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Thread: Martin McGuinness: How I fell in love with cricket and the English cricket team

  1. 26th January 2012, 12:49 AM #1
    Garza
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    Martin McGuinness: How I fell in love with cricket and the English cricket team

    Martin McGuinness: How I fell in love with cricket | Politics | The Guardian

    Martin McGuinness isn't the first person you associate with cricket. But one night in the late 60s, a teenage McGuinness was up late watching television – and on came a cricket highlights package. "I thought it was really interesting," he recalls, though he can't remember who was playing. "It was a game where discipline was required. An intriguing battle between bowler and batsman. I became very interested in the different techniques and strategies that were deployed around it."

    It's an unexpected romance. Cricket and sometime members of the IRA don't traditionally mix. For many years in Northern Ireland, cricket was more popular with Protestants, Gaelic football with Catholics. In 1972, Belfast's Cliftonville cricket ground was even set on fire during a spate of sectarian violence.

    So it was a slight turn-up to learn that McGuinness – a Sinn Fein politician and now Northern Ireland's deputy first minister – is a cricket nut. "Incredibly for a hardline Irish republican he was also a big fan of the English cricket team," revealed Peter Hain, the former Northern Ireland secretary, in his memoirs this week. "England's victory over Australia in the Ashes series in 2005 especially enthralled him."
    I thought this was a fascinating article. Enjoy.
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  3. 26th January 2012, 12:51 AM #2
    vinoboy
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    so is latest SF poster "boy" Pat Sheehy .
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  4. 26th January 2012, 12:52 AM #3
    Castle Ray
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    When you're an on the run terrorist in a safe house it's not surprising that a 5 day sport can help time pass by.

    I'm sure Marty would love an Egg & Tomato tie and attend Lords with the rest of his peers.
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  5. 26th January 2012, 12:54 AM #4
    Cruimh
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    De Valera was a big fan of Rugby. Would MMG be a left arm spin bowler by any chance ?
    "We hold that no power, not even the British Parliament, has the right to deprive us of our heritage of British citizenship".
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  6. 26th January 2012, 01:03 AM #5
    ExtremeCentrist
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    Dividing sport on sectarian grounds is beyond stupid. I'd much rather watch Gaelic Football and Hurling than Cricket or Association Football... though Rugby trumps all.
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  7. 26th January 2012, 01:05 AM #6
    Cruimh
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    Quote Originally Posted by ExtremeCentrist View Post
    Dividing sport on sectarian grounds is beyond stupid. I'd much rather watch Gaelic Football and Hurling than Cricket or Association Football... though Rugby trumps all.
    I can watch and appreciate Hurling and especially Camogie, hem hem - but Gaelic football doesn't work for me - for some reason It reminds me of Basketball.
    "We hold that no power, not even the British Parliament, has the right to deprive us of our heritage of British citizenship".
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  8. 26th January 2012, 01:08 AM #7
    drummed
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    Quote Originally Posted by ExtremeCentrist View Post
    Dividing sport on sectarian grounds is beyond stupid. I'd much rather watch Gaelic Football and Hurling than Cricket or Association Football... though Rugby trumps all.
    You appear to be trying to disprove your own point there.
    Gaelic football is'nt a sport anyway folks.
    [FONT="Book Antiqua"][/FONT] I started one thread, it was quoted in the New York Times
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  9. 26th January 2012, 01:16 AM #8
    vivabrigada
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    Quote Originally Posted by drummed View Post
    You appear to be trying to disprove your own point there.
    Gaelic football is'nt a sport anyway folks.
    You'll need to explain that. What is it then?
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  10. 26th January 2012, 01:20 AM #9
    drummed
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    Quote Originally Posted by vivabrigada View Post
    You'll need to explain that. What is it then?
    A bunch of talentless people who can't play hurling assaulting each other and trying to win frees.
    Skill level low, entertainment level low.
    My evidence? Carlow has a country football team. Case proven!
    [FONT="Book Antiqua"][/FONT] I started one thread, it was quoted in the New York Times
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  11. 26th January 2012, 01:26 AM #10
    Cruimh
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    Quote Originally Posted by drummed View Post
    A bunch of talentless people who can't play hurling assaulting each other and trying to win frees.
    Skill level low, entertainment level low.
    My evidence? Carlow has a country football team. Case proven!
    Hey! I had kin from Carlow!

    Oh ......
    "We hold that no power, not even the British Parliament, has the right to deprive us of our heritage of British citizenship".
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