Author Archives: Aaron McAllorum

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Conor McGregor has this morning obtained a licence to box in the state of California.

The move follows an exceptional amount of trash-talk in boxing magnate Floyd Mayweather’s direction, with rumours swirling around a match between the two, should contracts and circumstances ever allow.

The once-retentive UFC has loosened up its policies on co-promotion as of late, working with wrestling promotion WWE on crossover talent appearances, which sets a precedent for an event such as McGregor is pitching for.

California State Athletic Commission exec Andy Foster sez:

“I’d love to see him fight in California. It just needs to be the right opponent. Certainly a high-level opponent. We’re happy to license him. We’re happy he’s a California fighter.”

Mayweather’s management remains schtum on any potential superfight. Says Mayweather Promotions boss Leonard Ellerbe:

“It’s all a game, all a calculated effort to gain more fans. Conor McGregor can say anything he wants to, but he has a boss and his name is [UFC president] Dana White.”

H/T MMAFighting

24.11.17 - Dublin: First Fortnight 2017 mental health arts festival programme launch. Pictured are artist Emma Sheridan; First Fortnight co-founder David Keegan; and Minister of State for Mental Health & Older People Helen McEntee in artist Emma Sheridan's studio. First Fortnight 2017 runs from January 1 to 14 aimed at challenging mental health stigma. Photo: Kieran Frost

Emma Sheridan, Helen McEntee, Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, and First Fortnight co-founder David Keegan (Above)

First Fortnight has just unveiled its festival programme for 2017.

It’s going 8 years, in fairness.

Paul Kimmage, Eleanor Tiernan, and Ivor Browne will all make contributions while Le Galaxie yokes, Otherkin and Girl Band will help supply the tunes.

Harrumph!

First Fortnight

stuff

Ah here.

Paul writes:

One of New Zealand’s largest news websites is busy publishing clickbait articles describing the Irish as ‘rugby’s new whingers’. Don’t read the comment sections if you are thin skinned (or indeed, a whinger) and Irish…

Kakari!*

Johnstone: Control yourselves Ireland, you’ve replaced England as the new whingers of world rugby (Stuff.co.nz)

*Maori for ‘Fight!’

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For the weekend that’s in it.

November 17, 2001.

The era of the baggy jersey was drawing to a close and Irish voters kicked the Nice Treaty into touch.

Gerry Thornely wrote:

A hard one to swallow for this Irish team to have given themselves and a throbbing Lansdowne Road a real sight of a famous victory.

The men in black foraged in twos or even clusters, and usually offloaded even before going to ground. You have to wonder if Irish fatigue was a factor in just not getting support ruckers to the breakdown. But Gatland like the players was not having any of it. “I don’t want to repeat myself here, but that’s again down to the intensity they play at week, week out.”

A helluva game, it really was.

Final Score: Ireland 29 New Zealand 40

Previously: On The Blindside, This Could Be Drama

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Photographer Tom Beary writes:

A collection of my favourite and best photos from the League Of Ireland 2016 season.

The SSE Airtricity League of Ireland is the highest level of football you can watch in Ireland and despite it being imperfect, occasionally dysfunctional, poorly supported for the most part and woefully financed by the FAI, the success of Dundalk FC in European competition has shown the quality of the football and players in the League.

It’s passionately followed by the hardcore league of Ireland fans and I hope that my pictures do the #greatestleagueintheworld some justice!

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This afternoon.

The Aviva Lansdowne Road Nua, Dublin 4

Sports Ministrer Shane Ross launches a public consultation process on the development of a new National Sports Policy Framework with Republlc of Ireland football manager Martin O’Neill (top and pic 3) and Paralympic Paralympic Bronze medalist Ellen Keane (pic 2).

The aim of the consultation process is to give all stakeholders the opportunity to feed into the development of the new National Sports Policy which “provide a framework for sport in Ireland over the next ten years and will set the agenda for Sport Ireland”.

Fight!

Full document here

The closing date for submissions is January 6, 2017.

Stakeholders to have their say in National Sports Policy Framework (MerrionStreet)

Rollignews

patrick-ap-m

Former Olympic Council of Ireland President Pat Hickey

This morning.

A spokesperson for the Olympic Council of Ireland has said it will not be paying the €410,000 bond which Pat Hickey is required to pay as a condition of having his passport returned and being allowed to leave Brazil on medical grounds.

The OCI says it is a personal matter for Mr Hickey….

Harsh.

OCI will not pay Pat Hickey’s €410k court bond (RTÉ)

Pic: AP

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All Blacks perform the haka before their defeat against Ireland in Chicago earlier this month

Sinéad writes:

My lovely father is giving up his two tickets for this Saturday’s Ireland V New Zealand match, as he’s aware of the demand and sees the opportunity to raise some money for my Mum’s chosen charity – the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre.

So – I’ve two great tickets on offer. East Stand, Premium Level on the 22.

The latest bid is €500 total – but the more we can raise for the DRCC the better! If someone out there would like to make a better offer, drop a line to sineadryanpr@gmail.com. Bidding closes 4pm Thursday.

Anyone?

Three days ago.

Derry native James McClean puts Ireland on top of their World Cup qualifying group .

Meanwhile…

counties

This morning.

Where’s Derry?

Anyone?

Thanks Colm Dore