Tall Ships Coming to Dublin Ireland!

Posted on August 23, 2012 by Seamus O'Murchu

This week is a busy week and the weekend promises to be even better. With the Rose of Tralee Festival finishing over in Kerry, well done to this years winner Luxemburg Rose Nicola McEvoy, the spotlight now looks set to be on the capital Dublin this upcoming weekend as the Tall Ships Festival come to the capitals port. Like Galway earlier in the summer with the Volvo Ocean Race, Dublin has the great honour of being the final host port for this years running of this prestigious annual international event. Alongside the spectacle of the race with ships from another era, comes a four day extravaganza of festivities and all manner of family friendly events and activities beginning this Thursday 23rd– Sunday 26th August. Continue reading →

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Cork Teacher representing Luxembourg crowned Rose 2012

Posted on August 22, 2012 by Seamus O'Murchu

If you were one of the many thousands who travelled from all over the world to Ireland to the town of Tralee to enjoy The Rose of Tralee Festival, including the Rose of Tralee Selection, you may still be recovering from all the excitement today, as last night the Rose for 2012 was finally crowned.

Roses from around the world who competed in the much coveted competition, brought with them friends and family for support as the main Rose of Tralee Selection took place on 20th and 21st August from the Festival Dome and was aired on RTE fronted by Dáithí Ó Sé.
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Blockbuster Bollywood Film Shot in Dublin, Ireland

Posted on August 21, 2012 by Seamus O'Murchu

The romantic Bollywood thriller ‘Ek Tha Tiger’ is being released in more than 3,000 cinemas across India today. Some of the film was shot in Dublin. It is expected to be one of the major Blockbusters for 2012. It is being released in 24 countries and will target a global audience of over 100 million. Continue reading →

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GAA Hurling All Ireland Championship 2012

Posted on August 20, 2012 by Seamus O'Murchu

After a gruelling all-Ireland championship full of ups and downs for all those involved, we now have our two finalist for the GAA Hurling All Ireland Championship 2012 – Galway and Kilkenny. The final will take place on Sunday 9th September at 3:30pm in Croke Park, Dublin, and as always will be full of passion and pride as the two counties do battle to be 2012 champions!
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Arthur’s Day 2012 Line Up Announced!

Posted on August 17, 2012 by Seamus O'Murchu

Guinness Ireland VacationsExciting news as just some of the many acts due to play at this 2012 Arthur’s Day festival were released just hours ago. Texas, Fatboy Slim, Tinie Tempah, Amy Mac Donald, Ellie Goulding, Example and Professor Green are just some of the many acts taking to the stage this September. These FREE gigs will take place up and down the country. There will be 500 gigs in total for you to enjoy. Continue reading →

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Shay Given Retires from International Soccer

Posted on August 16, 2012 by Seamus O'Murchu

After 16 years with the Republic of Ireland, Shay Given has decided that now is the time to retire from the Republic of Ireland squad. With 125 caps for his country,  the 36 year old said the upcoming World Cup qualifying campaign and the upcoming Premier League season would be too much at this stage in his life.

Given explained he had been thinking about retiring for some time now and had discussed with various individuals in the profession. He feels his retirement will prolong his career in the premier league with his club, Aston Villa. Given shared with the awaiting press: “I’ll miss putting on the jersey. It was a huge honour and a privilege to play for Ireland.” Continue reading →

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National Football Championships

Posted on August 15, 2012 by Seamus O'Murchu

With the Euros, the Olympics and everything in between, and our sporting attention being diverted of late to international playing fields, the action at home has been overlooked somewhat. Back on home turf, after the wave of international Irish sporting success, it is time to take a break from international sport and draw our attention back to own national sports: Gaelic football and hurling championships. These gaelic championships which draw massive attention with action packed finals due to be played in September are already drawing to a close in both the hurling and football.

With the hurling and football championships in full swing this years national all-Ireland football championships in particular look set to be an exciting and unpredictable tournament with perennial football favourites Kerry sensationally knocked out in the quarter- finals. The four teams left, Mayo, Donegal, alongside the last two winners Cork and Dublin (winners in 2010 and 11 respectively) are all set to meet in the semi-final with winners of both set to meet in the finals. Whatever the result after the semis, this years final on the 22nd September looks set to be action packed and well worth a look as both teams fight it out to get a chance to lift the coveted Sam Maguire Cup and be crowned this seasons national football champions.

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Irish Sporting Heroes triumph over the world

Posted on August 14, 2012 by Seamus O'Murchu

What a few weeks it has been for world sport and our very Irish superstars have been some of those making the headlines.

In Golf, Rory McIlroy from County Down won the much coveted US PGA Championship in style as he secured his second major, at the young age of 23 by a record margin, after his eight-shot victory broke Jack Nicklaus’s US PGA record for largest winning margin by one stroke.
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Olympic hero returns to Dublin Horse Show

Posted on August 13, 2012 by Seamus O'Murchu

With the London Olympics officially over, Ireland can proudly look back on what was one of our most successful Olympics since Melbourne 1956 with 5 medals as well as those two oh so close fourth place finishes. So well done to all our athletes who have done us so proud!

Our London escapades mirrors our Melbourne Olympics of 56 years ago, not only have we the exact same order (1 gold, 1 silver and 3 bronze), 4 of the 5 medals there also came from boxing with Ron Delaneys gold in the 1500m in Melbourne in athletics then being the only non-boxing triumph. This time around it was a medal in the sphere of show jumping not athletics that completed our quintet of medals as Cian O’Connor on Blue Lloyd 12 unexpectedly avenged the ghost of Athens with a great performance to win bronze, narrowly missing out on a chance for gold by hundreds of a second. Continue reading →

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Puck Fair 2012

Posted on August 11, 2012 by Seamus O'Murchu

Coming up in Kerry this weekend from Friday 10 to Sunday 12th august, is one of Irelands oldest and most unique of festivals – Puck Fair – where for over three days in the small town of Killorglin a goat is declared king and the locals are encouraged to act the goat. Originally called the Gathering Day and the oldest Gathering Festival in Ireland and run for a documented 400 years, Puck Fair is three days of celebration and fun in a unique festival premise, with a wild billygoat the centre of attention.

How a humble mountain goat became the centre of festivities is varied and dependant on history and with some suggestions it began as a tribute to Pan/Puck the pagan god of fertility. Another popular origin story is that when Cromwell and his army were pillaging the countryside they disturbed some wild mountain goats, one of whom taking flight ran away from his herd and down to the locals in Killorglin alerting them of the approaching danger. In recognition of the part that wild mountain billy goat played in saving the locals lives back then, a special festival was put in place in his honour. So early each year in august a local wild mountain billygoat is captured, crowned king of Killorglin for three days and nights as celebrations and festivities in his honour follow. Continue reading →

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