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Post by BallydehobBoy on Dec 10, 2004 13:22:39 GMT -5
JUST when you think you've heard all the great Irish football stories, along comes one that goes straight into the top ten. Niall Quinn told it at a recent fundraising dinner for the Retired International Players' Fund in Dublin and, if the uproarious reaction on the night is anything to go by, this is a yarn that, despite much stiff opposition, could yet go all the way to Number 1.
The setting was the Irish dressing room in Rome in the immediate aftermath of the 1-0 defeat to hosts Italy, in the quarter-final of the 1990 World Cup. Contrary to the popular myth of the team of that era as the happy-go-lucky Irish, determined to have a party come what may, the post-match scene as described by Quinn was one of emotional devastation.
Convinced they might have nicked a game which would have put them just 90 minutes away from - gulp! - the World Cup Final, the players sat slumped, completely deflated, some with their heads in their hands, others hooded in towels, the tomb-like silence broken only by the sound of the odd boot thudding against a wall, as a weary foot shook it off.
Suddenly, the door to the dressing room burst open and a man in an elegant suit entered in good cheer and loud voice. Arms aloft he launched into a stirring speech about the warrior sons of Erin, the brave performance of the team, the honour they had brought to their country, and much more in that vein. This was Charles J Haughey in full oratorical flight.
After he'd gone on like this for a couple of minutes, Quinn was nudged in the ribs by Tony Cascarino, who rather loudly inquired: "Oo the fack is 'e, then?" Quinn growled back a whispered, "For God's sake Cas, that's the Taoiseach." Whereupon, Andy Townsend turned to Cascarino and asked: "Oo is it, Cas?" "I dunno," Cascarino replied, "but Quinny says he owns a tea shop."
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Post by TheBusbyBoy on Dec 10, 2004 13:45:18 GMT -5
Don't believe a word that wanker Quinn says.
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Post by marcher on Dec 10, 2004 15:24:00 GMT -5
Here's wan for the geeks...
Why do maths geeks always get Christmas and Halloween mixed up?
Since Oct 31 is Dec 25.
Boom. Boom.
;D
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Oh Flower of scotland
Guest
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Post by Oh Flower of scotland on Dec 20, 2004 11:10:13 GMT -5
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Post by Aido on Dec 20, 2004 11:54:56 GMT -5
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Post by BallydehobBoy on Dec 21, 2004 15:45:22 GMT -5
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Post by Aido on Dec 22, 2004 10:13:35 GMT -5
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Post by madmax on Dec 22, 2004 13:17:08 GMT -5
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Post by madmax on Dec 29, 2004 11:43:59 GMT -5
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Post by Aido on Jan 17, 2005 10:02:46 GMT -5
Et tu Keano? Or Mick? Curtain to rise on a World Cup legend
Henry McDonald Sunday January 16, 2005 The Observer
It was a conflict that tore Irish families apart and plunged the nation into civil war. No, not the 1921 partitioning of Ireland, but the Roy Keane/Mick McCarthy spat at the last World Cup.
From next month the battle will be immortalised on stage in I-Keano, a show set in Ancient Rome where the earnest but stubborn general Macartacus falls out with his greatest warrior Keano.
Like the World Cup spat in Saipan that saw Keane storm home, the action takes place on an island where Keano finds that the ground is too hard, the troops are partying and the Federation has forgotten to bring daggers and tunics for his legion. And just as the Manchester United midfielder was said to be influenced by journalist and former Millwall player Eamon Dunphy, in the play Keano is advised by a tap-dancing wood nymph called Dunphia.
The play begins at Dublin's Olympia Theatre on 8 February, 24 hours before a friendly international between Ireland and Portugal at Landsdowne Road.
One of I-Keano's co-authors, Mick Nugent, said the play is 'part of the healing process' between himself and the co-writer of Father Ted, Arthur Matthews.
'Like Irish men and women all over the world, Arthur and I fell out over the Keane/McCarthy row. I'm not going to say which side either of us was on, that would only open up old wounds. So instead we decided to stage this play in order to help us get over the trauma. Ireland was deeply divided over this civil war and the play will also help our fellow citizens torn apart over Keane and McCarthy to move on,' Nugent said.
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cellularchoices.net Originally the play was to be called Macartacus but that was changed because Nugent confessed 'more people around the world know who Roy Keane is'.
Matthews and Nugent have sent out invites to all the main characters in the real-life civil war but so far they have had no replies. 'There's a match on the day after the premiere of the play, so I'd hope Roy Keane will come along and relax at the Olympia. It would be great if Mick McCarthy could come too, although we might need to get some bouncers in to keep them apart.'
McCarthy said he would not be going to the play because of his team commitments. Commenting yesterday before Sunderland's game against Derby County in The Championship, the ex-Ireland manager said: 'I've really no comment to make except to say I'm not bothered about it. I've to crack on now.'
Roy Keane was unavailable for comment as he was playing a football match in Liverpool yesterday.
Speaking from his home in Dublin yesterday, Dunphy said he was 'absolutely delighted to be immortalised on stage just like Jeffrey Bernard.'
The sports commentator added: 'I know the guy who is playing Keano and he is a very good actor. The writers have a good pedigree as well. I'm sure it will be good, but I won't be going to the play as I have to get up every morning at half past four for my radio programme.'
Dunphy said he had no problem being depicted as a tap-dancing wood nymph and adviser to Keano the warrior.
'The only bit that is inaccurate is no one advises the real Roy Keane. He's his own man,' said the Manchester United captain's biographer.
The play is also partly a musical with lyrics and songs written by Paul Wonderful, the front man for the mock republican ballad band, Ding Dong Denny O'Reilly and the Hairy Bowsies.
Although I-Keano is set to run for two weeks, Nugent said he hoped it might turn into a cult classic in the way Alone it Stands - the play about Munster's 1978 defeat of the New Zealand All Blacks in Ireland - has become. The latter has run for several years and its six-strong cast who play 62 different characters have toured the world with the David v Goliath rugby story.
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Post by marcher on Jan 18, 2005 13:44:31 GMT -5
was it just me or didn't anyone else have a subconcious urge to buy a blackberry half way through that article?
Aido, what guerilla marketing shenanigans are you up to?!
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Post by Aido on Jan 18, 2005 14:12:19 GMT -5
Guerilla marketing..!? Not me mate. But it sure sounds like hard work, the kind you'd need the cool taste of Fresh Budweiser to was away. Mmmm that'd be good, some COOL TASTING FRESH BUDWEISER.
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Post by Daz on Jan 23, 2005 15:40:17 GMT -5
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Post by Posh on Jan 24, 2005 12:06:35 GMT -5
David Beckham has suprisingly turned his back on a £13m transfer bid from Newcastle United.
The former Manchester United midfielder was all but set to sign for the magpies but the deal collapsed hours ago because they could not agree on personal terms.
David Beckhams publicist announced "David was really looking forward to a move back to the English Premiership, however after recent events David feels he can't join the Newcastle squad after what the Toonarmy did to Thailand and other surrounding countries.
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Post by Rabbie Burns on Jan 25, 2005 16:20:38 GMT -5
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