A blood test that led to the sad leaving of Mr Kipling FROM THE SPORTS VAULTS
WEDNESDAY: FEBRUARY 10
I RECEIVED an angry text – from an unknown number – with the sender giving out that this diary is merely a promo for the films I can’t finish, unnamed beaches I visit (despite the government regulations), televised sport I only half watch and the binge eating of cakes.
Guilty on all counts. Maybe I should introduce some serious topics to this weekly slice of faffery – the long-term effects of bullying, for example, and how I’ve still a list of those imbeciles who gave me such a hard time in secondary school.
Or I could talk about my mental health issues over the years or why 97% of Sligo GAA County Board Executive Committee members have never listened to albums by Nirvana or The Posies.
Perhaps I’ll stick with the frippery. Courtesy of The Guardian, I learn that hippos that were once part of Columbian drug lord Pablo Escobar’s private zoo have gone feral. The hippos have increased in numbers and, because they aren’t native to Columbia, their presence is damaging the area’s biodiversity.
Under tonight’s starry sky, it is impossible not to feel slightly insignificant in the grander scheme of things. St Mirren also felt somewhat insignificant when losing 4-0 to Celtic – when flicking through various channels I got Celtic’s opening goal, a fine strike from Tom Rogic.
THURSDAY: FEBRUARY 11
MY doctor decides it would be useful to get a few aspects of my health reviewed, now that the next birthday sees me hit the mid-40s.
The taking of a blood sample reinforced my abhorrence of needles – I couldn’t imagine injecting myself because of heroin dependancy.
Before I left the house, I was to capture a urine sample in a special cup. I forgot, however, and then quickly drank a glass of water, thinking that in a cartoonish way that the water would go straight through my system. I finally got the sample sorted.
I had to leave the two samples up to the hospital. On the way, I again basked in the grandness of The Mall, where the buildings whisper of former, magnificent times. Forget about the inflated house prices of Rosses Point, Strandhill Road or Strandhill, certain houses along the The Mall have an elegance not found anywhere else in Sligo.
Back home, still shook after giving away some of my blood, I opt to start watching detective dramas based in Scotland. Taggart seemed a good starting point until, just minutes into the particular episode that I chose, I thought the main character (played by actor Mark McManus) looked too much like Sir Alex Ferguson. I liked Fergie as a manager but I can’t picture him as a hard-bitten detective. Sorry.
Undeterred, I found another show of this ilk, Rebus, which was filmed in Edinburgh (a city that herself and I visited some years ago). such as this, coupled with the recent loss to Sheffield United, it is perverse to think that United actually had fleeting title thoughts. Indeed, finishing in the Premier League’s top four could be a struggle now. United will have to seriously consider recruiting a star striker in the summer (along with a centre-back and another midfielder). The goalkeeping situation may also have to be remedied.
MONDAY: FEBRUARY 15
I GET a message from Allied Irish Bank, my bank. Criminals, it turns out, are targeting AIB customers. They call, text and email – pretending to be from AIB. I was discussing this text – at length – when on a call to Jorge O’Shaughnessy, an AIB ‘representative’, who was ringing me from Tunisia. Nice bloke, Jorge – he sorted out my account once he confirmed my details.
I take time out to watch two contrasting films: News of the World, starring cinema’s good guy Tom Hanks (he has never, I believe, played a baddie) and Muscle, starring Craig Fairbrass. Hanks could do with a character switch just like Henry Fonda, who gave an immense portrayal of the bad guy in Once Upon a Time in the West.
In other news, Taoiseach Micheál Martin won’t be heading to Washington for St Patrick’s Day. Even in normal times I’ve never thought that Irish politicians should be travelling abroad on March 17. A complete waste of taxpayers money.
TUESDAY: FEBRUARY 16
IRISH holidaymakers. Are the non-essential trippers the latest section of society that we must blame, purge, castigate and turn into unwilling scapegoats? Why not. We seem to have run out of those who’ve either organised or frequented house parties, those who have broken the 5km limits and those who watch The Late Late Show.
Then we have Dundalk’s Pat Hoban (his surname is pronounced ‘Hooban’), who seemingly doesn’t rate Shamrock Rovers’ capture of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division last year.
We all know why last season’s campaign was truncated – Covid-19 meant that just 18 games were played instead of 36.
But goal gobbling Hoban didn’t consider this a legitimate competition and, with 36 games planned for 2021, he says this is a “proper league” (to be won by Dundalk presumably).
The striker – who is a very good finisher even if his views appear a little off target – recently told Dundalk FC’s website that he wouldn’t have celebrated had Dundalk took the silverware after 18 games. I wonder, Pat, I wonder.
The fasting and introspection continues. I’m still eating, of course, but an absence of cakes, crisps, confectionary and canned lager is taking some getting used to.
And, if you have dental appointments, Tenerife can wait.
efficient lady at anything she does – she has a good personality. She can get on with people. She can bring people with her. She will never shy away from work.
She was one of the best referees that ever was but before she took up the whistle she was a player and was on the first Sligo team that took part in a Ladies Football competition. She had that passion during her playing days as well.
She has brought us – as a county – a long way and the Ladies Gaelic Football Association in general.
SHE is always out there, trying to promote the game and get kids involved. When you pick up the phone she is always at the other end of it.
SHE has been with our club since day one – which was 1993 – she was always a very, very committed player and she brought the rest of us younger ones along at the very start. She would have been a role model within the club.
Kathleen was always the sharpshooter for her club and the county – you were always guaranteed a few points and a few scores when she was playing.
One day, in particular, for the club we were in our first Connacht Junior final. Kathleen scored a hat-trick that day for us.
LADIES Gaelic Football is part and parcel of Kathleen’s life now and has been for the best part of 30 years. Kathleen has given a huge commitment. This honour is a just reward for her.
SHE has been a player, a mentor and a manager. She has never left it, Ladies Football is in her blood. She would say herself that she is a manager of people. I don’t know how she hasn’t got this award before now because she has been involved at all levels.