Synchronicity at the Open

Synchronicity
Originally uploaded by BobTheCorkDwarf.

Went to the Irish Open on Sunday at Adare Manor. The weather was variable but cleared up nicely in the afternoon.
Padraig Harrington went into the last round three shots ahead and was two shots ahead teeing-off on the 17th. A bogey for Harrington and a birdie for Dredge on the 17th made them all square and that's where they stayed after 18.
The par 5 18th was chosen for the first play-off hole. Dredge hit his third shot into the bank of the river Maigue and the title was Harrington's.
It's a very different experience watching golf live and on TV. In most arena based sports the spectator and televsion viewer end up with similar experiences becuase they both see pretty much the same thing. However in Golf the TV viewer has the advantage of being transported from hole to hole instantly whereas the spectator has to either stick with a group of golfers or stick on a particular hole.
We went with a mixed approach. We followed Harrington for the first three holes and then got a great position on the 8th green to wait their arrival and watch other groups play through. We then made our way to the back nine and got a good vantage point for the 18th green.
You miss a lot of the action while on the course. The spectator can say that he was there when it happened, but the TV viewer can say he saw what happened. This I fell is the reason that golf isn't a popular spectator sport with the participant/spectator ratio being much higher than in other sports.
In the end we enjoyed our day and saw the important action in the play-off on 18.

A Quick Guide For Life

Eddie in Clohessey's

Eddie in Clohessey's
Originally uploaded by BobTheCorkDwarf.

I was at the preview screening of the new Irish Rugby fly on the wall documentary in Clohessey's Limerick on Tuesday. The programme tracks the players through the recent season. Gives some brief glimpses into the training and dressing room, but the main sucess of the programe is to reveal the players reactions to the games.
The programme will be shown on May 28th at 9 p.m. and will be available for purchase on DVD after that.
Eddie O'Sullivan was on hand to give a brief interview afterwards, but unfotunately none of the players attended.

The All Ireland Schools' Basketball Finals

Free Throw II
Originally uploaded by BobTheCorkDwarf.

We went to see Cillian coach his Killarney school team to the final of the All Ireland yesterday. Some of my photos are now on Flickr.

The team beat Scoil Íosagáin from Dublin in the final. The final score was 30-22.

They beat Skibbereen in the Semi-Final.

All Ireland Schools First Year A finals (UL):

Boys: Castleisland Community College, 49, St. Joseph’s, 38. Cal Oranmore and St. Aidan’s, Cork finished joint third.

Girls: Presentation, Killarney, 30, Col Iosagain, Dublin, 22. Presentation, Listowel and Mercy High, Skibbereen finished joint third.

Why Willie. Why Oh Why?

Having been recently exiled to Limerick my vote has been transfered from Cork South Central to the Limerick East constituency. I received my first call from canvasers yesterday evening and it turned out to be the Minister for Defence himself, Willie O'Dea.

As all canvasers do he asked for my vote. I told him that it would be difficult to vote for Fianna Fáil this year due to the way the Government are treating the doctors and nurses. I cited the bullying by Mary Hearney in the contract negotiations and the insulting comments by Tim O'Malley, where he stated that some people liked to have waiting lists as it made them feel powerful.

And what was Willie's response?

Well I don't know much about that. I'm the Minister for Defence and that's not my area. I'm the lcoal man here and we're looking for your vote.

What an erudite, insightful and strong defence of his party's policies. It certainly wn me over.

Good man Willie. Keep up the good work. Let's just hope that Ireland isn't invaded between now and Election Day.