A grooming for Macy and getting out the Mayo flags
AUGUST 4
MAYBE I should have gone to Specsavers for a hearing aid rather than new glasses. Or, indeed, a trip to Hidden Hearing (which is also at Quayside Shopping Centre).
Alan, a colleague, mentioned Sligo’s hosting of the innovative FleadhFest which is a mixture of live performances and streamed events. I misheard him. “Sligo has a flea infestation,” is what Alan didn’t say, as I started scratching and praying. Something not connected to traditional music – or fleas – is the new Ghostbusters film, Ghostbusters: Afterlife.
THURSDAY: AUGUST 5
THIS morning it rained so heavily. “Is it raining there?” I asked my mother during a phone call to that place in Killeenduff where the south-west breeze and a view of the Atlantic Ocean meet.
“You wouldn’t put your nose out in it,” was her reply, this kind lady being a little bit richer after her win in the weekly lotto ran by Easkey GAA Club and Eoghan Rua LGFA Club. I didn’t have the heart to tell her that I had just been out at Rosses Point, trudging through the pelting hail as the dogs ran carefree.
FRIDAY: AUGUST 6
NOW that I’ve begun to wear the glasses from Specsavers, I see things much better, with greater clarity. I realise now that folk are free not to get the Covid-19 vaccination (even if this choice goes against the greater good). Also free to do what he likes is Lionel Messi, who will likely end up at Paris Saint-Germain, that club having the means to pay him an extraordinary weekly wage after his Barcelona time came to a bizarre end. This evening’s road trip wasn’t an ordinary GAA road trip. We travelled to Roscommon hoping to see this year’s Sligo Minor team create history.
They did, in a very effective way, winning by five points. Instead of a large consolation ice-cream for the journey home from Dr Hyde Park (which is usually the case), Gavin had a victory punnet of chips from Supermac’s. And a cheeseburger.
SATURDAY: AUGUST 7
BUZZING that I had been present to witness something epic by a Sligo GAA team, I woke up early.
There was also a tremendous hail shower at approximately 4am. Heavy rain is perhaps the gods’ way of punishing Sligo for upsetting the sporting odds against Roscommon.
Today brought me to Markievicz Park, where Tourlestrane narrowly overcame St Molaise Gaels in a slow-burning, low-scoring contest, and it was another jolly to The Showgrounds. In the rain, rain, rain, it was anything but jolly as Rovers sadly lost 1-0 to Finn Harps. When will this ever end?
AUGUST 8
AS much as I found the recent heat wave a sweaty penance, at least it wasn’t raining. Because it rains so much now that it even rains in between the showers.
Katie Taylor 2.0 (Kellie Harrington) won gold in Tokyo, which is brilliant. Similar to Grange’s Olympians, Dubliner Harrington is the type of honest, skilled competitor that you’d only wish the best for. Today there was a chore more important that any GAA road trip – the weekly shop. We considered mixing it up by heading to Tesco – but stayed loyal to Dunnes Stores. There was a treat later with a takeaway from Classic India, Sligo’s best indian restaurant.
AUGUST 9
THE climate crisis is real, folks. What sort of life-changing environmental issues will be facing us in five, 10 and 20 years’ time? What wars will be fought over dwindling resources by future generations? Maybe we’ll have colonised Mars by then.
An item on The Guardian website describes how scientists have spotted warning signs of a Gulf Stream collapse – something that would have “devastating global impacts”. While walking through town, I spotted a faded poster for adult dance classes.
AUGUST 10
HERE’S my tuppence worth on the debate over the holding of religious ceremonies (communions and confirmations) and the Covid-19 enforced restrictions on attendances for same.
Let’s face it, 90% of parents view these events as social milestones rather than crucial aspects of their children’s growing faith and understanding of a benevolent, all-powerful entity that will guide their lives (sorry, it’s God I’m talking about, not Facebook).
How many of these ‘holy’ children will grow up to be practising Catholics and/or Facebook devotees? This is the greatest pretence. Families going through the motions, just for the sake of dressing up in their ‘Sunday best’ outfits, attending the church and gathering for a party afterwards. And then they’ll happily post about it on Facebook and social media.
WEDNESDAY: AUGUST 11
I DON’T mind that Tyrone got their All-Ireland semi-final against Kerry rescheduled because of Covid-19 cases in the Ulster champions’ camp. At least the GAA are doing exactly what they did for Sligo last year when the panel, then managed by Paul Taylor, got an extra week in order to fulfil their Connacht semi-final against Galway. Oh. Wait. Sligo didn’t get a postponement, they had to give a walkover.
Unable to sleep, even though I needed to, I watched a fair chunk of Taxi Driver, a cinematic classic from 1976 (the year I was born). Each time I watch this gem I find some new aspect to absorb. “You writing a diary about me? Well, I’m the only one here.”
AUGUST 12
AFTER our respective day’s work was finished – herself was busier, though, as I usually drift through Thursday, the day after deadline day – we walked on one of Rosses Point’s scenic beaches.
There, as we strolled with the dupers for company, we spotted a couple in the distance, also with two black, galloping dogs. It was like looking in a mirror. We wanted to get closer, to see if they really looked like us, but feared that by doing this we would break the spell.
AUGUST 13
THOSE lovely people at Taliban
Ltd are making further inroads into reclaiming total control of Afghanistan. Where will then end? Will the US and British forces have to go back? I forgot to look at the meteor shower last night.
I had a dream of rescuing my clothes from the tide. Each item of clothing was folded neatly but sopping wet from the saltwater. Today is also Friday the 13th which (witch, get it?) did feel especially unlucky to me.
AUGUST 14
DECIDING that Macy, one of our dupers, isn’t pretty enough, we brought her to Petmania at Cleveragh Retail Park for a grooming service. While she was getting her nails clipped, coat trimed, belly hair removed and ears cleaned, we enjoyed breakfast outside from the wonderful Shells Café in Strandhill. For my two GAA gigs, at Keash and then Achonry, the persistent rain followed me. There was tea and pastries provided by Eastern Harps GAA Club and at Nace O’Dowd Park I took shelter in the club shop, where CoolaneyMullinabreena GAA Club were selling Lion bars, KitKats, teas and minerals. I offered to buy an umbrella from Curry’s Adrian Marren, thinking that he wouldn’t need said rain barrier given his full-forward duties against St Mary’s – but he had none to sell.
Meanwhile, Tyrone have done a ‘Sligo’ and declare that they won’t be taking on Kerry in the All-Ireland semi-final. Should the door be open for Monaghan to take their place? I suspect that the GAA will relent, however, and give Tyrone an extra week to get over their Covid-19 woes.
SUNDAY: AUGUST 15
OVERNIGHT, herself has decked the house out in Mayo colours, with the names of various Mayo towns, villages, half-parishes and byroads etched into the living-room walls. I hope that our landlord doesn’t find our or maybe he’s from Bohola. Mayo for Sam – they did slay the Dublin Dragon yesterday evening, with a fierce comeback win – but I am more enthused about United’s winning display against Leeds.
When they are beating City,
Chelsea and Liverpool 5-1 then I will actually believe there’s a title dream to chase. I went from Markievicz Park, where I watched two Ladies Football finals, to a livestream from Dalymount Park, where Sligo Rovers lost. This awful losing streak continues.
AUGUST 16
HERSELF’S wrath for my non-Mayoism is to bin a collection of my favourite socks and jocks. I admit that some of said binned items were being worn by me since 2015 (and probably needed replacing). I’ve changed my tack on Mayo – they deserve to be in the All-Ireland final.
On The Guardian website there was an item that ranked Ariana Grande’s greatest songs. I didn’t recognise any of them. Maybe my musical tastes need changing, just like my tattered jocks.
AUGUST 17
I SHOULD feel elevated. Sligo GAA have finally started listening to me. In last week’s issue I opinioned that there should be no club championship games fixed for the same day as Sligo Minors’ All-Ireland semi-final. Imagine my awe and delight when I scanned through the upcoming fixtures – this Saturday’s main (and only) GAA game is the Minor fixture, Sligo against Meath.
And the throw-in at Cavan’s Kingspan Breffni Park leaves plenty of scope to return to Sligo in time for an evening trip to The Showgrounds where, just maybe, Rovers will get a win. Fingers crossed.