Martin McGuinness bowled over by Cricket!

[factual]

According to this Belfast Telegraph article, the Sinn Féin's chief negotiator is a fan of the game of cricket. There's no reason in the world why he shouldn't be! Cricket is a much-played sport in Ireland and possibly a little neglected by the media. I only post this to show that Sinn Féin members, and indeed Sinn Fein's leaders, have a very wide range of interests, whether sporting or cultural, including positive interest in all sports including cricket.

Why Martin McGuinness is bowled over by cricket

By Claire McNeilly
16 August 2006

Sinn Fein's chief negotiator Martin McGuinness has confessed to his secret love - cricket.

The Mid-Ulster MP, who was recently embroiled in a well-publicised 'is he, isn't he?' British spy controversy, is certainly no stranger to sticky wickets.

Mr McGuinness (56), a father of four, grandfather of five and an avid fisherman, admits to having a keen interest in the quintessential British colonial game.

And lately he has been bowled over by the calibre of English players like Ashes-winning series star performer Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff.

"What I found really interesting about the Ashes series last year is how Flintoff and (Kevin) Pietersen came to the fore as world-class players," said the Assembly member.

"Flintoff is a brilliant sportsman and I was delighted to see him in Belfast a few months ago, practising his skills with the Antrim hurlers."

Flintoff, currently injured but arguably the world's most famous cricketer, tried his hand at hurling when he came to open a call centre in west Belfast back in April.

To his chagrin, however, Mr McGuinness missed his chance to meet the renowned batsman at Stormont when a prior business engagement dragged him off to the Basque country.

That commitment also bowled him out of an opportunity to see his first live - and in this case, historic - cricket match.

For the first time, his beloved Ireland and the Ashes-winning England did battle in a one-day encounter in the grounds of the suspended Assembly, watched by over 7,000 ardent supporters.

"I would like to have gone to the match," he said.

"I was looking forward to meeting the Ireland and England players at Stormont and I had been really looking forward to meeting Flintoff.

"But in the end, he wasn't there ... and neither was I."

But, just in case anyone thinks for a second that the hardline nationalist has slipped into all-rounder territory, he bowls a timely googly to confirm his allegiances.

"Last year, I was very interested in the Ashes because it appeared that, at long last, England had got themselves a decent team.

"But, given that I'm an Irish republican, my approach to foreign games is simple: I don't mind them, as long as the foreign teams win."

No guesses then for assuming that, in the absence of an Irish team in the ICU Test arena, he's keen to slate the English?

"I like Sri Lanka, having been there, but I'm also a fan of both New Zealand and Australia, although my favourite team now is South Africa," he admitted.

"If Ireland weren't playing, I would like to see the South Africans win.

"It's a society moving away from conflict and that means more opportunities are available."

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ne...p?story=702664

[mothball]

Who cares?

[The Deise Man]

According to this Belfast Telegraph article, the Sinn Féin's chief negotiator is a fan of the game of cricket. There's no reason in the world why he shouldn't be! Cricket is a much-played sport in Ireland and possibly a little neglected by the media. I only post this to show that Sinn Féin members, and indeed Sinn Fein's leaders, have a very wide range of interests, whether sporting or cultural, including positive interest in all sports including cricket.

Why Martin McGuinness is bowled over by cricket

By Claire McNeilly
16 August 2006

Sinn Fein's chief negotiator Martin McGuinness has confessed to his secret love - cricket.

The Mid-Ulster MP, who was recently embroiled in a well-publicised 'is he, isn't he?' British spy controversy, is certainly no stranger to sticky wickets.

Mr McGuinness (56), a father of four, grandfather of five and an avid fisherman, admits to having a keen interest in the quintessential British colonial game.

And lately he has been bowled over by the calibre of English players like Ashes-winning series star performer Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff.

"What I found really interesting about the Ashes series last year is how Flintoff and (Kevin) Pietersen came to the fore as world-class players," said the Assembly member.

"Flintoff is a brilliant sportsman and I was delighted to see him in Belfast a few months ago, practising his skills with the Antrim hurlers."

Flintoff, currently injured but arguably the world's most famous cricketer, tried his hand at hurling when he came to open a call centre in west Belfast back in April.

To his chagrin, however, Mr McGuinness missed his chance to meet the renowned batsman at Stormont when a prior business engagement dragged him off to the Basque country.

That commitment also bowled him out of an opportunity to see his first live - and in this case, historic - cricket match.

For the first time, his beloved Ireland and the Ashes-winning England did battle in a one-day encounter in the grounds of the suspended Assembly, watched by over 7,000 ardent supporters.

"I would like to have gone to the match," he said.

"I was looking forward to meeting the Ireland and England players at Stormont and I had been really looking forward to meeting Flintoff.

"But in the end, he wasn't there ... and neither was I."

But, just in case anyone thinks for a second that the hardline nationalist has slipped into all-rounder territory, he bowls a timely googly to confirm his allegiances.

"Last year, I was very interested in the Ashes because it appeared that, at long last, England had got themselves a decent team.

"But, given that I'm an Irish republican, my approach to foreign games is simple: I don't mind them, as long as the foreign teams win."

No guesses then for assuming that, in the absence of an Irish team in the ICU Test arena, he's keen to slate the English?

"I like Sri Lanka, having been there, but I'm also a fan of both New Zealand and Australia, although my favourite team now is South Africa," he admitted.

"If Ireland weren't playing, I would like to see the South Africans win.

"It's a society moving away from conflict and that means more opportunities are available."

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ne...p?story=702664

Who gives a s...t

[merle haggard]

factual , cricket isnt a much played sport in Ireland . Very very few people play it . I suspect youre attempting to generate interest in the "sport" and promote it simply because your idol likes it .

shame, shaaaamme ..on you

[factual]

factual , cricket isnt a much played sport in Ireland . Very very few people play it . I suspect youre attempting to generate interest in the "sport" and promote it simply because your idol likes it .

shame, shaaaamme ..on you

You can read about the Irish Cricket team here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_cricket_team

It say that Ireland are getting better and have qualified for the World Cup in 2007 for the first time. Anyway why do you place sport in inverted commas? This game, much played by protestants, is very important to many protestants, and by putting that in inverted commas you are being disrespectful to those in Ireland who play cricket (minority communities on the island!).

[merle haggard]

it isnt " much played by protestants" either ffs . Hardly anyone plays it

it isnt a proper "sport" at all , hence the commas

[rockofcashel]

I myself have to admit to an interest in the game.

10 years ago, I attended a 5 day test in Johannesburg with a Glaswegian (mad Rangers fan), just to see what it was all about.

We had a wonderful evening.

South Africa kicked the poor English round the place, taking 6 wickets while me and John watched in amazement. (Because a. what we knew of the rules between us, we could have written on the back of a ciggie box and b. we couldn't get over the fact that any international game could have players chatting with the crowd and signing autographs while the game was on)

Suffice to say however, our favourite part of the afternoon, consisted of finding out that a can of Castle lager (suitably chilled), cost the equivalent of 14 shiny pennies. Whereupon me and John got copiously drunk and boisterous, along with the rest of the peasants in the bleachers.

Great crack.

Even decided to go back for the final day on Sunday.

No beer (damn Afrikaaners with their religion)

No wickets lost (damn you Michael Atherton)

No peasants (damn you Sunday prices)

I now think its a bloody stupid game again

Boo...

[merle haggard]

im starting to get seriously worried about this malarkey. I think there was actually a rule somewhere at one time about shooting people in sinn fein who liked cricket . If not there should have been

[factual]

it isnt " much played by protestants" either ffs . Hardly anyone plays it

it isnt a proper "sport" at all , hence the commas

The idea that hardly anyone in the protestant community plays it is just wrong. You coming from the six counties should know that. If you look here you can see the different leagues in Ireland, with many clubs in the six counties:

http://www.cricketeurope4.net/IRELAND/home.shtml

[rockofcashel]

im starting to get seriously worried about this malarkey. I think there was actually a rule somewhere at one time about shooting people in sinn fein who liked cricket . If not there should have been

I never said I like it ...

There was cheap beer at it. I liked the cheap beer