Galway Advertiser 2003/2003_01_16/GA_16012003_E1_022.pdf 

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Letters

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Is this the end for Connacht rngby?
of the the I R F U met in Dublin to discuss the future - or the lack of one rugby team, on financial grounds. Apparently no decision at the meeting, but the word on the street is that it's a done deal, only the details remain to be announced, probably in a fortnight. Options range from the extreme move of disbanding the Connacht organi sation altogether, to keeping several players on the books, while demoting the majority of the squad to semi-pro status. O n l y a handful of the Conaacfal players left in limbo will win contracts with other provinces, while the Ekes of Eric Elwood and Warwick Waugh will most likely retire, Eric Peters will probably return to Scotland, while those considered future Irish internationals like Jonny O'Connor, Gavin Duffy, Jerry Flannery, and M a r k M c H u g h will be left pondering whether they have a future in the game at a l . W h a t e v e r happens, rugby in C o n n a c h t l o o k s likely t o s l i p into a backwater, deal! a d e a t h - b l o w b y t h e very p e o p l e w h o s e obligation, o n e w o u l d naturally a s s u m e , i s t o p r o m o t e and e n c o u r a g e the skills and ambitions o f potential young players. O f c o u r s e , the subtext in the I R F U ' s toying with Connacht"s future is. it c l a i m s , a financial o n e , w i t h projected l o s s e s o f four million euro for 2 0 0 2 a n d s e v e n m i l l i o n e u r o for 2 0 0 3 . Cost-cutting, the guardians o f the g a m e declare, i s forc ing t h e m l o sacrifice what they s e e a s 'the w e a k e s t link' in the four provinces. "Sorry, fellas, but what e l s e c a n w c d o ? Our hands are tied." T h e I R F U ' s c a s e g o e s like this: - T w o years a g o , Connacht, d e e m e d by the IRFU a 'developmental province", w a s g i v e n the brief o f providing players o f international calibre. That didn't hap p e n , s a y s the I R F U . s o ... c h o p , c h o p . Y e s it d i d . s a y s Connacht. W e provided 1 0 out o f the 4 0 players in the Ireland Youth side, and five o f the starting X V in the Ireland D e v e l o p m e n t side against A r g e n t i n a a fortnight a g o . A further three players o n the Connacht u 2 l s have also just w o n the Interprovincial Championship. - Connacht doesn't g e t the s a m e level o f interest and support a s the three other p r o v i n c e s , a n d d o e s n ' t bring i n t h e g a t e r e c e i p t s . N o t true, s a y s C o n n a c h t : G a l w a y Sport g r o u n d h a s a c a p a c i t y o f 3 , 0 0 0 a n d for m o s t o f t h e province's Celtic L e a g u e ties this season, it's been full. W h e n Connacht played Leinster at D o n n y b r o o k , 7 , 5 0 0 fans from both sides turned up. A n d w h e n C o n n a c h t played Munster recently in the Celtic L e a g u e quarter-final, 8 , 0 0 0 scaler M u s g r a v e Park, was jammed. Perhaps e v e n a m o t e telling argument in Connacht's favour is that budget-wise, it h a s d o n e what it's been asked to d o by the I R F U . A n d it c o s t s just 1.8m euro t o n u t d i e p r o v i n c e e a c h year, c o m p a r e d t o 3 . 8 m i l l i o n e u r o for Minister. 3 . 6 m i l l i o n e u r o for Leinster and 3 . 5 million euro for Ulster. If Connacht's highlypraised performance last w e e k e n d in Pontypridd is any indication, the team has acquitted itself with honour and distinction o n a budget that would hardly cover the w e e k e n d match e x p e n s e s o f the a l i c k a d o o s w h o t u m b l e into the Berkeley Court Hotel. Inconsistences in I R F U In fact, i f the I R F U i s thinking o f cutting c o s t s , w h a t about disencumbering itself o f s o m e o f its very substantial property h o l d i n g s around Dublin, including the 9 0 acres a t New lands Cross w h i c h h a s an e s t i m a t e d v a l u e in the region of 3 0 m i l l i o n e u r o ? A n d w h a t about the n u m b e r o f h o u s e s it o w n s on Lansdowne R o a d itself? Perhaps the greatest strike against the IRFU's financial prudence is the organisation's d e c i s i o n t o p l u m p for the more costly option o f laying a new pitch at L a n s d o w n e Road. Inconsistencies a b o u n d . Why, i f t h e I R F U w a s w e i g h i n g u p Connacht's future, d i d it remain silent w h e n d i e western organisation s i g n e d former Scottish inter national Eric Peters o v e r t h e s u m m e r ? O r w h e n John Fallon w a s taken on as manager? Or w h e n t h e contract o f c o a c h Steph N e l w a s r e n e w e d ? Meanwhile, G a l w a y S p o r t s g r o u n d i s currently b e i n g refurbished. T h e I R F U , at the very least, h a s s o m e a w k w a r d questions l o answer. Terms fake ' r a c i s m ' against the 'vest have been used. W h i l e the palpable anger felt among rugby players and supporters in the west i s very great, I think the teal p r o b k r a i s a w o e f u l lack o f vision a m o n g those w h o should be looking to the future of t h e g a m e in this country. Instead, there i s t h e danger of a decision b e i n g t a k e n for short-term interests O u t c o u l d s c ! t h e p r o s p e c t s of rugby in C o m u c h i back 5 0 years, Talk about s h o o t i n g v o w self in the f o o t

F lo ol w the W l h es
A Eagarthoir, a C h a r a , Regarding recent articles in your newspaper concerning the plight of the Irish Language as a living language, w e t h e u n d e r s i g n e d h a v e n o great interest in debating recent statistics and survey a n a l y s i s . T h i s h a s been done by others at great length and in considerable detail. What w e can offer, although, as pro fessional Gaeilgoiri without ". strag g l i n g beards and their g e a n s a i and their look o f w o e begone victimhood", ( a s p e r K e v i n M y e r s , Irish Times 1 0 . 0 1 . 0 3 ) , is support, guidance and practical help to those in Gaeltacht areas that perceive themselves to be under threat. Comhluadar, as the primary organi sation for those families raising their children through the medium of Irish, understands the challenge facing those w h o make the c o n s c i o u s decision to embrace Irish as their daily language, whether in Gaeltacht areas o r e l s e where. Glor na nGael will advise and offer practical help to community groups already working in these vital cultural areas. Established o v e r forty years ago w e take a long-term positive view on language planning. The language is going from strength to strength, North and South, with the support of Irish l a n g u a g e s o r g a n i s a t i o n s a n d State agencies such as Foras na Gaeilge and Udaras na Gaeltachta. Comhluadar provides advice, guid ance and social interaction for those w h o have already made the decision, or are considering raising their family through Irish. GI6r na nGael already has profes sional p e o p l e operating in the four provinces that can be of valuable sup port to any group wishing to change the status of the language in any of the challenged Gaeltacht regions. Let's f o l l o w the e x a m p l e o f the Welsh and focus on the positives. Is sinne le meas Lorcan M a c G a b h a n n Feargal Cuilinn Glor na nGael

T a k y u to hn o G l a U ie a y nt d w
D e a r Editor, A s the Eircom League (First Division) draws to a close I would like through your letters page to express a sincere thank y o u to Galway United for giving us such an enter taining and rewarding season. Last s u m m e r after b e i n g relegated the indications were that United were in crisis and threatened with extinction and sadly it appeared that Galway would be without top flight football despite the valiant efforts o f former chairman Gerry Gray and his man agement team. T h e c l u b appeared l o b e at its darkest hour but then things began to happen. A new hoard o f Management under the chairman ship o f Gerry Cuddy was established.Tony Mannion w a s appointed manager and a p a n e l o f p l a y e r s w a s put t o g e t h e r . T h e games commenced and y e s United began to chalk u p w i n s , draws and the occasional losses with the result now that they are lying second in the league behind Waterford who had a dream season. Finn Harps are in third p l a c e w i t h t w o g a m e s in hand. G a l w a y United's last home game is against Harps in Terry land this Saturday s o a cracker is antic ipated and their last game is away to Cobh Ramblers w h o are currently lying fourth only one point behind United. If United finish in the top four of the First Division they will qualify for a four way play off which will include the team that fin ishes s e c o n d from bottom in the Premier Division. Although m y support through the season has been mainly confined to home games I want to thank the Galway United squad for the entertainment and quality football they provided throughout the season. I cannot think o f a better w a y to pass a Saturday evening than to visit Terryland and observe the heroic y o u n g U n i t e d lads play their hearts out in the Galway colours. These lads have given us goals that compare with the best and n a m e s like Murphy, Moran, Fortune and Herrick spring to mind auto m a t i c a l l y . S u p p o r t t h e s e w i t h Carter, Sheridan, Folan, Quirke, Keady, K e o g h , Harty, Jumbo and Fordey and you can see the promise that this panel has to offer. This Saturday may be the last opportunity to s e e these guys in action, at home, this season (hopefully they will be in the play offs) and I would hope that all sportspeople with a gra for boys in maroon would turn out in force this Saurday at 7.00pm for what should be a night to remember. Yours CUr Martin Q u i n n , 134 D a n g a n H e i g h t s , Galway.

Irish are too tolerant

Dear Editor I am one of those thank fully decreasing Irish citi zens living and working abroad and c o u n t m y s e l f extremely luck to be able to access the Galway Advertiser through the inter net. I have read your editori al on the impact of introduc ing mailboxes in the January 9 edition of the Advertiser. I have to agree with all of the points y o u raised. At this particular time, the majority of people remaining in the Irish countryside are elderly, l i v i n g a l o n e , s o m e infirm and m a n y w i t h o u t any means of transport. By their decision. An Post have shown a complete dis regard for these people and instead concentrated their efforts on cold and calculat ing profit making. Unfortunately, they are dis playing a typical materialis tic a t t i t u d e and lack of humanity which prevails in the world of economics. Isn't it time the people of Ireland s h o u t e d l o u d l y enough to have their opin ions heard not just on this subject but on many other important issues. A s a nation, w e are far too tolerant. I think it's time w e c h a n g e d our i m a g e of being "laid-back". Where is it getting us? Yours Martina Quinn Dept of Emergency M e d i c i n e ( M B C 8 4 ) , King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, P O B o x 3 3 5 4 , Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia

New year's advice for city dog walkers
Dear Editor, May I suggest a belated N e w Year's reso lution for some o f our dog owners. "I w i l l contribute to d i e enjoyment o f other citizens by preventing my pet from soiling the promenade or the grass verges in housing estates." Yours, P O Beaglaoich, Bothar na T r a

Ltes to t e E io: etr h dt r

BY JEFF 0 CO

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