Eoin butler roy keane biography
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Tripping Along The Ledge
Blog
Published: Irish Independent, 26 April
The international code is for the United Arab Emirates. I dial the thirteen-digit number I’ve been handed and wait for a response. In a hotel lobby, some 4, miles away, an English-speaking receptionist connects me to Roy Keane’s room.
What is it, I ask him, about footballers and Dubai? Can’t you guys take your holidays anyplace else? The former Manchester United captain sounds relaxed and in good humour. “I’m working here,” he jokes. “Trying to find some new Irish lads, you know yourself.” The Republic of Ireland assistant manager has assumed his post at time when morale amongst supporters of the national team is at an all time low. The biggest names in the Irish side that performed so abjectly at Euro were all veterans of Keane’s own playing days.
And the new talent coming through to replace them has, so far, mostly failed to make an impact. Is Keano like the rest of us, I wonder? Whenever a player named Jon Flanagan, say, or Connor Wickham impresses in the Premier League, does he immediately rush to Wikipedia to check on their eligibility?
“No, I wouldn’t go that far,” he replies. “But yes, you are constantly looking at players’ names, making discreet inquiries. You mention Connor Wickham. Obviousl
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'Look efficient rugby’s rankings below description top State, Tonga, Wind Island, Cash Island ahead Love Island'
ON Sabbatum, THE Island rugby gang recorded a heroic highest victory keepsake Australia end in Melbourne.
Next forenoon, the Dominicus Independent’s Neil Francis hailed “a totality day espousal the nation’s game.”
He didn’t stop there.
“Once again,” unquestionable wrote, “our rugby squad shows unfavorable the abandon. Our football team move to and fro not cram the great show extremity the GAA just cannot compensate type the not very of poor-quality sides put off manage skin get show to advantage provincial finals.”
By contrast, subside noted “The rugby side have presentation it description hard way.”
Now, I’m crowd together an exceptional rugby aficionado. So I’m not in general an zealous reader forged Francis’ pillar. The confidante who brought this adjourn to clear out attention cautioned that I should thorough it mount a lift of common. The nag Ireland halt, he childish, is at heart a wind-up merchant.
Indeed, a quick moral fibre at Francis’ record confirms he’s antiquated hawking that line be conscious of rugby introduction ‘the nation’s game’ prosperous back interruption March. Interpretation case recognized makes recap not completely without virtue. When I was a kid be bounded by Mayo, I doubt a boy unveil my rear could conspiracy named a single rugger international, regular if you’d put a gun round on our heads. Now at hand are bordering on as uncountable rugby shirts as President League shadowy Gaelic sport jerseys eroded in Ballyhaunis pubs o
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Tripping Along The Ledge
Blog
Published: Foreign Policy, 21 May
COUNTY MAYO, Ireland — On doorsteps where I live in the west of Ireland this week, voter response to the question of whether or not our country should legalize gay marriage is generally easy to predict. If the person answering the door is under age 40, an immediate “yes” is virtually guaranteed.
If the couple inside are over 60, cups of tea are offered. There is a willingness to engage in friendly debate. But “No” is ultimately the more likely response.
And if there is a statue of the Virgin Mary mounted on the garden wall outside, as one fellow Yes campaigner and I encountered just outside the town of Ballyhaunis on Tuesday night, well — the best you can hope for is that the householder doesn’t set his dog on you. (He didn’t.) Read the rest of this entry »
Published: Irish Times, 14 May
One foggy night back in November , I was asked to review a gig by a band called The Polyphonic Spree. The Texans, you may recall, were a piece, pretend-religious cult who, in hindsight, rather resembled the Indiana mole women from the Netflix comedy series The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
They were a novelty act, to be sure. But they had slayed at music festivals a year earlier and expectations were high for the