Great Friday

There's a long standing old fashion pointless tradition is this country of closing down for good friday. Something I don't agree with. I never have. And I can promise I never will agree with it. I remember years ago trying to go on what you could call a "date" on Good Friday and not having a clue where to go-everywhere was closed after all. So after work (yes I had to work on Good Friday) I discovered not only are all pubs and clubs closed but our already useless bus service doesn't actually operate either. BACKWARDS I tell you. But now things are looking up....Munster have climbed aboard their horse to be our Knight in shining armour. Rushing in to save the Damsel in distress Munster and Limerick in particular fought to open the bars on Good Friday for the Match against Leinster. Judge Tom O Donnell ruled that pubs in Limerick city can now open on Good Friday from 6pm till 11.30 for health and safety reasons. With 26,000 people leaving the Park we're all sure the Gardaí would be a lot happier if they weren't all hanging around after the match...right? The Judge declared this a valid reason to open the pubs. I don't really care about the why's I'll admit I'm just glad that we're progressing on this the Church rules all notion we have always had. Judge O Donnell noted that Thomand Park's licence (a licence already secured) allows it to serve drinks (with alcohol hehe) from when it opens it's doors until the end of the game. With this in mind Judge Tom O Donnell said it was absurd that pubs could not open for business as Thomand Park does.

The move to open the pubs, 110 altogether, has created a hot debate within the Bishopless and ministerless City. But at least we can have a drink in Limerick. David Hickey of Souths Bar on O Connell ave welcomed the move in a vast contrast to the Franciscan Friars who reside in the Friary in Moyross, in the shadow of Thomand Park. Their answer to this debate? Boycott the match and hold a vigil outside the stadium. Helpful?

Madam, – The sanctity of Good Friday is not dependent on the laws of the State, but rather on the hearts of the faithful who, in the eyes of the church, should abstain from alcohol on this Holy Day, regardless of what is or is not allowed by the State. Subsequently, those who choose not to recognise the day, should be allowed to celebrate their team however they like, or merely enjoy a drink on a typical Friday as they normally would.

The influence or merging of religious customs with secular law impacts the rights of all citizens, regardless of their beliefs, and continues to cause sectarian violence and oppression in numerous countries, particularly in the Middle East. This comparison is overly dramatic in relation to the Republic of Ireland, but a move towards separation of church and State could be viewed as a modernisation of Irish law.

The problem with alcohol abuse and binge drinking in this country is a separate matter, which surely will not be impacted by a ban on public sale of alcohol for one day. Furthermore, can one not enjoy a rugby game without being inebriated? – Yours, etc,

MEGHAN COAKLEY,

Looks like I'm not the only one to agree here though. As this letter points out it should be a choice and I believe that Judge Tom O Donnell has made the right call here. Lets now hope the rest of this backward country can follow suite and we'll perhaps be as progressive as we claim to be.

More Hard Luck For Trap's Men

The draw has been made in the last hour for Ireland’s Qualification Group for the European Championships of 2012.  We already knew our opponents, yes, but today’s draw dictates our schedule as to when and where we play our games.  The draw was necessary after the Armenian delegation vetoed all agreements at the recent fixtures meeting in Russia.  The outcome of today’s draw can be seen here.

This will be said later on this afternoon, but allow me to be one of the first to say the following...FUCK.  Everything that Giovanni Trapattoni would not have wanted has been granted.

• The glamorous opponents for Ireland’s first football international at the Aviva Stadium...Andorra.  

• We will have to play four different ‘double-headers’ which will involve a game on a Friday night followed by another the next Tuesday evening.  All of these involve one game at home and the other away, and on three occasions the squad will have to make long trips between Dublin and countries in Eastern Europe, namely Armenia, Slovakia and Russia.

• We have a match in June, traditionally a time when we struggle due to the relatively early finish to the English season, and it will be away to Macedonia, where the heat will be an isse.

The fixtures can be changed, and there are two free dates.  However any such change requires the consent of all of our group opponents, something which is believed to be unlikely given the difficulties encountered in the fixtures meeting in Moscow.  Therefore we are likely to be stuck with the hands with which we have been dealt.

Disaster is not the word.  Our qualification hopes have just taken an almighty blow.

Deeply sorry

We're very lazy here lately. Or rather busy! Gavin is up the walls with work stuff and I'm on teaching practice (the joys of student life!) but I'm taking ten minutes out of my busy day to remind you about the 6 Nations this week! It's not like you'd forget about it but while I'm here I want to tease Mr Grace!! Our fantasy league is also onto the final week and there's just 4 points separating the top of the table! Who's on the top of the table? Well Mr Grace is in second place and my marvelous self is ahead by 4! So all thats left to do now is kick ass and win so I can win the league (first time ever) and show Gavin Grace I do know my 6 Nations.

Wish me Luck!!