirt from the Meath midfielder, how that wasnt picked up is shocking

The Clogher Nr 15 in a similar boat. Its not that hard a choice to make, all be it an unfortunate one to have to make.

Omagh CBS aren't playing the same day though are they? I'd choose club all day but it's almost 2 once in a lifetime opportunities

Yes thats why I said similar and not the same.

Why has Skinner been left on for so long, man has been like playing with a man down

Bad move by management starting him I think.

Should have done what they done with him all yet. Bring him off the bench with 15mins to go.

I'd say that didn't help. Poor call.

He started in the semi final due to a late injury but yeah definitely better suited to a sub role.

Clogher are going to have serious regrets after this unless their shooting improves quickly.

The Clogher Nr 15 in a similar boat. Its not that hard a choice to make, all be it an unfortunate one to have to make.

Who is favoured this weekend? Abbey VS, Omagh, Maghera, Academy?

Abbey, Armagh, Maghera, Academy

[Danske Bank MacRory Cup quarter-finals]

Danske Bank MacRory Cup quarter-finals

(A) Wednesday, January 7: Omagh CBS v St Patrick's, Armagh (Healy Park, 7.30pm)

(B) Thursday, January 8: St Patrick's Maghera v Abbey CBS (Owenbeg, 7.30pm)

(C) Friday, January 9: Abbey Vocational v St Mary's Magherafelt (Convoy, 4.30pm)

(D) Saturday January 10: St Patrick's Academy, Dungannon v Our Lady's Castleblayney (Stewartsown, 7pm)

Danske Bank MacRory Cup Semi-finals (January 21–24)

A v B

C v D

Looks like all but one of these games will be streamed (the one in Convoy not listed at the min).  Maghera v Abbey game moved to Sat

CBS V Armagh now on Friday in Fintona