The strange absence of Bible stories from the gay marriage debate

The referendum on same-sex marriage to be held next year seems destined to be acrimonious and highly contested.

Already the 'Pantigate' episode has prompted threats of legal action, compensation payments and claims of attempts to silence opinions on both sides of the debate.

The central issue in the affair revolves around the role being played by homophobia in the debate.

Some have claimed that opposition to same-sex marriage is by definition homophobic, a view that has provoked much outrage in opponents of the measure.

Rather than making blanket statements which leave no room for further debate, a more revealing approach would be to examine whether there are any arguments against same-sex marriage that are not based on homophobia.

Another feature of the debate so far is the total absence of any reference to religious doctrine by devout Catholics who oppose same-sex marriage.

Instead their opposition is based on the “won't someone please think of the children” principle.

Apparently marriage is all about the kids and as gay couples can't conceive children together they have no right to get married.

Where this convenient definition of marriage comes from is another question, personally I would define marriage as a public declaration of love and commitment between a couple. Whether that couple go on to have children is beside the point.

Opponents of same-sex marriage also claim that gay couples are not as good at parenting as a male-female couples. Research showing otherwise is duly dismissed.

One thing we can be clear on however is that the Catholic Church, most Christian denominations (and many other religions) are unambiguously homophobic.

The official line of the Catholic Church on the subject is: “Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that 'homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.' ”

The 'Sacred Scripture' includes the Old Testament tale of Sodom and Gomorrah. This story begins with the visit of two magical creatures known as 'angels' to a man called Lot in the city of Sodom. The men of the city (all of them, apparently) took a shining to these two visitors and declared that they wanted to have sex with them. Being a righteous man Lot was absolutely horrified by this idea, so he offered his two daughters to the mob so they could “do what you like with them”, i.e. to gang rape them.

(This is not the only questionable sexual episode involving Lot and his daughters, for details on incest between them see Genesis19: 30-38).

Anyway, the men of Sodom declined the offer, but the two angels were able to stop them from entering the house by casting some sort of spell that blinded them. They then advised Lot to leave the city with his family and to never to look back. Then someone called 'The Lord' destroyed the city and all its people with burning sulphur from the sky. Lot escaped but his wife was not so fortunate, she looked back at the city and was instantly turned into salt.

It seems from the story that 'The Lord' is a remarkable individual. He can conjure sulphur and turn the constituent parts of the human body into sodium chloride. Plus he has a 'The' in his name.

This tale forms the basis of the Catholic Church's opposition to homosexuality, today, as well as the 'religious convictions' and 'genuinely held beliefs' we have heard so much of. This includes the complaints that people are being oppressed because they can't discriminate against gay people due to these beliefs.

The Bible condemns homosexuality, but if anyone actually read the book you would quickly notice the large number of behaviours that are also forbidden, including eating shellfish, wearing clothes made of two fabrics, getting a tattoo or working on the Sabbath.

One rule which may be relevant depending on how heated the referendum debate gets is that under no circumstances can a woman grab the genitals of a man who is fighting her husband. If she does her hand is to be chopped off.

The Bible also contains a wide range of immoral behaviours that are condoned or encouraged by God (which, by the way, includes Jesus), including murder, genocide, rape and slavery.

Why Christian churches cherry-pick the Bible's condemnation of homosexual people and ignore numerous other condemnations in the Sacred Scriptures, like the one about the testicle-grabbing wives, is a question I would love to hear answered.

None of this would matter but for the impact Christian teachings have had on the laws of this country, including teachings based on an anti-gay fairytale written 2,500 years ago.

It also leaves me wondering why supporters of the Catholic Church who are against same-sex marriage do not cite their church's views on homosexuality ('grave depravity', 'intrinsically disordered', etc) when opposing the reform, instead of relying entirely on dubious secular arguments.

One possibility is that they don't share these views, i.e. their opposition to same-sex marriage is totally unrelated to the religious opposition to same-sex marriage their church has.

Hopefully we will have an answer to this puzzle before the referendum takes place next year.

Bánú na Gaeilge ó stair na hÉireann

Tá an-suim agam i stair na hÉireann, ach rud amháin a thug mé faoi dheara go minic ná an laghad tagairtí don Ghaeilge a bhíonn i leabhair staire. De gnáth is fo-nóta atá sa teanga, déantar tagairtí anseo is ansiúd dó ach sin é.

An sampla is measa den nós seo a tháinig mé ar riamh ná an leabhar meánscoile – Focus on the Past 2. Foilsíodh an leabhar seo in 1990 - níl a fhios agam an bhfuil sé fós in úsáid, ach tá súil agam nach bhfuil. Clúdaíonn an leabhar Teastas Sóisearaigh stair na hÉireann agus na hEorpa ó 1450-1850. Leagtar béim ar stair shóisialta agus eacnamaíochta mar aon le stair pholaitiúil.

Déanann an leabhar a mhúineann stair do pháistí na Poblachta éagóir uafásach ar an nGaeilge. Tá níos mó ráite ann faoin Réabhlóid Tionsclaíoch ná an Ghaeilge. Tá dhá thagairt don teanga - mír an-bheag ag an deireadh faoi thionchar an Ghorta ar an teanga agus píosa faoin difríocht idir an cultúr Gaelach agus an cultúr Sasanach ag deireadh na meánaoiseanna.

Seo an píosa faoin nGorta:

“The Irish speaking areas of the south and west suffered most from death and emigration, both during and after the Famine. The numbers of Irish speakers fell drastically as a result. These areas continued to experience high levels of emigration in the following decades.”

Ní hamháin nach bhfuil mórán ann faoin nGaeilge (nó faoi mheath na Gaeilge – ceann de na hathraithe sóisialta is mó is stair na hÉireann) tugann sé eolas míchruinn faoi bheocht na teanga freisin.

Breathnaigh ar na léarscáileanna thíos, na cinn a dhéanann 'cur síos' ar staid na Gaeilge in 1851 agus 1891.


Ar thaobh na léarscáileanna deirtear “Between 1851 and 1891, the areas where nearly everyone spoke Irish had been much reduced in size” agus sa mhír é fhéin deirtear “Areas where most people spoke Irish.”

Dóibh siúd le cur amach acu ar bheocht na teanga sa lá atá inniu ann, is léir cé chomh míchruinn is atá an cur síos seo.

Cén áit as ar tháinig na maíomhanna in Focus on the Past? Is ó Dhaonáireamh 1851 agus 1891 a thagann siad. Seo léarscáil a léiríonn na háiteanna sa tír ina raibh Gaeilge ag ar a laghad 25% den phobal de réir Daonáirimh 1851.



An bhféachann sibh cén áit a bhfuair Focus on the Past an fhaisnéis - ceantracha ina bhfuil Gaeilge ag 80% den phobal amháin atá curtha sa leabhar – sin an ciall le “Areas where most people spoke Irish” de réir dealraimh. Déantar neamhaird ar na ceantracha eile ina raibh Gaeilge ag formhór an phobail. Baintear úsáid as an gcleas céanna le daonáireamh 1891.

N'fheadar cén fáth gur cuireadh an t-eolas míchruinn seo os comhar páistí méanscoile, ach is náireach an scéal é gur tharla a leithéad.

Tá sé deacair teacht ar shonraí faoin leabhar, ach de réir na bileoga seo ón bhfoilsitheoir, Gill & Macmillan, bhí an chéad eagrán de Focus on the Past á mhúineadh go 50% de pháistí na Poblachta.

"Study the map showing the decline in the number of Irish speakers in the years after the Famine," a deir an leabhar.

Cén teachtaireacht a thugann na léaráidí míchruinn seo do pháistí a dhéanann staidéar orthu? An teachtaireacht a fhaighim uathu ná gur beag baint a bhí ag an nGaeilge le formhór na tíre le fada fada an lá. Má chreideann páistí nach raibh Gaeilge á labhairt ina gceantar leis na cianta, tá baol ann go gceapfaidh siad nach bhfuil ceangal acu féin leis an teanga, agus níos lú seans go mbeidh fonn orthu í a fhoghlaim (rud a tharlaíonn i mBaile Átha Cliath).

Mar a dúirt an fear – an té a bhfuil smacht aige ar an am atá caite, beidh smacht aige ar an am atá le teacht.

Anois cuir an éagóir i gcomhthéacs measúnaithe eile ar bheocht na Gaeilge, mar shampla an ceann seo ó 1800.



Níl a fhios agam cén faisnéis a úsáideadh don léarscáil seo, ach is dócha go gcuireann an easpa eolais atá againn faoi bheocht na Gaeilge roimh an nGorta leis an bpointe faoi bhánú na teanga ó stair na hÉireann.

An torc i logainmneacha na hÉireann

Tá díospóireacht ar siúl faoi láthair maidir le stádas an toirc in Éirinn.

Le blianta beaga anuas thángthas ar an ainmhí sa tír, idir chinn a d'éalaigh ó fheirmeacha agus cinn a scaoil sealgairí d'aon ghnó.

Tá Speicis Ionracha Éireann ag iarraidh stop a chur le scaipeadh an toirc, ach ní aontaíonn an Irish Wildlife Trust leis an bpolasaí seo.

Dar le Speicis Ionracha Éireann ní ainmhí dúchasach iad toisc nár tháinig siad go hÉireann as a stuaim féin i ndiaidh an Oighir Aois deireanach - thart ar 8,000 RC.

Dar leo thóg daoine iad go dtí an tír níos déanaí. De réir cláir sa tsraith 'Ag Dul in Éag' ar TG4 maraíodh an torc deireanach in Éirinn san 12ú hAois.

Ceist chasta atá ann ach níl aon dabht ach go ndeachaidh an torc (nó an collach mar a ghlaodh air chomh maith) i bhfeidhm ar dhaoine in Éirinn - mar a léiríonn an Fhiannaíocht agus na logainmeacha seo.

Inisturk - Inis Toirc - Boar Island
Kanturk - Ceann Toirc - Boar Head
Maamturk - Mám Toirc - Boar Pass
Bailieborough - Coill an Chollaigh - Boar Wood
Ballincollig - Baile an Chollaigh - Boar Townland

Má bhreathnaíonn tú ar 'Ainmneacha Cosúla' ag an nasc seo feicfidh tú go bhfuil go leor logainmneacha eile a bhaineann leis an torc, cúig 'Cluain Torc' ina measc.

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An-tóir ar dhrámaí Gaeilge i mBaile Átha Cliath

Bhí páirt an-bheag agam i léiriú de chuid Aisteoirí Bulfin le déanaí - Gur Eile. Seo an chéad uair ó rang na naoínán móra a rinne mé aisteoireacht agus bhain mé an-sult as.

Bhí beagáinín d'imní orm nuair a chuala mé go mbeadh dráma Gaeilge eile, Sétanta, ar siúl ag an am céanna in Amharclann na Mainistreach. Cheap mé go mbeadh an lucht féachana do Gur Eile, a bhí ar siúl sa New Theatre, go mbeadh sé thíos leis dá bharr.

Ní amhlaidh a bhí, ná baol air. Bhí Gur Eile lán ón gCéadaoin go dtí an Satharn. Seo an chéad uair d'Aisteoirí Bulfin léiriú a dhíoladh amach go hiomlán ó bunaíodh an compántas ag deireadh na 1960í.

Bhí an-ráth ar Sétanta chomh maith. Díoladh é amach ceithre oíche agus bhí sé trí cheathrú lán an cúigiú oíche. Tá díomá orm nach raibh mé in ann é a fheiceáil ach tá súil agam go mbeidh sé ar siúl arís.

Sílim gur éacht den scoth a bhí ann dhá dhráma Gaeilge a chur ar siúl sa chathair ag an am céanna agus oiread sin tóir a bheith orthu.

Ardú croí atá ann gan amhras.

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Do Unionist politicians understand what British means?

There was a furore in the Northern Ireland Assembly last week when SDLP MLA Dominic Bradley was censured following a spat involving the Irish language.

Bradley was in the process of asking a question in Irish (which he was going to translate to English), when he was interrupted by David McNarry of the UUP (you can read the transcript here).

McNarry is an extremist when it comes to Irish, having tried to ban the language in the Assembly a number of years ago.

Bradley objected to being barracked by McNarry, but instead of being allowed to carry on he was asked to sit down by the Deputy Speaker, Roy Beggs. He refused and was later sent a letter by the main Speaker, Willie Hay, saying he would be denied speaking rights for an unspecified period.

The sorry episode is another example of hostility to the Irish language among Unionist politicians. It shows that they oppose the language even when spoken by peaceful constitutional nationalists like the SDLP.

All bases are covered in Stormont when it comes to the language. If it's a few words of Irish at the start of a speech it's tokenism, if it's half in Irish and half in English it wastes time and if simultaneous translation was proposed that would be waste of money. The message is clear - no Irish speakers about the place.

Antipathy to the Irish language has been a feature of British politicians in Ireland since the Middle Ages, so this is not something new.

Various reasons are given by today's Unionist parties for their hostility to Irish, one of which is that it is a threat to Northern Ireland's Britishness, an argument that has been made by people in the DUP, UUP and TUV.

These parties' entire world view is defined by being British. They are British in the same way that Americans are American or Danes are Danish, yet many of them don't seem to understand what 'British' actually means.

British, by definition, incorporates cultures and characteristics that are indigenous to or have developed in the United Kingdom. We are told that it is an inclusive, 'umbrella' term which covers English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish identities. It allows people to be English and British, Scottish and British, Welsh and British etc.

The Unionist parties say that Northern Ireland is British, which is why they often have images of the six counties covered in the Union Jack, so that means that cultures indigenous to Northern Ireland are also British (this also holds for the rest of Ireland for people who use the term 'British Isles').

Scots and Welsh people complain that many in England use the word 'British' when what they really mean is English. It seems that many Unionist politicians in the North think the same too.

If they believe Northern Ireland is British, they have to accept that the Irish is a British language in the same way as Unionists in Scotland and Wales say their indigenous languages are. In fact, compared to the respect shown to Scottish Gaelic and Welsh in Britain, Unionist opposition to the Irish language is downright anti-British.

Of course, the above definition of Britishness is the de jure one. The de facto definition has been different - culturally and politically, Great Britain can often seem like Greater England.

In terms of language, one thing is clear, the Union has been a complete and utter disaster. Manx, Cornish, Channel Island French and Irish (in the parts of Ireland that remained in the UK) have been wiped out as community languages, Scottish Gaelic is at death's door, Scots has been ridiculed and marginalised while even Welsh is under severe pressure from English in its heartland.

The de facto definition of Britishness promoted in Britain and Ireland until recent decades was Englishness, essentially. Things have changed in Scotland and Wales, and some people in Northern Ireland like the UUP's Basil McCrea have too , but it's about time other Unionist politicians realised that English and British are not the same thing.

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X-Men ag iarraidh bean a smachtú

Bhí mé ag breathnú ar X-Men The Last Stand tamall ó shin agus thug mé rud éigin suimiúil faoi dheara faoin bplota.

Sa scannán déanann ceannaire na X-Men, Professor X, iarracht smacht a choiméad ar Jean Grey, baill den ghrúpa 'sóiteáin'.

Tá dhá phearsantacht ag Grey, ceann deas agus ceann fíochmhar. Bíonn sí stuama agus sochar nuair a chuireann Professor X a cumhachtaí faoi smacht, mura ndéantar é seo tiocfaidh pearsantacht dainséireach Grey chun cinn, an Phoenix.

Mar a deir ceannaire na X-Men: “whereas Jean is calm and thoughtful, the Phoenix is pure will, instinct, glee, rage...she has to be controlled.”

Ní féidir le Jean Grey srian a chur ar a pearsantacht dainséireach í féin. Tá an Phoenix oll-chumhachtach ach níl aon chiall ná réasún aici, mar sin is baol an-mhór í do gach rud mórthimpeall uirthi, an domhan é féin san áireamh.

Mura gcuireann na X-Men an bhean seo faoi smacht éireoidh sí mí-loighciuil, mí-réasúnta agus rialóidh a cuid mothúchán céard a dhéanann sí, ní a hintinn.

Mar achoimre, caithfidh na fir an bhean seo a choiméad faoi smacht nó rachaidh sí ar mire agus scriosfaidh sí an domhan.

Hmm...táim ag ceapadh go bhfuil ábhar tráchtais anseo do mhic léinn patrarachta!

Ochón, ochón tá Blagadóireacht na Gaeilge marbh

Scríobh Breandán Delap alt ar Beo.ie tamall ó shin a mhaígh go raibh blagadóireacht na Gaeilge chomh marbh le hArt.

An fhianaise a luaigh sé don ráiteas gruama seo ná an easpa chlúdaigh a thug blagadóirí na Gaeilge don scanall ionsaí gnéis i gColáiste Cholmcille agus an laghdú atá tagtha ar ghníomhaíocht ar bhlaganna áirithe.

Ina measc bhí Garraí Johnny Mhorgan, iGaeilge, An Druma Mór, an tImeall, Dónal na Gealaí, Blag Mháirtín Uí Mhuilleoir agus Blag na Gaeilge.

Scríobhadh an t-alt, Blagadóireacht na Gaeilge RIP, ag tús na míosa, agus d'fhéadfaí a rá gur léiriú eile é ar easpa beochta na blagadóireachta Gaeilge gur thóg sé mí orm freagra a thabhairt ar an maíomh éadóchasach seo.

I rith na míosa chaill Ciarraí Craobh Pheile na hÉireann in éadan Bhaile Átha Cliath. Samhlaigh dá scríobhadh saineolaí spóirt alt faoin méid a bhí déanta ag foireann Chiarraí le deich mbliana anuas agus gur luaigh siad na cluichí a chaill an Ríocht in aghaidh na Mí, Ard Mhacha, Tír Eoghain (faoi thrí), an Dún agus Baile Átha Cliath.

Samhlaigh gur sin an méid a bhí san alt, agus nár luadh na craobhacha a bhuaigh Ciarraí in 2004, 2006, 2007 agus 2009. Is ionann sin agus an t-alt faoi bhlagadóireacht na Gaeilge.

Níl sé ceart ná cóir an drochscéal a lua agus neamhaird a dhéanamh den dea-scéal. Má táthar chun cur síos a dhéanamh ar na blaganna atá imithe le sruth ní mór na cinn atá beo agus gníomhach a lua chomh maith.

Ní mór cuir san áireamh chomh maith go bhfuil gach seans ann go bhfuil neart blaganna Béarla imithe le sruth ó thosaigh an bhlagadóireacht in Éirinn. Ní fheictear domsa ach an oiread go bhfuil mórán tionchair imeartha ag blagadóireacht an Bhéarla ar an bpobal i gcoitinne in Éirinn.

Ó thaobh an bhlaig seo de ba cheart dom níos mó a scríobh air, an t-aon chúis nach ndéanaim amhlaidh ná am, ach dar ndoígh, ba cheart dom níos mó ama a chur ar leath-taobh don bhlag.

Cuireann an t-alt ar Beo.ie ráiteas i gcuimhne dom a rinne craoltóir Raidió na Gaeltachta, Máirtín Mac Donnchadha, roinnt blianta ó shin go raibh Gaeltacht Mhaigh Eo 'chomh marbh le hArt'. Anois tá's againn go bhfuil cainteoirí dhúchais beo beathach i Maigh Eo, agus go bhfuil páistí á dtógáil le Gaeilge, cé go bhfuil cúrsaí ag éirigh níos laige i gcónaí.

Seans nach bhfuil tuiscint iomlán agam ar an mbrí atá le 'chomh marbh le hArt' ach shílfeá gur rud nach bhfuil ann a thuilleadh atá i gceist. Más féidir a rá go bhfuil Gaeltacht Mhaigh Eo chomh marbh le hArt céard faoi Ghaeltacht Liatroma nó Gaeltacht Ros Comáin, chomh marbh le seanathair Airt?

Tá an Ghaeilge lag a dhóthain cheana féin - níor cheart neamhaird a dhéanamh den laigeacht seo, ach níor cheart áiféala a dhéanamh air ach an oiread.

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Why Dublin's All Ireland victory means so much

It's five days since Dublin won the Sam Maguire Cup and I'm still smiling. Indeed I've never seen so many people with smiles on their faces as I did last Sunday.

The celebrations went late into the night and there was another session the next day in the local GAA club in Clondalkin and at the homecoming event in Merrion Square.

It'll take me a bit to explain why Dubliners are so delighted with this victory.

The first one is that we haven't won the All Ireland in 16 years. But even in 1995 and the time before that in 1983 the victories were controversial and left a bit of a sour taste.

In 1983 three Dublin players were sent off, Brian Mullins for elbowing a Galway player in the head and Ciarán Duff for kicking another in the head. Depending on where you were from the players became known as the the 12 Apostles or the Dirty Dozen. I'm not sure when the 'Dirty Dubs' tag got attached to the county but it's been around for as long as I remember and I'm sure that game added a lot to it.

In the 1995 final Charlie Redmond was sent off for headbutting a Tyrone player, but managed to stay on the pitch for a few minutes in one of the most bizarre episodes in GAA history. This incident led to the introduction of yellow and red cards in the games. The awarding of a free out against Peter Canavan in the dying minutes of the game as Tyrone were about the equalize and the accusations that the referee had favoured Dublin also cast a shadow over the victory.

Even though the Dubs did win in 1995, that team should have won at least two other All-Irelands, but they never lived up to their potential. They could and should have won all of the four games against Meath in 1991 but failed on each occasion.

Since then bad luck and nerves have plagued the Dublin team. Look at the record at this link to see what I mean.

In the past ten years there was the epic draw against Kerry in Thurles after we were ten points down, the free kick in the last minute that came off the post against Armagh in 2002, the physical pressure we buckled to against the same team next year, the eight point lead we lost against Mayo in 2006, the shameful capitulations against Tyrone and Kerry in 2008 and 2009, and the one point loss against Cork last year.

One of the best things about the win this year is that it was against Kerry, the team that has gotten the better of us eight times since 1977.

They destroyed Dublin in 1978 and 79 and made a laughing stock out of Paddy Cullen in 1978.

They were the better team in 1984 and 1985 but Dublin were unlucky in 2001. They were the better team again in 2004 and 2007, but you can't fault Dublin's great effort in the latter year.

The worst loss came two years ago. After Tyrone had trounced us in 2008 the team looked like it had recovered and were favourites to win against a Kerry team that was playing terribly that season.

Dublin totally bottled it however, and lost by 17 points.

Pat Gilroy was in charge of that team, and things didn't improve at all at the start of the 2010 Championship. The games against Wexford, Meath and Tipp were the worst performances by a Dublin team I'd ever seen. I was just hoping that my fears about Gilroy's management were wrong (thankfully they were).

I was so despondent about the team that I was almost ready not to go to the next game against Armagh. One of the things that persuaded me to go was the fact that the Dublin hurlers were playing Antrim beforehand, so I was thinking that we'd at least have one victory to celebrate.

Then the hurlers threw away a comfortable lead and lost in the last minute! The time between the end of that game and the victory over Armagh was the darkest in the entire time I've been following the Dubs.

Now I'm going to forget about all that heartbreak!

Last Sunday the Dubs did things they hadn't done for many many years. They beat Kerry, they won a game that was slipping away from them and they showed incredible bravery and composure. The dramatic manor of the victory only adds to the celebrations.

I used to watch clips on Youtube from the 1977 victory over Kerry every so often, but now we have a successor. I've watched the glorious last nine minutes of the 2011 final on the RTÉ Player a few times since Monday, and I might just watch it a few more times in the future.

As well as that I've been watching clips of the last minute of the game, some of which are below. Fans from counties who haven't succeeded on the big day like Mayo and Kildare can take some inspiration from them, for the Dubs...enjoy!

An bua is sultmhaire riamh

Tá sé ceithre lá ó bhuaigh Baile Átha Cliath Corn Sam Maguire agus tá an meangadh gáire fós ar m'aghaidh. Go deimhin féin ní fhaca mé an méid sin daoine le meangadh gáire ar a n-aghaidheanna is a chonaic Dé Domhnaigh seo caite.

Bhí oíche go maidin ann dar ndóigh agus seisiún mór eile Dé Luain sa chumann peile áitiúil i gCluain Dolcáin agus ag an ócáid don fhoireann i lár na cathrach. Tógfaidh sé píosa dom míniú cén fáth go bhfuil muintir Bhaile Átha Cliath ag baint an méid seo sonais as an mbua.

An chéad cheann ná nár bhuaigh muid Craobh Uile-Éireann le 16 bliain. Fiú in 1995 agus an uair roimhe sin in 1983 bhí na buanna a fuair muid an-chonspóideach.

In 1983 cuireadh triúr imreoir de chuid Bhaile Átha Cliath den pháirc, Brian Mullins as buile a thabhairt d'imreoir Gailleamhach lena uilleann agus Ciaran Duff as cic sa cheann a thabhairt do dhuine eile. An 12 Aspal nó the Dirty Dozen a ghlaodh orthu ina dhiaidh, agus d'fhan an leas ainm na 'Dirty Dubs' leis an gcontae ar feadh na mblianta.

Sa chluiche ceannais in 1995 d'fhan Charlie Redmond ar an bpáirc ar feadh cúpla nóiméad tar éis gur chuir an réiteoir é den pháirc agus bhí raic ann faoin gcic amach a bhronnadh in aghaidh réalta Thír Eoghain, Peter Canavan, ag deireadh an chluiche. Droch-chluiche amach is amach a bhí ann.

Cé gur éirigh leo an corn a bhaint in 1995, ba cheart don fhoireann sin ar an laghad dhá chraobh eile a bhuachan, ach theip orthu ar an lá mór. Bhí an-deis acu sa cheithre chluiche a bhí acu in éadan na Mí in 1991 ach theip orthu an bua a chinntiú gach uair.

Idir an dá linn bhí idir mhí-ádh agus néirbhísí ag cur isteach ar an bhfoireann sa chraobh. Breathnaigh ar an taifead sa nasc seo le cur síos cuimsitheach a fháil ar an méid atá á rá agam.

Le deich mbliana anuas bhí an comhscór i nDurlas Éile in 2001, tar éis dúinn teacht ar ais ó bheith deich gcúilín taobh thiar de Chiarraí, an liathróid a bhuail in aghaidh an phosta in éadan Ard Mhacha in 2002, an géilleadh a rinne muid don fhoireann chéanna in 2003, an farasbar ocht gcúilín a chaill muid in aghaidh Mhaigh Eo in 2006, na cailliúntí náireacha in éadan Tír Eoghain agus Ciarraí in 2008 agus 2009 faoi seach agus an chailliúnt aon phointe in éadan Chorcaí anuraidh.

Ceann de na rudaí is fearr faoin mbua i mbliana ná go ndearna muid é in éadan Ciarraí. Bhí an ceann is fearr faighte ag an Ríocht ar Bhaile Átha Cliath ocht n-uaire ó 1977.

Rinne siad sléacht ar Bhaile Átha Cliath in 1978 agus 79, agus ceap magaidh de Paddy Cullen in 1978.

B'iad an fhoireann is fearr in 1984 agus 1985 ach bhí mí-ádh orainn in 2001. B'iad an fhoireann is fearr in 2004 agus 2007, cé go ndearna Baile Átha Cliath traen iarrachta in 2007.

Tharla an chailliúnt is measa dhá bhliain ó shin. Tar éis do Thír Eoghain ár a dhéanamh orainn in 2008 bhí an fhoireann ar ais ar a shean léim arís agus iad mar rogha na coitiantachta in aghaidh Chiarraí, a d'imir go dona sa chraobh go dtí sin. Ghéill Baile Átha Cliath sa chluiche áfach, agus bhí 17 cúilín le spáráil ag an Ríocht ag an deireadh.

Bhí Pat Gilroy i gceannas don chluiche sin, agus níor tháinig aon leigheas ar chúrsaí ag tús na craoibhe in 2010. Ba iad na cluichí in aghaidh Loch Garman, na Mí agus Tiobraid Árainn na taispéantais is measa a chonaic mé riamh.

Bhí an méid sin lagmhisneach orm go raibh drogall orm dul chuig an gcéad chluiche eile in aghaidh Ard Mhacha - ceann de na fáthanna go ndeachaigh mé ná go raibh iománaithe Bhaile Átha Cliath ag imirt roimh na peileadóirí, agus bhí mé ag ceapadh go mbeadh bua san iomáint le ceiliúradh againn ar a laghad agus nach cur amú iomlán a bheadh sa lá.

Ansin chaill na hiomáinithe in aghaidh Aontroma sa nóiméad deireanach!

Anois táim chun dearmad a dhéanamh faoin gcrá croí sin ar fad! Dé Domhnaigh seo caite rinne Baile Átha Cliath rudaí nach raibh déanta acu le blianta blianta fada. Fuair siad an ceann is fearr ar Chiarraí, bhuaigh siad cluiche a bhí ag sleamhnú uathu, agus léirigh siad crógacht agus stuaim dochreidte.

Tráth dá raibh bhreathnaigh mé ar sean-fhíséain ón gcluiche cáiliúil idir Baile Átha Cliath agus Ciarraí in 1977, ach tá a chomharba againn anois. Tá an naoi nóiméid draíochta de Chluiche Ceannais 2011 feicthe agam iliomad uair ar an RTÉ Player ón Luan seo caite ar aghaidh, agus táim ag ceapadh go mbreathnóidh mé air anois agus arís amach anseo.

Mar aon le sin bhreathnaigh mé ar na físéain den nóiméad deireanach ar Youtube, tá roinnt acu le feicéail thíos. Do na contaetha nár éirigh leo ar an lá mór ar nós Mhaigh Eo agus Chill Dara - bainigí ionspioráid astú, do lucht Bhaile Átha Cliath - bainigí sult astú!

Teip Translations

Chonaic mé dráma Brian Friel, Translations, don chéad uair le déanaí. Baineann an dráma le meath na Gaeilge i nDún na nGall, in áit darbh ainm Baile Beag.

Tá sé suite in 1833 agus an tSuirbhéireacht Ordanáis ag déanamh Béarlaithe ar logainmneacha na tíre. Bhí go leor cloiste agam faoi Translations i rith na mblianta, ach bhí díomá orm faoin dráma.

Shíl mé roimh ré gur léiriú ar na fáthanna gur tháinig meath ar an nGaeilge a bhí ann, ach theip ar an dráma an t-athrú sóisialta ollmhór seo a mhíniú.

Cuirtear go leor cúiseanna chun cinn i rith Translations le míniú a thabhairt ar an bhfáth gur fhoghlaim daoine Béarla – bochtanas, imirce srl. Sean scéal agus meirg air atá ann.

Tuigeann gach duine na buntáistí a bhaineann leis an mBéarla. Thuig daoine é in 1833 agus tuigeann daoine timpeall na cruinne é in 2011.

Níl mistéir nó iontas ag baint le hÉireannaigh san 19ú hAois a bheith ag iarraidh Béarla a fhoghlaim – is rud iomlán nádúrtha go bhfoghlaimeodh daoine teanga na himpireachta atá i gceannas ar a dtír. D'fhoghlaim daoine i dTíomór Thoir Indinéisis, d'fhoghlaim Seicigh, Slóvacaigh agus Polannaigh Gearmáinis, d'fhoghlaim Eastónaigh, Laitviaigh agus Liotuánaigh Rúisis.

Chuir Translations neart roghanna bréagacha os comhair an lucht féachanna – Béarla nó Gaeilge, Béarla nó bochtanas, (go deimhin tugann an dráma le fios nár mhúin scoileanna scairte an Béarla, ach nílim cinnte an bhfuil sé sin fíor).

An difríocht idir Éireannaigh agus Tíomóraigh, Seicigh, Eastónaigh srl ná nár stop siadsan ag labhairt a dteangacha dúchais tar éis dóibh teangacha a máistrí a fhoghlaim.

Ó thaobh cúrsaí teanga in Éirinn ní hé 'Cén fáth ar fhoghlaim daoine Béarla' an cheist is tábhachtaí, ach 'Cén fáth ar stop daoine ag labhairt Gaeilge.”

Theip ar Translations díriú ar an gceist seo.

Is cinnte gur chuir na Breatanaigh brú ar dhaoine droim láimhe a thabhairt don Ghaeilge, ach níor chuir siad iachall ar éinne. Féin-mharú cultúrtha a bhí ann.

Níl na fáthanna don fhéin-mharú seo chomh láidir is a bhí, ach tá siad fós beo in Éirinn, rud a mhíneoidh mé in alt amach anseo, agus tá siad fós ag baint an bhoinn den Ghaeilge.

The Apprentice: 16 candidates, 12 weeks, one gigantic waste of time

The finale of the BBC's Apprentice on Sunday was a total sham.

Having whittled down the original 16 contestants during 11 entertaining episodes, the final four were judged on their business 'plans'.

The candidate with the best one was apparently going to win the series. Suzie's was by far the strongest, but Tom was the eventual winner.

He had some vague notion of selling chairs to businesses to reduce the costs of back injury, but as it turns out, Alan Sugar ditched this plan after the show and decided to develop Tom's curved nail file which he had invented and sold before the Apprentice even started.

So what exactly was the point of the 11 weeks of gruelling tasks?

Clearly whoever came up with the 'business plan' concept for this year's series should be hauled before an panel of TV heavyweights and ritually humiliated before being 'fired'.

The Apprentice is entertaining mainly because of the challenges the candidates are faced with, and like most reality TV you can't help but think what you would do and say if you were in that situation.

It is also is a bit of a guilty pleasure, a modern incarnation of the gladiator spectacles of old where contestants are pitted against each other in a dog eat dog fight to the bitter end.

The weakest members are selected for disposal and made to attack each other (delivered through the 'who do you think is responsible for this mess' question).

The competitors are then metaphorically shredded before Lord Caesar gives of of them the thumbs down.

Terrible stuff altogether...anyone know when TV3's Apprentice is starting?

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Admhaím é – is maith liom Glee

Tá camchuairt Glee tagtha go hÉirinn an tseachtain seo agus tá sé in am dom mar sin admháil gur maith liom an clár.

Ní bheidh mé ag dul chun an seó a fheiceáil áfach, ar dhá chúis, a) ní cailín 14 bliain d'aois mé, agus b) nílim ró-thógtha leis an gceol.

Go deimhin féin nuair a bhreathnaím ar an gclár is minic a mhúchaim an fhuaim nuair atáthar i mbun amhránaíochta nó brúm 'Gluais Ar Aghaidh', go háirithe le linn na n-amhrán maoithneacha ó na ceoldrámaí móra.

Taitníonn an clár liom toisc nach bhfuil na carachtair gan smál, fiú stiúrthóir an chlub Glee, Will Schuester.

Ag tús an tsraithe bhí sé ag iarraidh tuilleadh scoláirí a mhealladh chun an chlub ach bhí air duine mór le rá sa scoil a earcú chun é sin a dhéanamh. Chuir sé ina luí ar chaptaen na foirne peile, Finn, bheith páirteach sa chlub trí líomhaintí bréagacha a chur ina leith go raibh cannabas ina sheilbh aige. Slíbhíneachas deas ansin.

Rud eile a thaitníonn liom ná nár ghéill an clár don ghnáthcheachtas ó thaobh an caidreamh 'will they/won't they' idir Schuester agus múinteoir eile, Emma.

An rud is mó a thaitníonn liom faoin gclár áfach ná an greann, go háirithe na carachtair Sue, Puck agus Terri.

Shílfeá nach bhfuil aon bhaint ag an nGaeilge le Glee, ach tá. Agus mé ag déanamh taighde ar thogra tháinig mé ar thagairt do ghrúpa 'Glee' de chuid Conradh na Gaeilge a bhí gníomhach roimh Chogadh na Saoirse.

De réir ráitis ó fhear darbh ainm James McGuill, a bhí mar bhall d'Óglaigh na hÉireann i nDún Dealgan ag an am:

“The Gaelic League at this time produced several plays in Irish and formed a small group of what was known as 'Glee' Singers, who were always at the disposal of rural districts and concerts and their collection of songs, recitations and Irish dances helped to rekindle the spark of Nationality which was at that time rapidly dying out.”

Glee Gaelach, ní bheadh aon drogall orm admháil go dtaitneodh sé sin liom.

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Bua maith do na Dubs

Bhí bua maith ag Baile Átha Cliath Dé Domhnaigh in éadan Chill Dara i gCraobh Laighean. Bhí go leor conspóide ag baint le deireadh an chluiche, ach fós féin bhí an bua tuillte ag na Dubs.

Seo an dara huair le trí bliana anuas go bhfuair Baile Átha Cliath an ceann is fearr ar Chill Dara agus 14 fear ar an ngort acu.

I gcluiche ceannais Laighean i 2009 cuireadh Ger Brennan den pháirc go luath sa chéad leath ach d'éirigh le Bleá Cliath an lámh in uachtar a fháil ar fhoireann Kieren McGeeney.

Rinne siad aithris ar an taispeántas sin Dé Domhnaigh tar éis gur cuireadh Eoghan O'Gara den pháirc don dara cárta buí.

Theip ar Chill Dara an deis a thapú tar éis an eachtra sin agus bhí BÁC ceithre chúilín chun cinn le dhá nóiméad fágtha agus an cosúlacht go raibh rás Chill Dara rite.

De bharr droch-chosaint ó Bhaile Átha Cliath scóráil Cill Dara 1-1 chun an scór a chothromú áfach.

Bhí mí-ádh ar Chill Dara faoin 'feall' a rinne Aindriú Mac Lochlainn ar Bernard Brogan ag an deireadh, ach is beag údár gearáin atá acu faoin gcluiche ina iomlána. Bhí fear breiseadh acu don chuid is mó den dara leath ach is beag tairbhe a bhain siad as de bharr nach bhfuil tosaithe láidre acu.

Déantar go leor gearáin faoin 'hype' a bhaineann le foireann Bhaile Átha Cliath, ach an fhírinne sa chás seo ná gur le Cill Dara a bhain an 'hype' le blianta beaga anuas. Tá siad ag déanamh dul chun cinn faoi McGeeney, agus bhí mí-ádh orthu in éadan an Dúin anuraidh, ach theip orthu ardú céime go Roinn 1 a bhaint amach sa tsraith i mbliana agus go dtí go bhfuil Craobh Laighean buaite acu ní féidir a rá go bhfuil siad i measc príomhfoirne na tíre.

Ó thaobh na Dubs Dé Domhnaigh bhí na cúlaithe an-mhaith ar fad, go háirithe an líne lán chúl, an líne is laige a bhí againn le blianta beaga anuas.

Tá go leor athraithe ar bun ag Pat Gilroy ar an bhfoireann agus nílim cinnte an rud maith é sin faoin tráth seo. Ní féidir le Eoghan O'Gara agus Diarmuid Connolly imirt le chéile, tá siad ró-chosúil mar imreoirí, seachas gur féidir le Connolly cúilíní a scóráil.

Bronnadh Laoch na hImeartha ar Alan Brogan ar an Sunday Game dá thaispeántas sa líne leath-thosach, ach measaim féin go bhfuil sé níos luachmhara sa líne lán-tosach in éineacht lena dheartháir Bernard.

Ní raibh cluiche iontach ag Connolly nó ag Michael Dara Macauley i lár na páirce, ach tá súil agam go mbíonn siad ar ais ar a sheanléim arís gan mhoill. Deá-sceál a bhí ann go raibh Eamon Fennell aclaí le himirt óir bíonn gá le fear mór i lár na páirce anois is arís chun seilbh a fháil ar an liathróid.

Is rogha na coitiantachta iad Baile Átha Cliath don chluiche ceannais in aghaidh Loch Garman ach táim ar nós cuma liom faoin toradh.

Bhuaigh BÁC cúig chraobh cúige as a chéile le déanaí ach i ndeireadh na dála cén mhaitheas a bhí leis? Níl ach craobh amháin á lorg ag lucht leanúna peile Bhaile Átha Cliath.

Malairt scéil atá ann ó thaobh iománaithe an chontae áfach agus iad ag ullmhú le haghaidh a thabhairt ar Chill Chainnigh Dé Domhnaigh seo chugainn.

Bheadh sé deacair shamhlú go bhfeadadh siad an ceann is fearr a fháil ar na Cait don tríú uair i mbliana, ach má éiríonn is éacht stairiúil den scoth a bheas ann.

Táim ag leanúint peileadóirí Bhaile Átha Cliath mo shaol ar fad, agus níor imir mé iománaíocht riamh, mar sin, ní bhíonn na mothúcháin chéanna ag baint le bua do na hiománaithe agus bua do na peileadóirí.

É sin ráite beidh mé i bPáirc an Chrócaigh Dé Domhnaigh beag seo agus an ceann ina diaidh – is nach mór gairm lán-aimseartha é a bheith i do thacadóir de chuid Bhaile Átha Cliath na laethanta seo!

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Damhsa ar an teic-nós?

Cúpla bliain ó shin bhí fógra ar TG4 do chomórtas damhsa ar an sean nós de chuid an Oireachtais. Níor bhain siad úsáid as ceol traidisiúnta san fhógra áfach, ach ceol damhsa. I Like The Way You Move a bhí ann fad is cuimhin liom.

An rud spéisiúl faoi ná gur snaí an ceol agus an damhsa le chéile – sé sin, damhsa ar an sean nós le ceol damhsa.

Ní saineolaí ceoil nó damhsa mé ach chuir sé mé ag smaoineamh an bhféadfaí rud nua a chruthú anseo a bheadh dílis don chultúr ach go hiomlán nua-aoiseach ag an am céanna.

Níl a fhios agam an oibreodh sé ar chor ar bith, ach mholfainn d'éinne le spéis sa damhsa é a thrial - d'fhéadfaí 'damhsa ar an teic-nós' a ghlaoch air.

Bain trial as seo, seinnt an dá fhíséan seo thíos ach múch an fhuaim ar an dara cheann – sílimse go dtéann siad le chéile - céard a cheapann sibh?





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Dubs can win if they believe

The Dublin footballers have their first outing of the Championship against Laois on Sunday and hopefully they can repeat the hurlers' successful start to the summer.

Pat Gilroy's men were unbeaten in the league until the final and only lost by a point to Cork so they are hot favourites to win.

If Diarmuid Connolly can rediscover the form that saw him score a hat-trick against Mayo in the league then we could have the makings of a 'dream' full forward line with Alan and Bernard Brogan.

Barry Cahill is a great attacking half-back but I'm yet to be convinced about him being at midfield – the area we got cleaned out by Cork in the league final.

Mossy Quinn is on the bench so it looks like Stephen Cluxton will be taking care of long range frees, it's a bit unorthodox to get the keeper to do this but if he puts them over the bar like he did last year then who cares?

Regarding the championship as a whole, Cork won't have the same hunger as last year, and Kerry and Tyrone are still in transition, so the Dubs mightn't get as good a chance to go all the way for a while. Anything less than an final appearance would be a disappointment.

Dublin's main problem in recent decades hasn't been a lack of footballing talent, it's a lack of mental strength.

I've lost track at this stage of the amount of big games we've lost by a point in the last few years, some of them games where we were well on top.

This isn't just a feature of the last decade however, the 1990s were as bad. Dublin were ahead in most of the four clashes against Meath in 1991, including being up by five in the second half of the last game, yet still managed to throw the leads away.

They lost against underdogs Donegal in 92, should have beaten Derry in 93 and Down in 94, and jut about scraped over the line in 95.

Last year's campaign offered some hope that Dublin may have conquered whatever mental demons that were holding them back.

After the shambolic and shameful collapses against Tyrone and Kerry in 2008 and 2009, finally beating one the 'big' teams, Tyrone, was a welcome relief.

I have to admit I wasn't a fan of Pat Gilroy at all before the win against Mickey Harte's men, due to the absolutely terrible performances against Wexford, Meath and Tipperary which followed on from the drubbing from Kerry in 2009.

The team began to turn things around against Armagh and then hit full stride against Tyrone.

Ok, we lost by a point against Cork, but at least the team went down fighting unlike the two previous years.

The jury is still out on Gilroy, but if my first impressions of his management turn out to be wrong I'll be delighted to say so!

Caithfidh Tuaisceart Éireann glacadh le rogha na n-imreoirí

Le linn an Carling Nations Cup a chríochnaigh ar an Domhnaich bhí go leor gearáin ó bhainistíocht agus lucht tacaíochta Thuaisceart Éireann faoin “póitseáil” atá ar bun ag foireann na Poblachta ar imreoirí.

Le blianta beaga anuas tá imreoirí sacair ó na sé chontae, (mar shampla Darren Gibson, thuas) ag roghnú na Poblachta thar fhoireann an Tuaiscirt.

Glacann FIFA leis an gceart atá acu, faoi Chomhaontú Aoine an Chéasta, an rogha seo a dhéanamh.

Níl an Tuaiscirt cosúil le háiteanna eile ar domhan, mar sin níl na rialacha bunreachtúla, polaitiúla nó sportúla céanna i bhfeidhm ann is atá in áiteanna eile.

Dá mbeadh foireann an Tuaiscirt ag déanamh gach iarrachta imreoirí ón bpobal náisiúnach a mhealladh agus nach raibh siad ag déanamh “póitseáil” ar imreoirí ó Shasana iad fhéin, bheadh údar gearáin áirithe acu.

Ach níl siad ag déanamh fíor-iarrachta. Seinntear Go Sabhála Dia an Banríon ag cluichí de chuid an Tuaiscirt, amhráin náisiúnta na Ríochta Aontaithe. Mura bhfuil an Ríocht Aontaithe ag imirt níor cheart an t-amhrán seo a sheinnt.

Baintear úsáid as brat Stormont chomh maith.

Ní hé nach bhfuil amhrán ar leith á húsáid ag lucht spóirt an Tuaiscirt cheanna féin – seinneann siad Danny Boy le linn Cluichí an Chomhlathais.

Ó mo thaithí féin sna sé chontae is beag duine ón bpobal náisiúnach a thacaíonn le Tuaisceart Éireann. Chas mé ar go leor daoine nach dtacaíonn leo ar chor ar bith agus roinnt eile a bhí chomh nimhneach sin in éadan an Tuaiscirt go dtacódh siad le Sasana dá mbeadh an dá fhoireann ag imirt in aghaidh a chéile.

Má leanann an sileadh imreoirí go dtí an Poblacht ní athróidh mórán ó thaobh tacaíocht tras-phobal na foirne – toisc nach bhfuil an tacaíocht tras-phobal sin ann sa chéad dul síos

Is faoin IFA atá sé daoine ón bpobal náisiúnach a mhealladh, sa chaoi céanna gur faoi náisiúntóirí atá sé daoine ón bpobal aontachtach a mhealladh le tacaíocht a thabhairt d'Éire Aontaithe.

Agus is fíor freisin go mbeidh daoine sna sé chontae nach dtacóidh le Tuaisceart Éireann riamh cuma cén athrú a dhéanann siad.

Caithfidh an IFA glacadh le sin, sa chaoi chéanna go bhfuil ar náisiúntóirí glacadh leis go bhfuil Tuaisceart Éireann é féin ann.

B'fhearr liom dá mbeadh foireann amháin don oileáin, ach is léir nach nglacfaidh lucht leanúna an Tuaiscirt leis an moladh sa ghearrthéarma agus ní mór meas a thabhairt don tuairim sin.

Fiú dá mbeadh Éire Aontaithe ann b'fhéidir gur cheart an dá fhoireann a fhágáil mar atá ar feadh tréimhse ina dhiaidh sin.

Tá roinnt conspóide ag baint leis na hamhráin a sheinntear ag cluichí rugbaí chomh maith – ach tá leigheas an-simplí ar sin. D'fhéadfaí Amhrán na bhFiann agus Danny Boy a sheinnt i mBóthar Lansdún, Cnoc an Fhéich agus as baile freisin.

Sílim go mbeadh beagnach gach éinne aontaithe faoi cheist amháin - gur cheart fáil réidh le Ireland's Call go hiomlán.

Deireadh le ré uafáis an R&B?

Scríobh Úna Mullaly le déanaí gur droch rud é go bhfuil níos mó tionchair ag ceol damhsa ar cheol pop na laethanta seo.

Ní aontaím le seo, is maith an rud é go bhfuil a leithéid de na Black Eyed Peas, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Katy Perry, Kelly Rowland agus Kesha ráthúil le pop-damhsa.

Níl mórán spéise agam i gceol pop ach tá sé deacair éalú uaidh go hiomlán nuair a bhíonn sé ar siúl ar an raidió in oifigí, busanna, tacsaithe, siopaí srl.

B'fhearr liom fhéin ceol damhsa ar nós na Chemical Brothers, Leftfield, Daft Punk srl ach is maith an rud é go bhfuil níos mó tóra ar phop-damhsa sna cairteanna toisc go bhfuil an seans ann go gcuirfidh sé deireadh le ré uafáis an R&B agus hip-hop.

Le 10 mbliana anuas bhí an lámh in uachtar ag R&B agus hip-hop sna cairteanna. Is maith liom roinnt ceol hip-hop, (féach thíos, ach seachain tú fhéin má chuireann droch-fhoclaí isteach ort) ach is truflais é 95% den hip-hop atá sna cairteanna.

Níor chuir mé aon amhrán R&B maith thíos toisc nach bhfuil a leithéid ann.













Ní hamháin go raibh ceol R&B agus hip-hop i réim le 10 mbliana anuas, bhí damhsa hip-hop freisin. Muna bhfuil sé feicthe agat riamh samhlaigh duine le 10 foiche faoina éadaí agus iarraidh fáil réidh leo.

Is rud aisteach é ceol pop agus níl a fhios agam cén fáth go bhfuil ceol damhsa ag fáil an lámh in uachtar ar R&B agus hip-hop, ach d'fhéadadh baint a bheith aige le cúrsaí geilleagrach.

Tá cúrsaí eacnamaíochta go dona i láthair na huaire, tá daoine in ísle brí agus tá siad ag lorg rud éigin chun a gcroíthe a thógáil. An fhadhb le R&B agus hip-hop ná nach bhfuil mórán craice ag baint leo. Tá formhór na n-amhrán hip-hop, ach go háirithe, feargach, sotalach agus féin-mholtach, agus níl aon spraoi ag baint leo.

'People must be amused' a dúirt fear an ciorcais i Hard Times, ach tá i bhfad níos mó craice a baint le ceol damhsa ná R&B agus hip-hop.

An chéad uair eile atá tú i gclub oíche déan comparáid idir líon na ndaoine a bhíonn ag damhsa go hamhráin R&B/hip-hop agus an méid a bhíonn ag damhsa go hamhráin ar nós an ceann thíos agus feicfidh tú céard atá i gceist agam.

Coddle and Dublin Lawyer

I got myself two cookbooks before Christmas, one with 1000 basic dishes for beginners, (I've 995 to go), the other a small Irish cookbook which included the quintessential Dublin dish, coddle.
It's a fairly basic meal, the book tried to complicate things a bit but basically its potatoes, sausages and rashers boiled together.
I did it the other day and it was tasty too, but I threw a bit of parsley in with it to add some flavour as spuds, sausages and rashers can only do so much.
I also did a meal from the book called Dublin Lawyer. I got a frozen lobster for £6.50 in Tescos in Belfast, cooked it in butter for a few minutes, poured some whiskey on it, lit the whiskey and poured cream over it all when the uisce beatha had burned itself out. And that's Dublin Lawyer.
I don't know where it got the name but presumably it was from a time when only lawyers in Dublin could afford it, or maybe it's because of the physical resemblance between lobsters and your average lawyers in the Four Courts, or even because many people in Ireland wouldn't mind seeing some lawyers thrown alive into boiling water : )?
As far as Dublin cuisine in the book goes there's also Dublin Bay Prawns and 'Dublin-Style' ham with apples, that's it and I don't know of any other dishes myself. Not that us Dubs should feel so bad, Ireland as a whole doesn't really have a cuisine of its own.
We do have a few unique dishes but a cuisine they do not make, there are probably villages in Spain and Italy that have more culinary variety in them than all of Ireland put together.
If you are what you eat that would make us mainly Anglo-American, I have to laugh everytime I see a sign in a chipper for 'Traditional Fish and Chips,' fish and chips being about as traditionally Irish as the Big Mac is.
Anyway I say if we don't have a cuisine there's no point complaining about it, we should create one.
Maybe cuisines should grow organically from the people, but we could always give it a boost, we could have a competition of some sort for our chefs and cooks and come up with dishes that for the most part use ingredients found in Ireland.
It wouldn't be ideal but sure there's no law against it.