Tidying, mountain walks and a dream of nonsense FROM THE SPORTS VAULTS

WEDNESDAY: APRIL 14

HAVING decluttered part of my workspace at Sligo Weekender Towers, I felt empowered by a feng shui. Then again, the lightheadedness could have been as a result of overusing Lynx deodorant before setting out to tackle another Day of Deadline. The latest spam email offers to fulfil my magnet needs. Why this particular spammer thinks that I require a supply of magnets is beyond me, bearing in mind that I’ve previously turned down deals for Ukrainian beauties, mobile boat hoists, teeth whitening kits and mini massage guns.

After tidying the desk, I realised that the word tidying contains ‘dying’. When I first entered Sligo Weekender Towers (February 27, 1995), my initial chore was to sort out a pile of newspapers for then editor Brian McHugh. Twenty-six years later I’m still tidying.

We availed of the fab weather to walk along Dunmoran Strand. I found the noise of the sea to be quite soothing as Eddie (one of the dupers) was intrigued by scents only he could smell.

We then had to catch up on the fourth episode of Line of Duty, having opted not to watch it last Sunday. I still can’t figure out the plot, although it involves ‘bent coppers’. Initially I thought the series was called Lino Duty (about floor coverings in the Scottish town of Dingwall).

THURSDAY: APRIL 15

EMBOLDENED by a sense of purpose that I last experienced when training and playing for Easkey’s Junior Gaelic footballers in 1999-2001, I decided to take on the Queen Maeve Trail. The easiest part of the trek to the summit of Knocknarea Mountain was the part where I walked across the car park at Sligo RFC’s Hamilton Park prior to crossing the road. Then the sh*t got real.

It wasn’t just the steep incline, multiple stops, endless steps, sweat and leg pains (that was even before I hit the ‘boardwalk’ portion of the climb). It was the realisation that I have no fitness right now. It is not a case of being unfit, because that implies that I once had a level of fitness. Life was a lot easier when I gorged daily on cheap cake.

Before I settled in to watch United get through the second part of their Europa League quarter-final with plucky Granada (a game they won 2-0), there was a clothes line to be installed. It is the type of household chore that you hope will only need to be done once a year. When a clothes line breaks – and the garments hung on it fall to the ground, still wet and suddenly muddied – it is a sad, sad thing.

FRIDAY: APRIL 16

DESPITE being sore of limb from yesterday’s walking exertions (taking on a second walk in Strandhill with herself and the dupers, this time near Walker’s Lodge, put the tin hat on it),

Beek (who turned 24 today) got the assist for United’s third goal, while Mason Greenwood’s return to the business of goalscoring continues. Line of Duty. There was no saving the latest episode for another day or watching a recording of The Burren: Heart of Stone instead. More edge-ofthe seat drama and I still don’t know who is or isn’t corrupt. I do know that Brendan Gleeson isn’t involved.

MONDAY: APRIL 19

WHILE Bank of Only The Bigger Parts of Ireland may have sadly given up on Tubbercurry and Ballymote (or should that be Ballymote and Tubbercurry), I do like BOI’s latest series of adverts as fronted by broadcaster and personality Baz Ashmawy. Finances is not a dirty word or so the advert tells us.

Before I forget, we watched another enjoyable episode of Reeling in The Years last night. The year was 2011. I was astonished and then worried that I couldn’t recall a single thing from that year, just a decade ago. Even my default go-to, that of remembering who won the Owen B Hunt Cup from that year, failed me. It was Tourlestrane (shame on me, I had to Google it).

President Micheal D Higgins probably has a better memory than me – he turned 80 yesterday. A superb poet, I think he had maybe too much integrity for politics. He would have made a brilliant Taoiseach.

Alan Finn sends me a WhatsApp message about several of Europe’s soccer superpowers joining the Super League. It turns out they are looking to create a European Super League, not link up with the Sligo-Leitrim’s Super League. Imagine Real Madrid, Barcelona or Chelsea playing at a revamped MacSharry Park?

TUESDAY: APRIL 20

IN a recent phone chat with Eugene McHale, the affable ex-Garda informed me that he walks 10 miles a day. Given that this call was around six or seven days ago, MacHale (by my reckoning) is now 70 miles away from where he was when we spoke. If this makes little sense, try the dream I woke up from. Pubs had re-opened and were thronged from early morning. Think of Paddy’s Day. Where we were, herself left a tip of €50 at the table. Later I argued with Gavin about Covid-19 restrictions, I struggled to walk because my trousers kept falling down as I then took arty photos under a railway arch. In another part of the dreamscape I helped a man find a period house hidden by high walls on Market Street. He wore a Metallica t-shirt and was followed by a strange woman who kept whistling.

Maybe the various shades of lockdown are finally taking a heavy toll on my already fragile psyche.

At least Rovers are a reliable anchor right now. I looked forward to their meeting with Bohs at Dalymount Park and, thanks to WATCHLOI, enjoyed it from the comfort of home. At times it was a case of men against Bohs as the Bit O’Red won 3-1.

LOTTO LAUNCH

In conjunction with Eoghan Rua LGFA Club, the club has launched a weekly lotto – the first draw of which is provisionally planned for the June Bank Holiday weekend.

A yearly subscription to the draw is €85, which includes entry to 52 consecutive weekly draws. The starting jackpot will be €5,000 and in the event the jackpot is not won there will be five consolation prizes of €30 each.

A lotto subscription can be purchased on a standalone basis or combined with membership. Payment can also be completed via quarterly direct debit where membership is combined with a lotto subscription. Weekly tickets will also be available to purchase online and in local businesses (once restrictions allow). To purchase a lotto subscription online go to easkeygaa.ie or the club’s social media platforms.

MEMBERSHIP

Those who are renewing their membership for 2021 – or are joining for the first time – can do so online. Please refer to easkeygaa.ie or the club’s social media platforms for details on membership payment options.

VOLUNTEERS WANTED

The club is looking to increase its pool of volunteer coaches to assist with underage training. Those who wish to get involved should contact any committee member.

SPORTS QUIZ

Thanks to everyone who entered our 2021 sports prediction quiz. The current leaderboard has been circulated via email to all participants. The next leaderboard will be issued following the completion of the World Snooker Championship.

WELL DONE

Congratulations to the west Sligo duo of Micheál Kearins and Barnes Murphy who have been appointed president and vice-president respectively of Sligo GAA.