I finally got around to watching Tall, Dark, and Ó hAilpÃn[1] last night. It was an observational documentary looking at the lives of three of the Ó hAilpÃns; Seán Óg, Setanta and Aisake.
Seán Óg[2] is a hurler for Cork, but the two others have headed Down Under to become professional Aussie Rules players. And seeing the difference it’d certainly make you think about whether or not the GAA should turn professional. Is it any wonder that the Aussies won the International Rules series? Their players don’t have to worry about jobs as well as playing football; they just train and play. Course, I’m not so sure if it’d work. Are we a big enough country[3] to support 32 full-time professional teams? Actually, it’d be more than 32 wouldn’t it, cause there is football and hurling.
Whatever.
Anyways, I don’t get the drooling over the Ó hAilpÃns, they aren’t ugly, but *shrug*.
So I was telling Kelly about[1] my lying dog[2] and I thought I might as well share his fibs.
He gets fed twice a day, morning and evening, and he is a creature of habit. If it is a minute past five he’ll let you know that he should’ve been fed by now. Unless of course it is raining outside, or a little windy, in which case you really should bring his bowl inside. Bloody soft lump of a mutt that he is.
And it doesn’t help that we are all spoiling him lately. On account of his injured back. We’ve been being nice to him and letting him come into the kitchen[3] and letting him have little treats[4] so he is utterly convinced that he can do no wrong at the moment.
Including walking in front of de brudders when they were experimenting with a shot-putt, no wonder the mutt has a bad back[5]
Hmm, I was supposed to be revealing his fibbing ways, and his increasing response of “I’m so terribly sorry, but I simply didn’t hear you when you screamed my name. Now where’s my Markie?” But look, I’ll cunningly disguise my lack of details by showing you Sean Óg:
Well, I’m back. Bit later than I thought, but I stayed an extra day because I got a bit of a cold and didn’t want to be on the train with a runny nose and watery eyes.
You may remember that I was cheering for Galway when they played against Kilkenny, well, Sunday was the All-Ireland Hurling Final, and Galway were playing Cork. I said I was still cheering for Galway, but I’ll admit to being a little conflicted.
I do like Sean Óg O hAlipin, and Diarmuid O’Sullivan is also a favourite of mine, and both play for Cork. Still, Cork won last year so I would have preferred if Galway were crowned champions this time round. It wasn’t to be, Cork were, quite simply, the better team. Any time it seemed that Galway might gain the upper hand Cork simply lifted their game, and never looked like losing.
I suppose Galwegians can take some comfort from their victory in the minor final.
And yesterday, when I should have been off shopping, I was instead at home watching the final Battlestar Galactica dvds. It is quite good, no Firefly but entertaining and well-written.
Also went for a driving lesson when I was home. Drove over to Coney Island[1] and back, then the brother (#3) had a bit of practice, and finally the sister, although because she is only 9 she didn’t have to work the pedals. Went okay, I only conked it out once when I forgot to put my foot on the clutch when starting off. Need a bit of practice at changing gear though.
Linknotes:
Oileán na gCoÃnÃnà - the island of rabbits can be reached by walking/driving at low tide. ↩
Their players don’t have to worry about jobs as well as playing football; they just train and play. Course, I’m not so sure if it’d work. Are we a big enough country[3] to support 32 full-time professional teams? Actually, it’d be more than 32 wouldn’t it, cause there is football and hurling.
I do like Sean Óg O hAlipin, and Diarmuid O’Sullivan is also a favourite of mine, and both play for Cork. Still, Cork won last year so I would have preferred if Galway were crowned champions this time round. It wasn’t to be, Cork were, quite simply, the better team. Any time it seemed that Galway might gain the upper hand Cork simply lifted their game, and never looked like losing.