The Case of College Congestion

During the final year of my degree, I became seriously disillusioned with the university environment. A feeling of dread began to grip me on my walk into campus because I knew that swarms of rowdy, disinterested students would inevitably block the main concourse, making it extra difficult to get into lecture halls and class rooms. That temporary impediment wasn't the main complaint, however. I recall that several lecture halls were unfit for purpose. They were unfit simply because they were not designed to cater for over-subscribed courses.

I remember arriving on time for the first class of a module which was of great interest to me only to find that people were seated on the stairs, mindlessly muttering to one and other as they took out their note pads in preparation for the class to proceed. It seemed as if they were happy enough to have found an impromptu seat -  there appeared to be no sense of discomfort in the environment. Disgruntled characters stood at the back (myself included) scowling at the sheer congestion, hoping that people would drop off or that the department would seek to house the lectures in a more appropriate setting. So I persevered for another couple of weeks, but there was no sign of change and eventually I lost the motivation to attend. Not only was it not conducive to learning, but it presented a very real hazard to the health of those souls who were intrepid enough to cram themselves in.

To this day I shudder at the thought of being on the over-crowded college campus. My disdain for it is such that I tend to avoid important zones such as the sauna-cum-library during peak hours - I cannot get work done when the environment I'm in makes me feel so uncomfortable. Woe is me.

Anyway, this problem won't be ameliorated any time soon if the Galway Independent is to be believed regarding an educational reform plan that is set to be implemented across Ireland. We are going to see a merging of courses in regions that have a number of higher education institutes or in doublespeak, a removal of duplicate courses. Which begs the question, how, and where, will these merged courses be taught? With many class-rooms already jam-packed, will it be a case of jamming more?

Nigel Dodds and "Injustice"

If the debate surrounding FIFA eligibility rules in Ireland didn't exist, I'd probably have very little else to write about, but the topic rears its head time and time again. This time, the DUP's Dodds couple (Nigel and Diane) have raised their concern in different political fora. At Westminster recently, Nigel spoke of how there existed an "injustice" that needed to be addressed by the British and Irish governments. The "injustice" that Nigel refers to, of course, is the right that exists for Irish nationals born in Northern Ireland to play for or change to the representative teams of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI).

In referring to this right of choice, as facilitated by FIFA's eligibility rules, as an "injustice", Dodds reveals a lot about the level of respect and understanding he has for the identity his republican neighbours. While the FIFA eligibility rules have nothing to do with the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 (as is often erroneously reported), calls for this choice to be limited, or even removed, undoubtedly contravenes the spirit of tolerance and respect for identity that is contained therein. As Daniel Collins recently wrote in the Irish News, with regard to Diane Dodds' similar comments at a sitting of the European Parliament, '[o]ver a decade on from the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, is it not long past the time that certain public servants should have acknowledged the undisputed legitimacy of the national identity of the largest minority community north of the border?'. Indeed it is long past the time.

Collins has invested a considerable amount of time and energy into matters surrounding the eligibility debate, paying particular attention to debunking the various myths and unfounded allegations that have arisen since the issue has come to the fore. His essay, 'FIFA Player Eligibility in the Context of Ireland' is arguably the best resource for those who wish to be educated in the matter and, unsurprisingly, his efforts have been met with derision among Northern Ireland fans, although, interestingly, to date, there has not been so much as one attempt at a rebuttal. In general, the arguments raised by Northern Ireland fans and pro-IFA figures, including Diane and Nigel Dodds, have all been emphatically debunked by Collins' essay. For example, Mr Dodds paints a picture of the IFA suffering uniquely, but such is patently not the case:

"The rules are universal and no two countries in world football have an identical number of nationals available for potential selection from their respective player pools, so talk of an unfair advantage is also disingenuous. The FAI cannot call up Northern Ireland-born players who do not acknowledge or effect their birthright to Irish nationality. Ultimately, choice rests with the player."

Nigel Dodds' proposal, that the British and Irish governments convene a meeting to resolve a so-called "issue" is simply preposterous, especially when one considers the fact that the Irish FA (IFA) has already exhausted all avenues, only to be told by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) that they had, to borrow a phrase, no leg to stand on. Essentially, the CAS brought closure to the affair for all parties concerned after years of complaint on the part of the IFA. In light of this, it is quite baffling to hear unionist politicians sticking their oar in, presenting the situation as one in imperative need of resolution.


Regardless, a sizeable portion of the population of Northern Ireland simply does not recognise or identify with the IFA, for one reason or the other, and instead look favourably upon the FAI - such was the case well before northern born players began appearing for the FAI. Indeed, Sinn Féin, the largest republican party in Northern Ireland immediately issued a statement supporting the right of choice that currently exists, while in 2007, SDLP politician Pat Ramsey also defended the right of choice. Therefore, should this ridiculous notion be entertained, then it would simply stutter to an inevitable stalement.

In reality, the freedom of a northern-born Irish individual to represent the FAI rather than the IFA represents an injustice only to those whose secure sense of 'Our Wee Country' it upsets.

Forget Harry, Pearce is the Man

Following a series of pitiful events, the English national team faces a bit of a crisis ahead of Euro 2012. Having endured the insult of the FA undermining his managerial authority in the discipline of alleged racist John Terry, Fabio Capello swiftly decided that he would resign. It would appear that the FA were not paying attention during The Godfather: it's all about respect with the Italians. But on the bright side, the English media breathe a sigh of relief, as they won't have to grasp desperately for an excuse should "their boys" fail to meet expectations.

What makes the series of events even more pitiful is the swelling of public support for Harry Redknapp, a man who recently suffered the ignominy of a high-profile court case involving allegations of tax-evasion, to become the next England manager. Redknapp is currently the manager of a relatively successful Tottenham Hotspur team and he is well respected in English football circles, but is he really the man that England want, let alone need?

In a recent press conference, FA Chairman David Bernstein spoke with enthusiasm when he said, "I was really impressed with his attitude". He wasn't talking about Harry Redknapp, however. He was referring to Stuart Pearce, the man who will manage England in the interim period and certainly for their game against Holland. John Scales, on the BBC discussion panel, immediately ruled out Pearce as being a long-term solution to England's problems, but why?


He ticks all of the FA's boxes: They have a preference for an English man, check. They want someone who is passionate and can inspire the players, check. They want someone who knows the English game and English players, check.

Pearce is currently juggling a few different balls. He has been a coach for Fabio Capello during his tenure as England manager, he is the current manager of England under 21s, where he has guided English teams to Finals and Semi Finals of European competition and he is set to manage the British football team which will compete in the Olympics. Granted, his performance as Man City manager was uninspiring, but most will agree that international management is a completely different kettle of fish.

Forget Harry, Pearce is the man for England.

60 Years? So What?

Try as I might, I cannot understand the fawning over the Queen of England.

Political leaders from the DUP, UUP, SDLP, Alliance and TUV praised Elizabeth II for, well, managing 60 years on the throne. Some spoke of how much respect she deserved. David Ford described her as a "rock of stability", while the volatile dissenter Jim Allister said: " in [Elizabeth II] there blossomed a monarch who, throughout times of great change... has demonstrated a steady touch and a steady hand, through which many and all of us have benefited.". Woah! She must be a great woman!

So what has she done?

I suppose she has travelled around with her husband over the years, which can get tiring, I'm sure. Oh and then there is the fact that she has to live in luxury, which must be a bit of a slog. And the mortifying shame of her sons' separations, not to mention all those public duties, which take their toll you know. But fair play to her, she has demonstrated "a steady touch and a steady hand" throughout it all.

Let's get real here.

The very institution that Elizabeth II represents is one which is founded on a principle of inequality and ruthless subjugation and to vaunt the British monarch in such a fashion simply reinforces the position of such an archaic system. In truth, she and her family form what is unquestionably an undemocratically-appointed feudal relic, which should not have a divinely instated place of privilege in today's society.

Yet we continue to see mindless appreciation and ludicrous suggestions of how this lady somehow "deserves" a "gift from the nation" in the form of a yacht. Yes indeed. According to the Guardian, Michael Gove, the British Secretary of State for Education actually said: ""In spite, and perhaps because of, the austere times, the celebration should go beyond those of previous jubilees and mark the greater achievement that the diamond anniversary represents.". Luckily for the British people, the idea was rapidly shot down, but that an elected representative felt that it was at all worthy of consideration is, in itself, alarming.

Perhaps a little more worryingly, this mindless appreciation was also evident in Ireland when Elizabeth II visited the island in 2011. Such was the level of pro-queen media furore and clamour surrounding the event that of any kind of derisory talk regarding the Queen was branded the utterance of a crazed extremist. Strange behaviour from the inhabitants of a republic that was only freed from the shackles of British rule and its monarchy early in the 20th century. Perhaps it is little wonder that Ireland (that is, the independent 26 county state) is dying.

In this sense I welcome Sinn Féin's silence on the matter in respect of the praise of the others. It is not, as Jim Allister says, "stony and churlish", nor is it necessarily "vindictive", (even if vindictiveness might be excusable - Elizabeth II is, after all, the symbol of the state which slaughtered and oppressed many Irish people in recent history). It is a dignified silence.

As Alasdair McDonnell said in his rather perfunctory tribute: "There are a large number of people in Northern Ireland who value the link with Britain, and who value the monarchy and who value the contribution of Queen Elizabeth II. We not only acknowledge that, we fully respect it."

Well, the opposite is also true. There is a large number of people in the north who don't value the link with Britain, and who don't value the monarchy, let alone any notional contribution of Elizabeth II. Why don't people acknowledge that and fully respect that? 

Daylight Robbery at the Brandywell

Daniel Lafferty recently joined English Championship outfit Burnley from Derry City in a deal thought to be in the region of £150,000-£200,000. The move is a great loss for Derry City, both in terms of the loss of Lafferty's talent and the pittance which they received for his services.

Here is a left-footed 22 year old former under-21 international who has proven himself at the highest level in Ireland. In fact, his tremendous form in the 2011 season saw him nominated for the PFAI young player of the year award and he was included in the same League of Ireland squad as James McClean and Daniel Kearns that took on Celtic and Man City in the Dublin Super Cup. He has an abundance of potential, a fact which has been recognised by new Northern Ireland manager, Michael O'Neill who suggested he could receive a call-up in the near future, regardless of where he's playing. £200,000? Derry were robbed.

Some might say that Irish clubs have little choice in the matter. British clubs tend to hold all the cards when it comes to setting fees and the best thing that an Irish club could hope for is a few add-on fees based on potential appearances and so-forth. Being a "small" club, they probably feel a burden of not wanting to be an impediment to the player's move to the "big-time". But clubs must ultimately act in their own interests, after all, one player is not bigger than the team.

Irish leagues have been exporting an increasing number of talented individuals as English clubs look to snap up bargains. Over the past year, several players have secured moves to top British clubs from Irish clubs: Enda Stevens went from Shamrock Rovers to Aston Villa, Rory Donnelly signed for Swansea from Cliftonville, Derry's James McClean and Daniel Lafferty went to Sunderland and Burnley respectively, Daniel Kearns left Dundalk for Peterborough and Graham Cummins recently signed for Preston from Cork City.

Older cases, such as Kevin Doyle, Shane Long, Seamus Coleman and Keith Fahey are all current Ireland internationals a short period after having played in Irish leagues. Each of them cost around the same amount as Lafferty, but after just a few short seasons, their worth has multiplied considerably. Indeed, some players' worth has multiplied after only a few games: take the case of another Derry City export James McClean, for example. However Derry City fans will tell you that while McClean's fitness may have improved, he is pretty much the same player that he was when he was at the Brandywell - fast, direct, fearless, with an eye for a pass as well as a goal. He didn't magically become 10 times the player he was overnight.

The relative success of the aforementioned players should give Irish clubs the right to demand more for their most talented players. If Irish teams lose these players for such low fees, the standard of the Irish domestic game will struggle to progress. Say the fee for Lafferty was doubled: Derry could then invest some of it into improving their facilities as well as having the option of investing in a replacement. In Daniel Lafferty, Derry City have lost arguably the best left back in Irish football and a dedicated professional who has many years ahead of him in the game. £200,000 is an insult of a fee for a player of his calibre.

Hey, that's OUR money!

Did you hear the news?

That's right, some Derry "wan" won the lottery - "a cool €5,482,894" from a €12 ticket bought in Donegal.

Lucky bugger, aye, but that's our lottery. What's a bloody northerner doing crossing the border, using our Euros to buy things in our country? He shouldn't have been in the country in the first place at all, never mind buying Lotto tickets.

We need to combat this lottery tourism. The cheek of those northerners; coming in and exploiting our National Lottery, you'd nearly think this was their country. Next, they'll be looking for rights.

The government should establish Habitual Residence Conditions or something for playing the Lottery. It's not right that northerners can come in and take our money. Why don't they go and play the British Lottery?

Disgrace.