Cash, not loyal support, is GAA’s preferred currency

IT IS very easy to agree with recent criticism of the GAA’s decision to give Sky such a large slice of the cake in allotting live coverage of this summer’s Championship games. On the first Saturday of July there were three exciting provincial hurling semifinals and only supporters prepared to fork out extra cash could view the action from them.

Fair play to John Drennan for his remark, ‘When it comes to the clash of the ash, it seems the race for the cash is taking precedence’, (MoS, July 4). Like many others, I refused to cough up the extra money to see the matches and was content to listen to the radio commentaries.

Last year, Sky showed the games on Sportsmix and many could watch them at no extra cost. But this year they are on the Arena channel, which most fans do not have. The GAA has been accused of selling its soul and countless followers of its games are blotted out.

Older supporters who have given so much to the association down the decades deserve better, but it does seem that profit comes before people in the thinking of the GAA ‘powers that be’.

Willie Wilson, Waterford city.

Fooled by Ursula

PLáMáS is an old Irish word for empty flattery, ingratiating talk or disingenuous praise. It was certainly working overtime during the visit of Ursula von der Leyen to Dublin during the week as she hoodwinked poor Micheál regarding Ireland’s share of the EU fund for recovery after the Covid pandemic. Ireland is to get €989m out of a fund of €750bn.

The population of the EU is 446 million; the population of Ireland is a little under five million. Purely on population figures, Ireland should receive just over €8.4bn. It is understandable that other countries may have suffered more, but it is surely stretching understanding beyond credulity to discover Ireland is getting less than 12% of what the average might be. This reflects rather badly on Ireland’s earlier expectation of at least €5bn.

All was ‘plámásed’ over in Dublin, however, as Micheál received ‘best boy in the class’ for ‘exemplary’ handling of the Covid-19 crisis in Ireland.

This award is a joke as any ‘exemplary’ outcomes appear to have happened despite, rather than because of, the Government.

Padraic Neary, Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo.

Commuters beware

THE price of petrol and diesel seems to be rising inexorably and we are told it is due to increased demand as the world starts moving again after lockdowns.

However, both now cost more than pre-pandemic levels despite the fact that many commuters are still working from home.

In January 2020, the price of petrol was just under €1.45 a litre and diesel was just under €1.36 a litre, according to the AA. Midpandemic

(January 2021) these prices fell to €1.30 for petrol and €1.20 for diesel. But in my local filling station, a litre of diesel is now back at €1.45.

If demand is pushing the price up, I dread to think what it will cost when the workforce gets back in their cars in September.

S. Kelly, Naas, Co. Kildare.

No laughing matter

DURING the pandemic, myself and my husband relished our daily walks. However, we could not help but notice large piles of small metal canisters in our local park. On investigation I have learned these are called ‘silver bullets’ and contain nitrous oxide, or ‘laughing gas’, which, when inhaled, gives a high that lasts up to 30 seconds.

It can lead to disorientation, dizziness, unsteadiness and falling. It can also induce vomiting and lead to paranoia.

Judging by the amount of these ‘bullets’ littered everywhere, they must be cheap and easy to obtain. This is an unrecognised epidemic among our young people that deserves attention.

P. Maguire, Co. Dublin.

No more AA therapy

AFTER 32 years of reporting, AA Roadwatch disappeared from the airwaves this past week leaving me disoriented and at a loss.

As I arose from my own overnight maintenance, not a word anymore on how maintenance on either or both bores of the Dublin Port tunnel had fared overnight.

No further mention as to whether I should try to avoid the Red Cow roundabout, or if Galwegians going to work will be further stressed because things aren’t good on Bóthar na dTreabh.

As an old soldier now retired, I can’t imagine how my days on overseas service would now be soothed in the absence of this familiar and reassuring therapy.

Michael Gannon, Kilkenny city.