Letters: If Mick O’Dwyer hadn’t listened to me, Kerry might have beaten Dublin

The year was 1987. Old adversaries Kerry and Dublin had qualified for the All-Ireland league final. It was the Friday evening before the game, and I was socialising in The Merchant on Lower Bridge Street. It was a kind of Kerry embassy in Dublin.

Mick O’Dwyer came into the pub and was asking about a relative newcomer to the Dublin team, Declan Bolger. The barman singled me out as someone who had played a few games with him at St Mark’s in Tallaght.

The maestro ushered me over to a window seat for a consultation. I was tongue-tied, but not for long. I told him Declan was an excellent prospect, but lacked the maturity and experience to trouble the veteran Jack O’ Shea.

This should have taken a minute, but I stretched the consultative process to the limit by padding my meagre morsel of information for all I was worth. I was no more inclined to rush this encounter than a novitiate would cut short an audience with the Pope.

Now, Colm O’Rourke wrote last Sunday that you never knew what Mick was thinking. Maybe it’s because I’m from Kerry, but I think I had a fair idea.

Before escaping my clutches and bolting for the door, he stood up, thanked me and in a voice that was audible to those who had assembled near us said: “I can assure you that I’ll take everything you said on board.”

I swaggered back to my friends. In no time at all I confirmed to those present that I was actually Mick O’Dwyer’s eyes and ears in Dublin. Before the night was over, I was beginning to exhibit symptoms of narcissism. Like Donald Trump, I started to believe my own raiméis.

Anyway, I eventually floated back to my lodgings in Stoney­batter. On Sunday, I strode into Croke Park and, with the confidence of the damned, expected all my predictions to unfold. It was not to be.

Kerry lost. Jack O’Shea was strangely subdued. Declan Bolger, who had not read my script either, played out of his skin and was named man of the match. I gave The Merchant a wide berth as I trudged homeward.

Like the Ancient Mariner, I awoke the following morning “a wiser and sadder man”.

Jim O’Connell, Blackhorse Avenue, Dublin 7

Micko’s kindness set me on the right road

Sir —As the country remembers and mourns Mick O’Dwyer, I have a little story to tell about the garage owner and sometime footballer from Waterville.

In 1970, following the Munster final, I indicated to Micko that I was interested in buying a car – and not an expensive one.

“Wait until the tourist season is over,” he said, “and I’ll sell you a second-hand Volkswagen.”

The season must have been good, as the car was not available until late October. We had agreed on £750, close to a year’s salary for a youngish teacher.

In November, Kerry played a tournament game in Killorglin. The Volkswagen was there, but I had no £750. In fact, I had exactly one third of that amount. I gave Micko the £250 and said: “I’ll give you the rest whenever I have it.”

“Not a bother,” he said. “Whenever you have it is just fine.”

The football season went into hibernation and I didn’t meet the garage proprietor again for some months.

The following Easter, the team re-assembled in Fitzgerald Stadium for some training for an upcoming game. I handed Micko an envelope with £500. He never looked inside or counted the contents. He simply put the envelope into his kit bag and said: “Thank you very much.”

The car (4752 Z) served me well for many years and took me and others to many games, including club games in Waterville, where Micko would ask: “And how is Volks going? I promised you good value and I think you got it.”

Now that his journey in this world has concluded, I recall with gratitude Mick O’Dwyer’s generosity. I wish him “safe motoring” in the highway up above.

Slán abhaile, a chara, and thanks for your kindness.

Michael Gleeson, Clasheen, Killarney, Co Kerry

Front-page picture of a legend said it all

Sir — David Conachy’s front page picture (April 6) of a grieving widow resting her head on the shoulder of her famous husband’s life-size statue in Waterville said it all. Well done, David.

Tom McElligott, Listowel, Co Kerry

Trump’s tariffs pause must drive us to action

Sir —The last few days have highlighted the precarious posi­tion in which Donald Trump’s volatile trade policies have placed the global economy, and by extension, Ireland’s.

The U-turn on tariffs, seemingly triggered by bond market jitters rather than reasoned diplomacy, serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of this administration and the potential for significant financial turmoil.

I see a parallel with Eamon Gilmore’s “Frankfurt’s Way or Labour’s Way” slogan of 2011, a cautionary tale of external forces shaping domestic policy.

The reality, as Mr Gilmore and now Mr Trump appear to have learnt, is that financial markets, particularly the bond market, wield considerable influence.

This volatile landscape presents challenges and opportunities for Ireland. The 90-day pause on tariffs should not be a period of complacency, but rather one of strategic reflection and decisive action.

We must now examine and cultivate new trading partnerships with burgeoning economies like India and China. Simultaneously, revisiting and enhancing our existing trade agreements with the UK post-Brexit is crucial for mutual benefit, minimising disruption and maximising opportunities in a changing geopolitical landscape.

Killian Brennan, Malahide Road, Dublin 17

US president has had manners put on him

Sir — It was the best of times last Wednesday evening when news broke that Donald Trump blinked and bent the knee to the bond market. Barely a few days after his showy “Liberation Day” outing, he was in squeaky-bum territory.

The thing about bullies is that there’s always a bigger one around the corner, and for Trump it came in the form of the bond market – the real money-lenders. Thank God, at least this time, for the beautiful bond market. It put much-needed manners on Trump.

Aidan Roddy, Cabinteely, Dublin 18

Conlon’s journalism is something special

Sir — Every week I relish the columns written by the brilliant but underestimated Tommy Conlon. His piece about Mick O’Dwyer (April 6) was the best article I have ever read on any sporting topic. It was so good I read it twice and have stored the pages it appeared on away for posterity.

Anyone hoping to go into sports journalism, or any form of the written word, should frame it, put it above their writing space and consult it before they begin the task in hand. If it doesn’t provide inspir­ation, you’re in the wrong game.

John McCann, Co Donegal

Dick and Peggy’s time will come soon

Sir — The standout feature of the recent annual release of baby-name stats from the CSO was the continued dominance of Jack as the most popular choice for boys in Ireland.

Isn’t it amazing to think that up to the late 1980s it wasn’t even an actual name at all, but rather a nickname for the all-pervasive John. There wasn’t a single Jack in the earlier part of the 20th century who didn’t have John on his birth certificate (Charlton and Kennedy, to give two examples).

The trend has become even more pronounced in recent years with all the Mary pet names — Molly, Mae, ­Maisie, Minny — taking over from Mary itself. Sadie has overtaken Sarah. Billy has supplanted William. Don’t even start me on Páidí in place of the most Irish of boy names Patrick/Pádraig.

While Dick and Peggy have yet to rise from the ashes of Richard and Margaret, it’s probably only a matter of time.

John O’Donovan, Mount Street Lower, Dublin 2

SF to be tested again in presidential vote

Sir — Gavan Reilly (Opinion, April 6) asked what the future looks like for the combined opposition. The truth is it doesn’t look very bright at all, according to the latest opinion polls.

I don’t accept the convention­al wisdom that Sinn Féin underperformed in the election because its supporters saw no obvious path for the party to claim power. It underperformed because its leader and its spokespeople did not look like a party that’s serious about being in government.

The next political test will be the presidential election. If the opposition under-performs in that contest, it will raise questions about the future of any government emerging from its ranks.

Thomas Garvey, Claremorris, Co Mayo

Joe MacAnthony was a fearless reporter

Sir — I first met Joe MacAnthony when we both worked in the newsrooms of Independent Newspapers. It was easy to be in awe of his journalistic skills as he had broken one of the biggest stories of the 20th century here: the Irish Hospitals’ Sweepstake scandal.

It took great courage for MacAnthony and his editor to tackle that story, considering there were close ties between the McGraths and the owners of the Independent at that time.

Our paths crossed in 1974 when we came across some “unusual movements and relationships” between some councillors on Dublin County Council and certain builders and developers.

Joe and myself worked together for several months on an investigation into the conflicts, and I admired his investigative skills and stamina.

In the publication of our eff­orts in the Sunday Independent in 1974, we were fortunate in having the backing of a courageous editor, Conor O’Brien.

May Joe rest in peace — I’m sure he’ll be keeping them all busy in the great newsroom in the sky.

Paul Murphy, Navan, Co Meath

Shane Ross is in top form on his return

Sir — I was sorry to read about Shane Ross’s recent illness a few weeks ago, and was delighted to see him back again in top form with an astute analysis of Tariffgate (‘Market meltdown will force Trump to finally take stock’, April 6). The icing on Ross’s expertly-baked cake was Tom Halliday’s accompanying cartoon. It was Sindo back-page journalism at its best. Well done.

Chris Fitzpatrick, Terenure Road East, Dublin 6

Enjoy the rays while you can — it won’t last

Sir — I was enjoying my last bite of a 99 in Costa del Fenit the other morning while donning my helmet to cycle home along the greenway.

An acquaintance, whose glass is always half empty, joined me and complained that we had lost the run of ourselves.

He insisted unseasonable weather upsets the natural order, saying: “It’s far too early, it won’t last and we’ll pay for it later on.

“This spell of good weather will be followed by the rough weather of the cuckoo. Ye’ll all soon be laid low with colds and flu because of this obsession with the golden tan.”

To add insult to injury, I was further chastised for swimming out of season: “Have you never heard the old adage, ‘April and May stay out of the sea, June and July swim ’til you die’?”

I had the last word as I hopped on my bike: “Live in the moment and take Gerry Murphy’s advice to make the most of the good weather while we have it.”

Billy Ryle, Spa, Tralee, Co Kerry

O’Hanlon speaks truth to biased RTÉ

Sir — Eilis O’Hanlon’s article (‘Who fact-checks the fact- checkers?’, April 6) about RTÉ’s proposal to check the accuracy of claims made by rival sources of news, while its own reporting has been so glaringly one-sided, was an excellent piece of work.

We already know RTÉ is an appalling waster of public funds. Why don’t independent TV, radio and print media get a fair share of public funding for the media?

RTÉ cannot be trusted to discuss objectively the issues of the day. Its emphasis is on unbalanced, left-wing views.

Denis Larkin, Mullingar

Sir — Well done to Eilis O’Hanlon for once again telling it as it is. Her article is replete with facts and extensive research, as always, and she deserves great credit for swimming against the tide and providing in-depth information so that proper opinions can be formed.

I look forward to many more such articles, with the hope that all is not lost and that we may look forward to proper debates in the not too distant future.

Mary Stewart, Ardeskin, Donegal town

Nuns saved shunned mothers and babies

Sir — The mothers and babies who ended up in homes were rejected by the fathers of the babies, by the families of the babies’ parents and by society in general while Irish governments remained largely inactive.

Female religious orders came to the rescue of these mothers and their babies.

How ironic it is that the Government is now seeking to punish and shame the current members of these same religious orders. Their predecessors, for the most part, did their best to help these mothers and babies in their time of need.

Mary Lally, Clontarf, Dublin

What Navan needs is the will to prosper

Sir — I recently had occasion to spend two nights in Our Lady’s Hospital in Navan.

I went in as a public patient, but the care and attention I received was second to none from medical and domestic staff. The place is spotless and, as far as I could see, very efficiently run.

Navan is increasing exponentially in population, yet the HSE has decided the hospital needs to be closed and patients from the area transferred to Drogheda, where the hospital is already bursting at the seams.

The argument is that Navan is “not fit for purpose”.

Well, make it “fit for purpose”. It’s too easy to be negative. All it takes is the will and proper investment.

WB Yeats said: “Do not wait till the iron is hot to strike; but make it hot by striking.”

Paul Mullan, Navan, Co Meath

Holiday entitlement should be slashed

Sir — While the Government may be unwilling to introduce financial supports for business during any Trump-inspired slump, it can give traders very valuable assistance, at no cost to the State, by reducing annual holiday entitlements.

Irish employers are burdened with an obligation to pay workers for 52 weeks a year while getting only 46 weeks of work.

The prevailing six weeks annual holidays (four weeks statutory, plus 10 bank holidays) could be reduced to two weeks’ paid holidays with an entitlement to take another two weeks at the employees’ own expense.

Pat O’Callaghan, Clonmel, Co Tipperary

Garda group stance hurts its members

Sir — The Garda Representative Association (GRA) is letting its members down seriously by not inviting the commissioner to its annual conference.

The commissioner has a challenging, onerous job. He will be greatly missed by the taxpaying citizens when he retires.

Margaret Walshe, Clonsilla, Dublin 15

Heneghan hears the call of parochialism

Sir — From listening to the parochial demands being made by Independent TD Barry Heneghan, one could be of the opinion that he listens to Radio Kerry occasionally.

Could he become known as Barry Heneghan-Rae?

Pat Burke Walsh, Ballymoney, Gorey, Co Wexford