Topics

As for the next day:

McGreevy

Brady
McClean
K O'Boyle

Scullion
Crozier
Healy

M McCann
Gallagher

T McCann
Niblock/K McGourty
Loughrey

Cunningham
K McGourty/Niblock
CJ McGourty

Any thoughts

[Pot 1 (seeds)]

Seedings and "pots" announced:

Pot 1 (seeds)
South Africa, Germany, Brazil, Italy, Spain, England, Argentina, Holland.

Pot 2 (Asia, Oceania and North/Central America)
Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Mexico, Honduras.

Pot 3 (Africa and South America)
Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon, Nigeria, Algeria, Paraguay, Chile, Uruguay.

Pot 4 (Europe)
France, Portugal, Slovenia, Switzerland, Greece, Serbia, Denmark, Slovakia.


Easy for England...North Korea, Uruguay, Switzerland
Hard For England...USA, Ivory Coast, France

"Group of Death"?...Argentina, Mexico, Ghana, Portugal

[McHugh is 'first Fianna Fail MLA']

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8387810.stm

McHugh is 'first Fianna Fail MLA'

For the first time, Fianna Fail has an elected representative in the Northern Ireland Assembly, it has been reported.

The Irish News said the independent assembly member, Gerry McHugh, has joined the party. Speaking about his decision, Mr McHugh told the paper he had found "his natural home" in Fianna Fail. Mr McHugh left Sinn Fein two years ago complaining that they had become "undemocratic" and said he disagreed with the direction the party had taken. The 52-year-old, who represents the Fermanagh/South Tyrone constituency, told Tuesday's Irish News: "It is clear to me that Fianna Fail remains the only party which can articulate a republican vision, representative of every town and village in the country". The move comes more than two years after the former Fianna Fail Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, announced his party was to organise in Northern Ireland.

Reports of a possible link-up with the SDLP to take on Sinn Fein's assertion that it was the only "all-island party" did not materialise however, and last summer, his successor Brian Cowen ruled out the probability of an imminent deal. Gerry McHugh had been a member of Sinn Fein for over 30 years when he resigned from the party exactly two years ago this week. At the time he said the direction Sinn Fein was taking was "more about appeasement of the British government and administrating British rule in Ireland rather than working towards the end of British occupation". Sinn Fein rejected his claims and questioned why he had not raised his concerns within the party before making them public. As well as taking his seat in the assembly, where he sits on the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee, Mr McHugh is also a member of Fermanagh District Council.

Outside politics, the father-of three describes himself as an "energetic hill-walker" and takes an active interest in heritage and farming issues.

Football
1.  Kevin Armstrong
2.  Andy McCallin
3.  Sean McGreevy

Hurling
1. Army
2. Cloot
3. Barrso

I've noticed this in a couple of games recently and in my day (OK, 25+ years ago it was a foul) but in football are you allowed to throw the ball up in the air with one hand and hand pass it with the same hand (in the same fashion as a hurling hand pass)?? I noticed Dermot Earley do it yesterday and a fellow old timer beside me cried foul.

[A united Ireland is possible]

From today's Guardian:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/15/united-ireland-gerry-adams

A united Ireland is possible

Despite the challenges ahead, a dialogue started by Sinn Féin in Westminster this week sets us on a path to Irish reunification.

The single most important issue facing the people of Ireland and Britain is the achievement of Irish unity and the construction of a new relationship between Ireland and Britain based on equality.

Economic crises, however severe, will come and go. Governments will come and go, but for more centuries than any of us care to contemplate Britain's involvement in Ireland has been the source of conflict; partition, discord and division; and great hurt between the people of these islands.

The peace process has delivered an end to conflict and that is to be welcomed and applauded. But the underlying cause of conflict persists – the British government's claim of jurisdiction over a part of Ireland. It is this denial of the Irish people's right to self-determination, freedom and independence that is the core outstanding issue that must be resolved.

Sinn Féin is initiating a conversation this week in Westminster about achieving this. Sinn Féin believes that a national representative democracy in a sovereign reunited Ireland is desirable, viable and achievable in this generation through peaceful and democratic methods.

To succeed in this there are three interlinked challenges facing us. These are: getting the British government to change its policy from one of upholding the union to one of becoming a persuader for Irish unity; getting the Irish government to begin preparations for Irish unity; and engaging with Ulster unionism on the type of Ireland we want to create.

To achieve all of this requires those of us who share these goals to find ways in which we can work together. Is it possible to put in place a formal structured broad front approach to campaign for a united Ireland? Or would it be better to opt for an informal, organic and popular movement based on core principles?

That's a matter for the dialogue we are beginning. Some progress has already been made. The Good Friday Agreement has put in place all-Ireland political institutions which can be enhanced and developed. It contains a legislative, peaceful and democratic mechanism to set up a new and democratic Ireland. Advancing this means reaching out to others, including those who are unionist, and engaging with them on the type of Ireland we want to create.

We need to address the genuine fears and concerns of unionists in a meaningful way. We must be open to listening to unionism, to look at what they mean by their sense of Britishness and be willing to explore and to be open to new concepts.

It is worth noting that within the British system, unionists make up fewer than 2% of the population; they cannot hope to have any significant say in the direction of their own affairs. As 20% of a new Ireland, unionists will be able to assert their full rights and entitlements and exercise real political power and influence.

So, our vision of this new Ireland must be a shared Ireland, an integrated Ireland, an Ireland in which unionists have equal ownership. The shape and structure of that new Ireland must be a matter of agreement.

At the Unite Ireland conference in early June in New York, Professor Brendan O'Leary, in his contribution to this very debate, suggested that republicans and nationalists and unionists should examine the possibilities of some form of federal arrangement. Others may have different ideas and suggestions. This is one part of the debate we must have.

All of this presents a daunting challenge. But it is a challenge I believe we can rise to and meet. This is not about some pie-in-the-sky naive discussion and aspiration, about an unachievable goal or meaningless political outcome. No. This is about solving one of the great unresolved and contentious issues of Britain's colonial past. In preparation for this, Sinn Féin has already held discussions with people in Britain from different sectors; trade unionists, academics, Irish community groups and others, including elected representatives in Westminster and the Welsh and Scottish assemblies.

Next February we will hold a major conference here in Britain to move into the next phase. Of course this conversation, this dialogue, with people here in Britain or in the US or elsewhere will not in itself achieve a united Ireland. That is a matter for agreement between the people who live on the island of Ireland. But British policy toward Ireland is key to unlocking the potential for this change to occur. So, we need the active support of people in Britain.

We need to reach out to the widest possible public opinion, to the trade unions, the business sector, the community and voluntary sector, to the political class, as well as with those of other ethnic minorities who have experienced a similar history of colonisation and immigration.

I believe we can be successful. Why? Think back 20 years. Then my voice could not be heard on the British media – censorship ruled courtesy of Margaret Thatcher. For much of that time I was a banned person – unable to travel to London. British policy was locked into a military/security strategy and a policy of criminalisation, and the conflict was dug in and vicious.

Had I been in London asking for support to build a peace process I would have been thought of as at best naive or just daft. Had I predicted cessations, peace talks, an international agreement, a resolution of issues as difficult as policing and arms, I would have been dismissed by the Guardian and others as crazy.

Well, it happened. All of those difficult and some said, unimaginable goals have been achieved. So – Irish reunification is achievable. With the right strategies and a determined commitment to a united Ireland can happen. Join us in that task.

===============================================================================

I put the bold on the opening line...I must admit after that I found it difficult to take the rest seriously! 

This from a man whose county is in its first Ulster Final for 39 years on Sunday!!!!

[Republican support moves Stoker]

From the BBC...http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8143498.stm

Republican support moves Stoker

UUP councillor Bob Stoker has said families from republican areas sent him supportive messages after his British soldier son was injured in Afghanistan.

Michael Stoker suffered severe burns when his patrol was ambushed in May.

Mr Stoker, a former Lord Mayor of Belfast, said he was touched by the tributes from political opponents.

"I've been getting messages of support from west Belfast, the New Lodge, the Bogside in Derry, there's people out there who care," he said.

"They may have a different political viewpoint, but I think they saw there was a young man from Belfast who was severely injured and they wanted to show their support."

The 22-year-old Queen's Royal Hussars soldier's vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device.

Mr Stoker said, that while he was 100% behind the soldiers serving in Afghanistan and Iraq, he questioned the purpose of the British military campaigns.

"I'm not personally in support of the war, either in Iraq or Afghanistan, and I'm on record saying that," he said.

"The troops who are out there on the ground, they need to be supported by whatever means necessary, which means extra equipment, better equipment, better living conditions that should be afforded to them.

"The support for the troops will always be there although there is a groundswell of people asking me why are we actually in Afghanistan.

"I don't think it's good enough anymore for politicians to say it's to defeat terrorism.

"There are other ways of defeating terrorism, other than sending young men and women into a situation like this."

[Comedian Carson signs up to UKIP]

From the BBC website

Comedian Carson signs up to UKIP 

Belfast-born comedian Frank Carson has joined the Euro-sceptic UK Independence Party which seeks Britain's withdrawal from the European Union.

Mr Carson, who now lives in Blackpool, said he took the decision because he was "disgusted with the way politics has gone".

"We need to get out of the EU and ditch the human rights legislation," he said.

The UKIP was founded in 1993 and has nine members sitting in the European Parliament.

"I'm fed up with all the other political parties and think it's time for a change, and so do many others."

Party chairman Paul Nuttall said he was delighted that Mr Carson had joined the UKIP.

"He is an excellent comedian, but he has a very serious point," he said.

I note that My Will is a short as 7/1 with some bookies.  Ted Walsh has been talking up Southern Vic (14/1) over the weekend and Butlers Cabin (whom I backed heavily last year ) has moved into single figures.  At a bigger price Kilbeggan Blade looks attractive at 25/1 (Ladbrokes) though Paddy Power has moved it from 33's into 20's.  Anyone else any fancies??

1.  Artur Boruc (Pol)

2.  Sergio Ramos (Spa)
3.  Carlos Marchena (Spa)
4.  Servet (Tur)
5.  Philip Lahm (Ger)

6.  Nigel De Jong (Hol)
7.  Armando Petit (Por)
8.  Luka Modric (Cro)
9.  Wesley Sneijder (Hol)

10.  David Villa (Spa)
11.  Lukas Podolski (Ger)