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[In Cardiff, one school has replaced rugby with Gaelic football as its primary sport.]

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/rangers-help-gaa-search-for-sporting-converts-in-glasgow-1658184.html

IT'S probably the last place on earth that you would expect to find Gaelic games being promoted.

But Glasgow Rangers are now helping the GAA to promote the nationalist sports of Gaelic football and hurling.

The rivalry in Glasgow between the traditionally Protestant Rangers and Catholic Celtic has been among the most bitter in the sporting world for the last 120 years.

Both clubs have made serious efforts in recent years to stamp out the sectarianism that too often has been a blight on the clashes between the blue and green halves of Glasgow.

And both clubs have signed up to the Sense Over Sectarianism campaign in an attempt to break down the religious barriers.

But in a move that would have been unthinkable 10 years ago, Rangers are helping the GAA spread the Gaelic games and hurling gospel across Britain.

The GAA's outgoing president in Britain, John Gormley, said: "It would have been unthinkable a few years ago, but it is happening and it is working.

"It is a way for Rangers to help get rid of sectarianism and it is opening up a whole new area to the GAA".

Rangers have an extensive network of community workers across Glasgow and access to these areas has been granted to the GAA officers by the club.

Now some youngsters in Scotland's biggest city are being taught football and hurling as well as soccer and other sports.

Mr Gormley said GAA officers were working across the UK. He said: "In Cardiff, one school has replaced rugby with Gaelic football as its primary sport. The work of the games development administrators is opening the GAA up to a whole new generation."

- Brian McDonald

Anyone have anymore info on this??

[It's official: men see women in bikinis as 'sex objects']

From The Indo:

It's official: men see women in bikinis as 'sex objects'

Scientists have demonstrated something that many women suspect and most men would admit only to themselves: pictures of scantily clad females turn women into sexual objects in the minds of men.

Feminists would no doubt see the discovery as the science of the bloody obvious, but the researchers claim the results demonstrate just how pictures of bikini-clad women affect the inner workings of the male brain.

The study found that the part of the brain that keeps in check a man's sexual hostility towards women is deactivated when he is shown images of women in bikinis. The findings also support the idea that pornographic images turn women into commodified objects in the minds of men, the researchers said.

"It is as if they are reacting to these women as if they are not fully human," said Susan Fiske, professor of psychology at Princeton University, who made the study on 21 male undergraduates using a medical scanner to analyse their brain activity.

http://www.independent.ie/world-news/its-official-men-see-women-in-bikinis-as-sex-objects-1642076.html

However I am still not convinced, We may need to still conduct some research of our own.

Yes have you heard of this new stadium being built in Dublin called the Aviva stadium, 50,000 seater apparently, on the south of the liffey just of Shelbourne Road.................................oh wait a minute


http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/rugby/2009/0212/1224241050544.html?via=mr

Round 2: Meath V Fermanagh
Pairc Tailteann, time:7 30 pm

So, after a dissappointing start for both sides, a dramatic improvement will be expected from both camps. Meath expect to have Mark Ward available but Shane O'Rourke and Brian Farrell are still out while Fermanagh hope to have McCluskey and McGrath available for next week.

A bit late on the anniversary of the death of Buddy Holly but I thought it was worth a mention. While he was of my parents generation I grew up listening to their rock and roll records before I ever began listened to anything contemporary. I still listen to Buddy every now and again and in his short life wrote some brilliant songs which were also musically fantastic as well. A true pioneer of rock and roll. If you think the songs may sound dated, well the effect these songs had on The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Kinks, The Byrds and just about everyone in the 60's was enormous.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdtqTWH0lxU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fd6zBMZ423g


Also not forgetting Ritchie Valens and "The Big Bopper" J.P. Richardson, who lost their lives that day.

Sunday, February 8th
Allianz NHL Division One
Limerick v. Clare
Justin McCarthy will be hoping to get his reign off to a winning start, while the same could be said for Mike McNamara. Both sides will be eager to do well, but Limerick look to be the better settled outfit at present.
Verdict: Limerick

Waterford v. Tipperary
Tipp are defending champions and will go all out to defend their title. However, Liam Sheehy will use the league to run the rule over a number of fringe players as will Davy Fitz. Tipp may just have the better reserve.
Verdict: Tipperary

Galway v. Kilkenny
These sides meet for the second time in a week. Kilkenny came out on top after extra time in the Walsh Cup final and another close match is sure to come about at Pearse Park, but the result could well be the same.
Verdict: Kilkenny

Allianz NHL Division Two
Kerry v. Wexford
Kerry manager Mossie Carroll has a huge task on his hands and the Kingdom could suffer a few big defeats in the league, starting with this one against Wexford.
Verdict: Wexford

Antrim v. Westmeath
If Antrim are to make an impact in the Leinster championship, then they must record a win here. The Lake County have made great strides in recent years and expect them to give the Saffrons a real test, although the Ulster side should prove a bit too strong.
Verdict: Westmeath

Offaly v. Carlow
Offaly have started the season slowly, but are getting into their stride at the right time. They should see off a Carlow side easily defeated by Westmeath in the Kehoe Cup final last Sunday.
Verdict: Offaly

Laois v. Down
Down are another side that will be expected to struggle in this division, while Laois are bidding for promotion. However, it may well be closer than people imagine, but Laois still get the nod.
Verdict: Laois

Allianz NHL Division 3A
Meath v. Kildare
Neither side wants to be in this division and their aim should be promotion. This is a must win game for both teams, even though it's the first round. Meath have not been firing well yet and Kildare could take the points on this occasion.
Verdict: Kildare

Wicklow v. Armagh
Wicklow manager Michael Phelan needs to lay down a marker early on. He has a lot of work to do in order to get the side competing again and Armagh could cause a surprise here.
Verdict: Armagh

Derry v. Mayo
Mayo suffered a shock defeat to Louth in the Kehoe Cup shield and if that match is any indication to go by, Derry should start the campaign with a win.
Verdict: Derry

Allianz NHL Division 3B
Tyrone v. Fingal
Fingal have been making good progress, but they will face an experienced Tyrone side and the Dublin side could find it hard to stay up.
Verdict: Tyrone

Donegal v. Longford
An intriguing affair here as these two sides have been evenly matched in recent meetings. Home advantage should suit the Ulster side.
Verdict: Donegal

Roscommon v. London
The exiles travel over to Roscommon for their opening league match and it remains to be seen what sort of a squad that they have this year. Roscommon need a win to get a bit of confidence. The Connacht side get the nod.
Verdict: Roscommon

Allianz Division Four
Cavan v. Fermanagh
Fermanagh begin a new era with neither of the McManus twins lining out. Cavan have a new manager in John Hunt and have also brought in some new players. They might just cause an upset here.
Verdict: Cavan

Sligo v. Monaghan
The Nicky Rackard Cup champions are favourites to top the group and should start with a win against Monaghan.
Verdict: Sligo

South Down v. Leitrim
The Ulster side are favourites to take the points here and they could be Sligo's main threat for promotion.
Verdict: South Down

anyone have a spare copy of it? I knowi it can be viewed online but i'd like to get a copy of it, would anyone be willing to send over a copy to me in England. I'l cover the costs.

Im bringing a few of my colleagues over to Ireland for a weekend break in the summer. Need to hire a People-carrier van for the weekend. Looking like it will be 7-9 people. From the Friday night till Monday evening roughly.

Anyone know any good deals you can get? Tried Hertz but they're a bit pricey.

Thanks

[Live on TG4, Sunday 2:30pm]

Live on TG4, Sunday 2:30pm

As much as I'm lookng forward to this game, theres a chance the Cork footballers will be joining the picket lines to support the hurlers. Hope that doesnt come to pass, I'd rather we went down there and lost a tough game then get handed 2 points for nothing.

From a Meath point of view its good to hear that Moyles is back to full health and playing well, Crawford is still there. Brian Farrell lined out in a challenge match against the Gardai. Dereck Flood looks like a possible full back for the future. No word on teams for Sunday yet.

THE NATIONALIST community was angered last September when DUP Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure Gregory Campbell deemed last year's All-Ireland final as an "international" event but any lingering resentment on this issue should be dissolved by next month's special reception for the Tyrone footballers in the Grand Hall at Stormont parliament buildings.

The Tyrone senior and minor All-Ireland winning panels have been invited to Stormont on February 6th as guests of honour at an official reception, hosted by Campbell, to recognise their success in 2008.

The Armagh and Tyrone teams attended Stormont in similar capacities after their breakthrough All-Ireland titles in 2002 and 2003.

This event was supposed to take place back in November but the Tyrone players were unavailable and while "the invitation does appear terribly late, this is the next available date from Gregory Campbell's office", said full-time Tyrone secretary Dominic McCaughey.

Full Story:  http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2009/0108/1230936761466.html

Happy Christmas everyone, heres to a great* 2009

*by great I mean Sam to reside in Navan next summer!!!

[1st Round]

1st Round
1. Longford v Athlone I.T.

2. Louth v UCD

3. Offaly v Dublin

4. Wicklow v Carlow

5. Kildare v Wexford

6. Meath v Westmeath

7. Laois v DCU

8. Kilkenny v D.I.T.



Next Round
1 v 2     3 v 4       5 v 6       7 v 8

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/dec/07/2

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/dec/07/1


Tim Leiweke is a name you might not have heard before but he is behind what could be the globalisation of sports leagues such as the FA Premier League, NFL and the NBA. While I might sound hypocritical since I have attended both NFL games in Wembley and will probably do the same again nex year, but this for me is going a bit too far.

It seems that people like Tim cant be patient for sports to grow and develop on their own accord, as I have seen first hand with the rapid growth in participation in the IAFL and BAFL, not while theres millions of dollars to be made. The NFL has tried something similar before with NFL-Europe which failed, mostly i feel because it was "planted in" Europe rather than it "coming from" Europe.

Im sure there will be up-roar amoung soccer fans across England if the Premier league has to up-root and play on foreign soil but it has become a money making exercise now as much as it is a sport.

A few quotes from the article

He runs one of the fastest-growing, most successful businesses in the world, a company whose prize assets include David Beckham, the 02 arena in London, a similar development in Berlin and a host of sports clubs - more than are owned by any other organisation in the world.

according to Leiweke, we are about to see one of the biggest changes imaginable with a major sports league, expanding beyond its national borders.

there is only one league in the rest of the world that can do it and it's called the English Premier League.

'There are a lot of teams for sale over there,' Leiweke says. 'The problem with the Premier League, as an observer and a fan, are the haves and the have-nots and that worries me a lot. The rate card being established by the top four teams over there is scary. Unless you're prepared to pay that kind of money then the question is can you compete year in, year out?

..............thats the cost of pitch invasions for the GAA in insurance.

As much as I enjoy the pitch invasions, do you think that money could be better spent! thats not including the damage to the pitch


http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/croker-pitch-invasions-costing-8364200000-a-year-1565662.html

I know theres a few Sligo folk on here so I thought I'd ask. Im thinking of getting my parents a voucher for Christmas to stay in the Yeats Country Hotel for a few nights,

Anyone stay there before or heard good or bad about it?

Go raibh maith agat.

[Taoiseach Brian Cowen said Mr Molloy was an excellent public servant and had "every confidence" in him.]

Anyone else irked by this

Committee to examine latest Fás revelations
JASON MICHAELThe vice chairman of the Dáil Committee on Public Accounts this morning said the body would examine the latest revelations over Fás expenditure and defended its inquiry into the State training body.

Yesterday, Fás director general Rody Molloy defended expenditure by the authority on transatlantic trips for himself, his wife, and senior Fás executives.

Mr Molloy responded on RTÉ radio yesterday to a report in a Sunday newspaper that stated Fás spent €643,000 on transatlantic travel for Mr Molloy and other senior Fás executives over a four-year period.

Paddy Duffy, a close associate of former taoiseach Bertie Ahern, travelled to the United States as a guest of Fás in 2004 and 2006, although he had no official role with the authority.

Mr Molloy is to appear before the Committee on Public Accounts on Thursday. This morning, vice chair Darragh O'Brien of Fianna Fáil said there were concerns that he would "raise specifically" with Fás in relation to latest revelations.

Mr O'Brien noted the committee had been investigating Fás since the start of the year, would be meeting the authority again and would hold further meetings if necessary as part of a "very detailed" inquiry.

He said further documentation had been received last week from Fás that covered some of the latest public revelations.

Speaking on RTÉ radio, Mr O'Brien said sections of the internal audit handed over by Fás were blacked out. However, he pointed out legal advisers for the Oireachtas and Fás agreed there were aspects of that information that the committee could not receive after additional information was sought after meeting Fás last month.

This was "very frustrating," Mr O'Brien said, adding that the taxpayers should be entitled to find out how their money is spent.

He said his committee was taking a "very measured" approach in investigating Fás and did not rush into decisions. "Our committee has shown in dealing with other state agencies that we don't pull any punches when issues arise."

"Our job in the PAC [Public Accounts Committee] is to protect the taxpayer . . . and make sure the taxpayer is getting value for money, and I am very confident that our committee will do that."

Mr O'Brien said taxpayers were entitled to know that action was being taken and he did not envisage the PAC report taking months for publication.

On Today with Pat Kenny yesterday, Mr Molloy said he was "entitled" to travel first class and exchanged that entitlement for business-class travel for himself and his wife to the United States.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen said Mr Molloy was an excellent public servant and had "every confidence" in him.

Last night, Senator Shane Ross, speaking on Questions and Answers , said the amount of money spent on travel, entertainment, and golf was "staggering".

"Fás has a budget of €1 billion a year. It's very difficult to understand, if you look at their accounts, what they do with this money.

"I hope that Fás is an exception case . . . .but the fact that so much money is spent on transatlantic first-class business travel . . . makes you wonder how much of this is going on elsewhere in the public sector," he said.

© 2008 irishtimes.com

Heres Rody's Explaination

- A FAS official went with his wife on a three-week round the world trip to Frankfurt, Tokyo, Honolulu, San Francisco and back to Dublin via Frankfurt. Their business class tickets cost €12,021. The expense claim was signed by Rody Molloy.

Rody's rationale:

"It was (signed by me). The individual in question who was at an event in Tokyo on official business to do with the World Skills competition and with the graduate programme we have in Japan, who then at his own expense, spent some time on the way back coming back through the US."

- Fas chairman, trade union boss Peter McLoone, accompanied chief executive Rody Molloy on a €7,300-a-head return business class flight to Orlando for a week-long stay.

Rody's rationale:

"Orlando also happens to be very close to the NASA facility where the shuttle lands and takes off from. And we, over a number of years, have built a relationship with NASA where we have placed Irish students in NASA to give them opportunities to work in the top research facilities in the world, and to allow them to build relationships between their own universities in Ireland and the facilities in Florida. I think anyone who knows Florida knows it's not just about Disney World."

- Fas executives billed the taxpayer for pay-per-view movies watched in their US hotel rooms, ranging in price from $12.71 to $34.40.

Rody's rationale:

1)"Ah well, the amount for pay per view movies, with all due respects Pat, it's chickenfeed. What, $10 for a movie?"

(After being told by Pat Kenny that RTE did not cover pay-per-view movies in expenses)

2) "Maybe that was an oversight on our part but the bill was paid as a communal bill for a number of people who were there at a time when we were trying to develop relationships with senior people. NASA is a major US government agency. To develop relationships with them, given that we are not American citizens, is not easy. We know there is a number of other countries who have tried to copy the programmes we have developed with NASA."

- FAS corporate affairs director Greg Craig's company credit card was used to cover a $410 bill at Solutions beauty and nail salon on West Cocoa Beach, Florida in August 2005.

Rody's rationale:

"Again, with all due respects, getting into detail of a preparation of somebody for a particular event. Again the amount of money, in terms of the total package, is very, very small."

- A Fas credit card was used to pay $942.53 for Rody Molloy to play a three-ball golf match at the Orlando Florida Grand Cypress Resort Golf club in January 2005.

Rody's rationale:

"I've already explained to you Pat that people aren't volunteering to come here to look for our students to go to these major scientific events. We are out there developing relationships. I had an opportunity to work with some people as part of building that relationship and I took that opportunity. If that is a major sin, then I hold my hands up and say very sorry."

- In a four-year period, Mr Molloy, sometimes flying with his wife, clocked up almost €48,000 in business-class airfares. In February of this year they incurred an airfare bill for a return trip to the east coast of America for €7,500.

Last year, the Molloys flew to New York in May, costing €6,655. Both travelled business class. In November they returned to New York, with airfares costing €7,281. Last year they cost FAS €6,455 for a similar trip, business class again.

The Molloys also visited Boston on a cheaper €1,634 flight in June 2005.

In July 2004, the pair flew to Orlando at a cost of €9,648 for the business class fares.

Rody's rationale:

"Well, it wasn't first class travel, it was business class travel. It (business class) is hellishly expensive but anytime that a spouse travelled, it was because there were reasons for the spouse to travel, to do with the kind of activities that were involved there. One which comes to mind was a dinner which involved President McAleese and her husband.

"All I can say to you on that when a spouse travels with FAS, they travel at no additional expense to the organisation -- unless there's a very specific reason for it.

"There are occasions when it is appropriate for my spouse to be with me.

"But anytime she has been with me, there was no additional expense to FAS because I traded down my travel entitlement to allow her to travel so it comes in at less expense to the organisation. I'm entitled to travel first class."

- FAS bought a €500 glass barometer as a gift for Minister for Education Mary Hanafin on a visit to their US project. FAS paid an extra €419 for it to be posted back to Ireland.

Rody's rationale:

"I don't have the detail of that with me. But any gifts we bought to bring to the US were essentially what would be described in any organisation as a corporate gift, usually items like Waterford Glass crystal. I suspect in that case there was a corporate gift to Mary Hanafin from the people in NASA, which was probably sizeable. The cost of shipping it home is maybe what's referred to. I don't know, I don't have that information in front of me."

You can listen to it all here:   http://www.myspace.com/gunsnroses

I loved the original line-up and the first few albums, the jury's still out on this one.



EDIT****

Jury giving their verdict: its awful shite, 15 years & $8million well spent 

http://www.lisburncity.gov.uk/sprucefield-development-poll/

see poll 

This was on another forum:

Okay guys anyone interested in some acting, i need some people for a movie being made about Setanta. Lookin for celtic looking people all sizes but especially anyone athletic, Doing a test shoot this weekend need a setanta early 20's or there abouts) and a fionn He needs to be a big lad if possible. Anyone interested reply by email to jlevink@gmail.com. the movie budget is 21 million and we will need lots of extras too when proper filming begins thanks

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/gifted-young-hurler-killed-instantly-as-car-hits-wall-1490676.html

An outstanding young hurler was killed instantly when his car crashed into a wall in Co Galway in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Paul Flynn (24), a garda based at Henry St station in Limerick, was returning to his home in Ballinakill when the accident happened at Masonbrook, outside Loughrea.

Alone

He was driving alone at the time and no other vehicle was involved in the collision. His body was removed to Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe.

He was a member of the Galway senior hurling squad and a stalwart of his club side, Tommie Larkins.

He also played on the Galway intermediate team this year and had previously won an All Ireland Under-21 medal with his native county. He was fully expected to make the breakthrough onto the Galway senior team over the coming seasons.

Chairman of Tommie Larkins, Eamon Whelan described his death as "a massive tragedy".

Speaking to the Irish Independent yesterday, Mr Whelan said: "Nobody here can believe what has happened. It is terrible news -- we are all numbed."

He described Paul Flynn as a fine young man who was a credit to his family and community.

His colleagues at Henry St Garda station in Limerick were also in shock as the news broke. Paul had been working at the Magners League rugby game between Munster and Glasgow at Thomond Park on Saturday evening before travelling home to Co Galway.

He was due to graduate with his garda class in Templemore in just a few weeks. He is survived by his parents, Gerry and Rose-Anne, three brothers and two sisters.

Poor lad, RIP,

God be with his family and friends.