Ireland Vs France - What Happened?

The questions were answered in the first half - and the answers weren't good. France was so far ahead in the first half, through repeated Irish mistakes, it was tempting to turn the depressing performance off. Then something happened - the French eased up and the Irish started to play. However a loss is a loss (like a win is a win) and the best we could hope for was to win all of the rest of the matches. which includes beating England in Twickenham - yah, right. But then, England were only average when beating Italy, so maybe...

Ireland V Italy 4th February 2006

First game of the 2006 Six Nations Championship at Lansdowne Road.

Brian O'Driscoll Originally uploaded by eoghanmcn.

Paul O'Connell Originally uploaded by eoghanmcn.

It was a tough uninspiring victory. The truth is that Italy were robbed, but a win is a win. The team didn't play as one team, they were more like 2 teams (Munster and Leinster).

A lot of questions to be answered in Paris next week.

Newbridge Gathering

We had a lovely day on Sunday. We gathered for 11.00 am Mass in the Parish Church. Afterwards we went out to the grave, to pay our respects. Then we let the kids run around Donnelly's Hollow for a while. I counted 5 sons; 1 daughter; 4 daughters in law; 8 granddaughters and 7 grandsons. Quite a gathering of the clan: Rebecca, Caoimhe, Hannah, Laura, Matthew, Peter, Simon, Roisin, Rosha, Ronan, Sarah, Senan, Conor, Lisa, Kevin, Melinda, Greg, Geraldine, Paul, Colette, Brian, Sheila, Martin, Mags. Only Colin; Louie, Eoghan, Katy, Mairead and Phil were missing. We had a nice lunch; watched Leinster trounce Bath; and finished up with coffee and Choclate Fudge cake in Kevin and Melinda's.

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Joan Dobey

Today is Joan's third anniversary. I could not help but remember her (and Brian) when we were down in Tara Cove last week-end. When I was filing the new Tara Cove pictures (see below), I found this picture of her from July 2000. We miss her and this coming week-end we will all get together in Newbridge and remember her.

May she rest in peace.

Winter Sunshine, Tara Cove

Mags and I took Senan and 3 of his friends down to Tara Cove last night for his 12th Birthday. It was a slightly risky plan for this time of year. We brought lots of board games in case we were rained in. The Friday evening was wet and damp - we played Monopoly and ate pizza and had a good evening. Saturday morning was glorious, there was bright sunshine and you feel the heat of the sun. We went for a walk on the beach. It is so different in winter - the sea is in further and the beach has a lot more stones. The waterfall and stream at Dag's Pool were in full flood. The boys chased in and out of the waves and they all got shoes wet and some got even wetter. It was so peaceful and other-worldy as Tara Cove is when there is nobody around. We had a big fry-up for lunch and headed back to Dublin around 3.30.

Senan's 12th Birthday

Today is Senan's 12th birthday. We went to Milanos for Pizza.

Snow in Siena

Siena, 30 December, 16:10 by Giuliano Cadelo.

A different view of Siena, just a few days ago. The Campo, famous site of the Palio, covered in snow. Picture idea from Elitre's great site on the Palio and Siena.

Derwent Water looking south towards Borrowdale

Derwent Water looking south towards Borrowdale Originally uploaded by Mr Clive.

Found this on Flickr today - Fantastic

Christmas Festival Racing at Leopardstown

Senan and Martin went racing at Leopardstown with Greg, Jack and Christopher. We didn't make a profit, but we managed to collect from the bookies a couple of times. Overall a very pleasant way to burn off some Christmas Turkey!

Happy Christmas 2005

We had a lovely relaxing day - ate too much and drank a little.

New Gift Grub Song

Today FM's Gift Grub team have a new Roy Keane song. To the tune of "I have walked 500 hundred miles" by The Proclaimers. They have promised to play it again to-morrow morning at 7.20. I plan to record it and load it on this blog to-morrow. Come back to-morrow for a laugh

FINALLY HERE IS THE LINK Listen and have a laugh

Katy is Eighteen

Today is Katy's Birthday. She is eighteen.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATY - I know you had a lovely day.

Katy is in the middle of her Christamas exams, so we will have a proper celebration on Wednesday - 2 birthdays in one year - hey how does that work!

Keano Signs for Celtic

"I'm not coming here for an ego trip or to unwind" Celtic midfielder Roy Keane

Recommended Reading - The Bookseller of Kabul

While I recommend this book, I must say, that it took me a while to finish it. It is a very good insight into post Taliban Afganistan, but the unusual approach of the author made it feel inconclusive. Although it reads like fiction, it is based on real people. Seierstad uses a fly on the wall, journlistic approach. When I think about it, the "unsatisfactory" feeling I had while reading the book came from the way that real life has a habit of not having neat conclusions! In the epilogue we do get some story endings. In the final 3 pages we are given a brief update on a number of the incidents. This is quite effective in bringing some sort of closure. It is well written and the insights are subtle and complete. There is a very real sense of place and culture that is completely alien to us in the Western world, even after the Taliban. Seierstad is a Norwegian journaist and has written a book on life in Serbia and another on life in Baghdad. The bookseller has made me curious enough to try "With Their Backs to the World" - the Serbian book.

Panoramic Clue

Here's a Clue to the location of the Panoramic

JCB Song by Nizlopi

Watch the Video Here X

Panoramic Quiz

Can you correctly identify this view. Post a comment with suggestions

Küssnachter Klausjagen

Shephard & sheep whip Originally uploaded by M+MD.

Tonight in Kussnacht am Rigi - near Luzern, Switzerland, the Klausjagen (chasing of St Nikolaus) takes place. The town will be in complete darkness. The locals dress in the traditional shephards smock. They will crack bullwhips in the dark: CRACK CRACK like gun fire.

Bishop Mitres Originally uploaded by M+MD.

Then come the Bishops Mitres. These are enormous structures carried on the head with designs cut out and covered with coloured paper. Inside are candles, so the whole effect is like walking stained glass giant bishops’ mitres. There are well over 100 of these dancing and spinning down the streets.

The dancing mitres are followed by St Nikalaus, with his assistants (Schmutzils) dressed in black. Next comes 180 trumpeters who play the haunting "Klausenmelodie".

All in pitch darkness. Then come the 900 cowbell ringers. Each carry the enormous cowbells that they swing in time and produce an ominous monotonous rhythm.Bringing up the rear are the cow horn blowers. They blast in unison SHORT SHORT LOOOONG...SHORT SHORT LOOOONG Then the party starts - the beer drinking is interrupted from time to time by trains of bell-ringing shephards. It goes on to the early hours, most un-swiss like!

I've been there twice - the video on this page gives some sense of what its like - but you really have to be there to feel the whole tingling, medieval Christmas sensation.

Gonzaga says YES!

Yesterday was a good day. We got an offer letter from Gonzaga for Senan. So all the preparation and all the worry and all the help from everyone we pestered has paid off.

You all know who you are - THANK YOU!

Although it feels like we've won the lotto, of course, it's really the opposite. We now have earned the privilege to pay for our son's schooling for the next 6 years.

We're sure that he's worth it!

Roy's Leaving Man U - Today FM's Gift Grub Team

Farewell, Keano
Uploaded by
yellowhandman.

Keano has left United by mutual consent, and with immediate effect.

Listen to Today FM's great song about Keano's Departure from Old Trafford. WORDS by Mario Rosenstock to the tune of Will Young's

"I Think I Better Leave Right Now".
I'm gone, when did I arrive?
Coz all they've left me with is my bloody P45.
No more midfield general, no holding role.
But at least I'll be the richest bloke down the dole
And for me who will they replace?
A lad with a bit of pace,
but will he ever make the face.

So I say ...
I think I better leave right now
before we fall any deeper
I think I better leave right now
our players are getting cheaper and cheaper
somebody gotta tell me how
that Alan Smith's a midfielder
I think I better leave right now

They said don't worry, sure we'll be grand
Sure we've got Wes Brown and Rio Ferdinand.
I told the gaffer you're havin' a laugh
If you think that tool is a decent centre half.
Coz he's just no bloody use,
Always has an excuse,
I never heard that from Steve Bruce

So I say...
I think I better leave right now
leave all the prawns and the blazers
I think I better leave right now
before it dawns on the Glazers
Can't you just see it now
Here come the knives and the razors.
I think I better leave right now

All credit to the time, its flown.
Remember how I beat Juventus on my own.
"The greatest midfielder of his era"
Are you listening Patrick Viera?
But I'll still keep going you'll see
Even with my dodgy knee
How the mighty have fallen, it's pathetic;
I might end up in Wigan Athletic

I think I better leave right now
leave all the prawns and the blazers
I think I better leave right now
before it dawns on the Glazers
Can't you just see it now
Here come the knives and the razors.
I think I better leave right now.