Madam, – What a wonderful sporting weekend for Ireland, with rugby and boxing successes going some way to lift the spirits of a nation in deep crisis.
What a disappointment that Ireland can’t have an honours system to give these sporting heroes, and many others, a tangible token of our appreciation of their fine achievements because we can’t trust gombeen Fianna Fáil politicians not to devalue such a system by awarding honours to themselves and their cronies.
Nearly 100 years into statehood are we still so politically immature that we can’t give serious thought to reviving the Order of St Patrick with a stipulation that it cannot be awarded to politicians? – Yours, etc,
A chara, – Commentators have noted that there are perhaps economic lessons from the Irish rugby team’s historic achievement. Through teamwork and determination the Irish rugby team achieved the glory of a Grand Slam only two years after a pretty dismal world cup.
But let’s not forget that it took much more than the right attitude – it also took a complete change of management. Perhaps that’s the pertinent point if we are going to compare the rugby performance with the Irish economy. – Is mise,
Madam, – A big thankyou for excellent coverage of Grand Slam win. Pictures and coverage both in the paper and online do justice to a marvellous occasion. Especially inspirational is the poster.
This win is not just the culmination of the work and dedication of the team and management. Many people have contributed on a voluntary basis: coaching, training, kit-cleaning, fundraising, supporting and chauffeuring. These are, for the main part, the unsung heroes and heroines who help form – from the earliest age – the stars of today, in rugby and other the sports.
Let us take a moment to thank and salute them. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – The personal humility, honest character and generous praise heaped on all involved in Irish rugby by coach Declan Kidney in the immediate aftermath of the historic Grand Slam victory last Saturday in Cardiff was a throw-back to a bygone Ireland of more traditional values – perhaps even back to 1948, the last time we achieved the same sporting feat.
The impeccable post-match behaviour by Declan Kidney, Captain Brian O’Driscoll and all the squad since the final whistle sounded in the Millennium Stadium may be the truest sign that the Celtic Tiger has finally been slain.
To then hear that new WBA Super-Bantamweight World Champion, Bernard Dunne, spent almost two hours at the hospital bedside of his beaten opponent after achieving his incredible comeback at the O2 Arena in the early hours of Sunday morning, confirmed that belief.
The future now looks much brighter. – Yours etc,
Madam, — Various media are at pains to inform us that Saturday’s triumph in Cardiff was only our second time in more than 120 years to achieve a Grand Slam – that is, beating all opposition in the competition. This is not correct.
Ireland won Triple Crowns in 1893/94 and 1898/99 and although Grand Slams weren’t mentioned then, by today’s thinking that is precisely what they were. Needless to say, I didn’t play in any of these matches but I thought it appropriate to mention that five of my fellow Monkstown FC members did, namely EF Campbell, LH Gwynn, CC Moriarty, PE O’Brien Butler, and CV Rooke. – Yours, etc,