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Mickey Harte - Where To Next.? - 5 Like(s)
Whatever about where Mickey might go, is it time now perhaps for a certain Mr Brolly to step in and let us see how it should be done? God knows he dished out plenty of "advice" and criticism to the outgoing team.
Freethinker (National) - 08/07/2024 19:18:54
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Non-Gaa Forum - 5 Like(s)
Replying To Saynothing: "Don't always agree with Trump, but he fairly put the Ukrainian president in his place. He goes around the world begging and not once have I seen him dressed in a suit. Well done Trump." I'm not too sure what rule book you take your diplomatic conduct guidelines from. Suffice to say that how anybody dresses, never mind a man who has been facing the wrath of Russia for 3 yrs, could be treated so disgracefully publicly by the supposed leader of the free world, is beyond the realms of common decency, never mind diplomacy.
Freethinker (National) - 28/02/2025 18:58:02
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Donal O'Gs Comments On Football In General And The TC In Particular - 5 Like(s)
Any thought on Donal O'Gs comments on football. I personally thought they were OTT. I think he got a little carried away with his flowery articulation of his thoughts. Pat Spillane tore into him over them but I thought that Colm O'Rourke's riposte was classy.
Freethinker (National) - 15/05/2023 17:43:10
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JP McManus Donates €1M To Each County Board - 3 Like(s)
Replying To BarneyGrant: "He does not. Much is also made of his involvement in horse racing, but unlike other wealthy owners he seems to spread his money about. You see the JP colours in all sorts of races and from a fair spread of stables including smaller operators.
I somehow doubt that most of his horses are making money. He seems genuinely to enjoy his part in it, and as others have said you see him pottering about with the ordinary punters at courses.
Same with GAA. Despite the nasty comments about his support for Limerick, their success is not all down to him, nor is it his vanity project.
I used to be well on the left but as i grow older i feel completely divorced from the begrudgers and state worshippers who given 32 million would either spend it on their friends under the pretence of "helping" or otherwise waste it." I am in total agreement with all your points. I, like yourself, used to be on the left, but when that became overpopulated, in my opinion, with zealots some of whom never held down a job in their lives, I mellowed a little. I would be still a little left of centre - not that my political views matters to things relevant to this forum. . As regards JP, whilst he certainly has horses with the high profile trainers he also has, as you say, many with smaller struggling trainers and for some of these, his might be the only "guaranteed" monthly cheque. I would also imagine that the tax take from his Adare Manor including construction and refurbishment, is pretty significant. So, while we won't move to beatify him - just yet - he deserves a big thank you, again, in my humble opinion.
Freethinker (National) - 18/12/2023 11:19:50
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Non-Gaa Forum - 3 Like(s)
Replying To Tirchonaill1: "Glad the volunteers of 1916 and who fought the tans after that hadn't the likes of your attitude anyway,
ah sure it's not the right time now, easy making excuses when all that's really wrong is you haven't the cohones to do anything.
You have to see the big picture and dream big. Takes courage and leadership." Stupid comment. There are 4/5 million people who you are going to have to convince. Not bully or coerce, no matter how big your "cohones". Your attitude won't go very far. Just have a little respect for the opinions of others. Listen and you just might learn something, although I doubt it somehow.
Freethinker (National) - 14/03/2025 15:11:40
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JP McManus Donates €1M To Each County Board - 3 Like(s)
Replying To Viking66: "Why would it bother you how much money a lad has? I talk to people the very same money is irrelevant. I've met sound rich and sound poor people. I know millionaires who you would think haven't a penny. And I know lads who used to hire a big car in England to come home here at Christmas and tell everyone how well they were doing." Very well put. I also knew guys coming back fromEngland back in the day at Christmas flashing pay packets and tolls of cash. Many of them did not fare well as they got older. I don't know JP personally but I practically rubbed shoulders with him on a few occasions at Leopardstown at Christmas time. He always stood down at the end of the stand among the ordinary Joe's. I was at a funeral another day in a Kildare Church. I happened to be late and just stood in the porch and there, with a few other latecomers, stood the bould JP. A quiet unassuming man, in my opinion and every penny he has he made himself, and is entitled to live where he wants and spend his money whatever way he wants.
Freethinker (National) - 15/12/2023 19:05:23
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Joe McDonagh Cup 2023 - 3 Like(s)
Replying To Viking66: "Bray have been making great strides the last 10 years. Great to see! Massive population there if they can get lads hurling." Bray Emmets also compete in the Dublin Intermediate league. O believe they won promotion last year. I don't know what grade they came into the leagues at.
Freethinker (National) - 17/05/2023 18:55:56
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Oscars For Diving Goes To.. - 3 Like(s)
Replying To germac: "Peter Canavan the best diver i ever seen, he was absolutely brilliant at it many a day i thought he was going to roll off the pitch" In fairness to Canavan he shipped his fair amount of heavy tackles in his day. Once he got the ball in hand it was open season on him.
Freethinker (National) - 11/03/2023 10:13:49
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Non-Gaa Forum - 3 Like(s)
Replying To Tirchonaill1: "Whatever about the Americans isn't our own Dail a complete joke?
Glad to see a ceasefire of sorts on the way in the Ukraine, President Trump is doing his best to end the fighting at least.
Russia is dictating the terms, Zelensky will do as he's told or else seems to be the way of it. Hopefully it will all be settled by Easter." There is no way that it will be settled by Easter. It will end when Mr Putin says it will, and not before. You are probably right in saying that Mr Trump is "doing his best", but his best, so far, is to capitulate to Mr Putin. He accused Zelensky in the Oval Office of having no cards left - irony here is that Mr T had given them all away - use of American weapons in Russia, joining NATO and others as soon as he cosied back up with his best buddy . . Mr T s strategy seems to be that America should "own " stuff - Canada, Greenland, Gaza, the Panama Canal, Ukrainian "rare earth minerals" and now he has his eye on power plants in Ukraine. It seems as if, backed up by that fiasco of the Yemen group chat, the worst fears of the Western world are being borne out. Chastened by his experiences in his first term. Mr T has surrounded himself with arch yes men who have no concept of conventional diplomacy, security or geo - politics in general l. Their common qualification seems to be being multi millionaires Just watch them at a press conference or whatever. They are like kids at a party enjoying the goodies. It would all be hilarious if it wasn't so scary. And we haven't even mentioned Mr T's favourite tool, tariffs.
Freethinker (National) - 26/03/2025 08:12:20
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JP McManus Donates €1M To Each County Board - 3 Like(s)
Replying To Galway9801: ""The point you're making is pointless".
Jesus wept it's worse this forum is getting." Well said Galway 9801. Some posters are just using this forum as a debating rostrum, forgetting that in most civilised debates you get one shot at making your point, so they keep on at it like a dog with a bone. Then, if they feel they are not getting their "point" across they can get a bit personal. The vast majority of supporters of our games welcome Mr McManus's wonderful gesture. There will always be begrudgers but I get the feeling that not all those putting up differing arguments on here actually fall into this "begrudgery" category. This thing of counties with large numbers of clubs versus smaller counties is, to me, just something that is as it is. I would imagine that if the benefactor had to have somebody calculate the number of clubs in the country and allocate the funds accordingly, some clubs in the lesser populated counties would feel aggrieved. I know that one of the smaller rural clubs in my own county would be a tad annoyed if they were put on a par with say Crokes in Dublin. The parable of the labourer in the vineyard comes to mind.
Freethinker (National) - 18/12/2023 08:35:09
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Non-Gaa Forum - 3 Like(s)
Replying To UtahBlaine: "Whats even more bizarre in a way is the amount of people who never played the game in their life ,or any game for that matter, who are now suddenly rugby supporters." Silly comment. How many race goers have actually ridden a horse, never mind ridden in a race b
Freethinker (National) - 05/02/2024 16:37:13
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Non-Gaa Forum - 3 Like(s)
Replying To ForeverBlue2: "Pity we don't have a 'Trump' type figure leading our country who would put Irish citizens first instead of pondering to every Tom , Dick and Harry from all over the world…" Careful what you wish for. Personally, I think Mr T is an abhorrent member of the human species. He has no redeeming features. He is a narcissistic, amoral, pathological liar. I have no wish to be governed by him or anything resembling him. Anyone who loves him so much can always move over there, but, here, with all its warts and imperfections will do me fine.
Freethinker (National) - 07/06/2025 13:46:32
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Move To National Forum Only Model - 3 Like(s)
Replying To Tarismelting22: "Terrible idea you have just ruined the hoganstand. I know this will not be posted but you just ruined the best part of the hoganstand where the club game from senior to junior in each county is discussed weekly by die hard supporter. DO you think a dublin gaa supporter wants to hear about the junior club championship in roscommon." Tarismelting22. I have to agree totally with you on this. I was shocked when I couldn't log onto the Wicklow forum. This finishes me with the Hogan Stand. I would have a passing interest in all things GAA but absolutely no interest in getting involved or even reading this other stuff. Possibly other people from the different counties could set up a forum for each county that could be interlinked to other ones. We had some great debates with people from other counties after it before an inter county match, but doing this through a national forum - no thanks.
Freethinker (National) - 30/09/2021 08:50:10
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Sunday Game - 3 Like(s)
Replying To royaldunne: "She is. But they missed a huge opportunity when they didn't give it to evanne. Now there's a woman who knows her sports and can get pundits to to actually talk. Huge own goal on RTÉ part" You'd wonder who their agents are or whose stable they belong to. Maybe that is below the belt. After all that bull of the last few weeks, nobody really knows who calls the shots when allocating the various slots. I personally think Ms Cantwell doesn't do a great job. I too rarely watch TSG anymore. I am all for gender equality but for gods sake let them be up to the job. Not just token equality. Then you see some mixing sports ? What's all that about ? For me, removing Brolly was the start of a slide into mediocrity. Love him or hate him at least he brought a bit of life to the show. It can be interesting to watch the eye contact between pundits and presenter when asked their opinions. I know it is a different sport but just maybe it wasn't only the football that Liam Brady had fallen out of love with.
Freethinker (National) - 01/08/2023 10:47:58
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Wicklow GAA thread - 2 Like(s)
Davy Burke is flying at the minute with the Rossies. Fair play to him. I'd love to know the inside story on why he left us.
Freethinker (National) - 06/02/2023 14:14:43
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Masters Over 50s Squad - 2 Like(s)
Replying To Galway9801: "Not too bothered about the international rules. I liked the concept but once the powers that be cracked down on the disgraceful violence in the matches the aussies seemed to lose interest." I think that most would agree with you in liking the "concept" in its earlier stages, the tweaks along the way kept improving it, but the concept got hijacked by a "win at all costs" mentality creeping in to the game - mostly initiated by one side, in my opinion. The last game I attended was nothing short of thuggery. Most people who love Gaelic football had had enough of this "hybrid model" when it was finally put to rest. I think our professional cousins from down under couldn't handle being equalled or even surpassed in skill by players from an amateur game.
Freethinker (National) - 21/12/2023 08:23:33
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Oscars For Diving Goes To.. - 2 Like(s)
Replying To Suas Sios: "Can't speak for anyone else in Down, but for Me Peter Canavan was the best forward I ever saw in the flesh. I remember He got butchered by Meath in '96 and played on half crippled. Think he might have dived to win a penalty against us some year, but it was not likely a game we were going to win. Let it go Germac." These are also my recollections of Peter Canavan. Particularly that Meath incident. I have no idea of any of the other stuff, but certainly on the big stage, if he won a foul he earned it the hard way. We on Wicklow have had some brilliant footballers over the years but seldom to get to see them on any big stage so we appreciate watching good footballers from other counties whenever we can and he was certainly as good as any I have ever looked at. Whatever about referees getting fooled by diving - they ( referees) and the authorities have to be commended for stamping out most of what can only be described as thuggery meted out to some of the more naturally gifted and classy players on opposing teams over the years.
Freethinker (National) - 12/03/2023 14:39:51
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Non-Gaa Forum - 2 Like(s)
Replying To BarneyGrant: "Of course he can and will distinguish between some illegals and others.
"Jesus nonsense".... There you go. ..." He didn't take too kindly to being reprimanded by that bishop at the prayer meeting either. Really tore off on a rant at her later on his SM platform. He seems to have a clearly defined ( in his own head at least) vision of what his god wants him to do, and it doesn't seem to include taking advice from spokespersons of lesser gods. Twould all be comic if it wasn't so serious b
Freethinker (National) - 22/01/2025 10:13:12
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Non-Gaa Forum - 2 Like(s)
Replying To Tirchonaill1: "I don't know if you are far right of far wrong, woke or whatever other category is being bandied about these days but western society is going down the pan and we are pulling the chain ourselves, whether people realise this now or later when it's too late it doesn't seem to matter anymore.
Just have a look at the state England is in today, then maybe take a trip to eastern Europe and see the difference." I don't see anything in Eastern Europe that even tempts me into thinking that they have a better way of doing things. If you prefer to line your life under right wing dictatorships - which is mostly what these states are - then feel free to move there, and the best of luck to you when you get there. I don't see any great exodus from westerns states to any of these countries.
Freethinker (National) - 14/12/2024 22:07:25
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Fresh Faces for the County Senior Team!!! - 2 Like(s)
With the exception of that from Mr Mustard, I agree wholeheartedly with the well put sentiments above. We are in deep manure as a county. The problem would appear to be that not enough people realise this or not enough are prepared to do something about it. Although, in fairness, we are so far adrift that there is no land in sight anywhere. When I was younger I watched Wicklow senior hurling and football teams playing Galway in both codes in Aughrim on the same day and give a good performance in both. Now we can beat nobody. Ok, we drew with Waterford but at least they are flying with their hurling teams. The only answer lies with our juveniles and how they are prepared. I am not qualified to suggest how that can be accomplished and I wonder how many in the county are. I do know that many of the stalwarts from our clubs of the last 20 plus years are now working with the kids in their own clubs and this can only be a positive.
Freethinker (Wicklow) - 06/02/2018 20:58:55
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