|
|
 |
You are > Home > Bonfires blaze over Islandeady
|
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Bonfires blaze over Islandeady
By Michael Gallagher
BONFIRES over Bohola signalled Mayo’s glorious All-Ireland win in 1951.
The flicker of flames appeared on hillsides all across the county to mark a glorious day in the history of sport here along the west coast and the excitement of that evening still echoes in the tales and lore of every village and parish in Mayo.
Last Saturday night in Islandeady once again flames reached towards the sky in the aftermath of a Mayo game but the bonfire had nothing to with glory on the football pitch. Instead the flames and the gathering of friends was the annual charity bonfire organised by the Walsh clan, their neighbours and friends.
The refreshments were wholesome, the music was wonderful and the company heartwarming. The locals were happy and recounted the fact that Islandeady had performed wonderfully at an U-8 blitz earlier in the day but there was a certain sporting sadness lurking in the background.
The stomach-churning defeat of the Mayo seniors earlier in the evening in Longford was flitting through many conversations as more and more warriors arrived back from the midland town. They had no explanation for those who had stayed to mind the homesteads, they had no mind-blowing insight to explain how Mayo football had sunk to such a low all they had were sad faces and even sadder stories.
As Michael Chambers of Mayo O-40s fame sang a few songs to the large attendance the flames danced over Islandeady and the friends danced and sang long into the night, there was a sense of football sadness which couldn’t be avoided.
That famous night when bonfires blazed over Bohola seemed further away than ever.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
KATIE Taylor is a class act. I’ve been lucky enough to meet the world boxing champion on a few occasions and while she’s a stunning boxer, she’s also a really nice, down to earth lady. She’s one of the best boxers we’ve ever produced and among the favourites to claim a gold medal at the 2012 Olympics in London.
On Sunday last the handful of fans in Milebush saw that she can also play a bit of soccer. The young lady was superb as Peamount came and destroyed Mayo’s FAI Cup dream with a display of style and movement. She patrolled the centre of the pitch and ran the show in the first half when the game was in the balance. Her tackling was crisp and precise while her slide-rule passing was a joy to behold. She picked out some perfect through-balls for her quick and deadly forward colleagues and smashed home a goal of her own just before half-time.
It’s a pity that more people (especially the youth) weren’t there to see the legendary young lady strut her stuff. She is a unique talent and gladdened the hearts of all sportspeople in the Castlebar venue.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
THE comparisons between the England team and Mayo get stronger and stronger. Both sides were banished to the back benches following tepid performances over the weekend and a great sense of dismay has spread across the followers of both teams.
Mayo have no crumbs of comfort to feed on and no controversy to discuss but the British media are feasting on Frank Lampard’s goal that wasn’t a goal near the end of the first half. The ball clearly had crossed the line and it was very unfortunate that the linesman was doing his nails at the time, but that shouldn’t mask the fact that Capello’s team were abysmal.
They arrived in South Africa with huge reputations and left with only a victory over tiny Slovenia to their name. The over-hyped Premier League stars were shown in their true colours when they reached the world stage and it was a dull shade of grey.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I WAS fortunate enough to meet an amazing character last week. Martin Krieg was visiting friends in Castlebar and we bumped into one another along the street. The American is full of the joys of life and why not?
The cycling enthusiast has recovered from a massive head injury which left him clinically dead, paralysed and in a coma for months to cycle across America twice. He told me that he’s heading off on another cycling adventure across America in the next few days and made it sound like the greatest project known to man. His enthusiasm was infectious.
He had some interesting observations of life in Castlebar and explained that he found it hard to get accustomed to the long evenings.
The fact that it does not get fully dark here until 11pm throws off my sleep and eating patterns. In fact the late sunset finds kids playing outside well past the bed times for most American kids. Nor is it unusual to hear power mowers going strong in the late evening hours here.
“The difficulty I find for myself in all this is not being able to use where the sun is in the sky to know when dinner and even bed should occur. As a result I often find myself eating a big meal at 11pm and going to bed at 1 or 2am. In doing so, I get less sleep because I like to be up with the sun, and here it finds its way into my eyes at 5am. And even if I force out a couple more hours, I still end up averaging only four to five hours of slumber per night,” he explained.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
“DERMOT Earley was our Roy of The Rovers.” That overheard comment was uttered in Castlebar during the weekend and I had to agree with the speaker. The great Roscommon footballer was a joy to behold when he wore the Primrose and Blue. He played the game like a true hero, always doing the honourable thing and never deviating from the objective of producing the very best on every occasion.
By all accounts the great footballer was a wonderful man off the pitch also and rarely has a death been so universally mourned. The man who grew up a stone’s throw from the Mayo border will be missed by all in gaeldom.
Main News Page |
Previous Page
|
|
|
|
Facebook
