The Dew Drop Inn Virtual Rugby Pub

First topic message reminder :

Welcome to the virtual rugby pub - a place where you can come in for a sly beverage and discuss whatever's on your mind, or just eavesdrop on the regulars if you fancy a break from all the rugby chat.

The only rule in this pub is one of mutual respect for everyone in it, oh and no defacing the Tommy Bowe photo on the bar. That's a banning offence

So pull up a chair....what'll it be?

Mickado wrote:I was brought up in a GAA family, only really started watching rugby "full time" about 5 or 6 years ago. There's some awkwardness about that with some members of my family!

That's what I mean regarding things in the North Mickado- if you're born on one side of the community, you'll never cross paths with a rugby ball. On the other side; GAA games will pass you by. If I have kids, I hope I'm living somewhere else by then. But if it's in NI I'm going to get them schooled somewhere they can learn ANY sport.

Shhh just whisper it Stand, otherwise he'll wake up...

Ah willy we can but dream. If he wins we'll land Carter on sabbatical

IH>Carter 'nuff said...

OHHHH! FACK! that was close for Rory!

I still love the GAA, cut me down the middle and i'm sky blue and navy. But what annoys me as that it's never seen as taboo for someone to love the GAA but also be a mad soccer fan, but there's something about being a rugby fan that makes things a little weird. For example, my bro only watches soccer, my bro in law is ONLY interested in the GAA, he can have a pretty good conversation about soccer with my bro but when it comes to rugby, it's almost as if there's resentment. Maybe because rugby's success is GAA's loss not only in terms of playing numbers, but in terms of attendance. You would hardly get 6k turning up for a soccer match in Ireland, whereas 10k is the norm average in 4 stadiums for rugby...

I never said he would be 1st choice willy

Stand

Can I just second Hughie's suggestion on the 30 for 30 series. Some of those documentaries are incredible things. My favourites are the basketball ones about the two friends from the Yugoslavian basketball team who both move to the NBA but fall out due to the civil war.

The other one about the Canadian guy who has had his leg amputated attempting to run across the whole country to raise money. Incredible stuff.

Mickado wrote:OHHHH! FACK! that was close for Rory!

I still love the GAA, cut me down the middle and i'm sky blue and navy. But what annoys me as that it's never seen as taboo for someone to love the GAA but also be a mad soccer fan, but there's something about being a rugby fan that makes things a little weird. For example, my bro only watches soccer, my bro in law is ONLY interested in the GAA, he can have a pretty good conversation about soccer with my bro but when it comes to rugby, it's almost as if there's resentment. Maybe because rugby's success is GAA's loss not only in terms of playing numbers, but in terms of attendance. You would hardly get 6k turning up for a soccer match in Ireland, whereas 10k is the norm average in 4 stadiums for rugby...

Yeah, I've got to say I don't understand it. Is it a class thing? Rugby still perceived as a D4 pursuit? It's the Tom Humphreys syndrome.

Reminds me of the guy with the Celtic football jersey and the 'No to Foreign Games' sign protesting outside Croke Park. A lack of self awareness.

That must be the root of it Notch. It's unfortunate. Because i feel like i've to walk on egg shells around certain members of my family when certain things are being discussed.

I dunno, maybe it's the roman catholic Irish propensity for feeling guilt about virtually everything.

I think we're lucky in Limerick city and the environs as everyone is encouraged to play a multiple of sports and until maybe you make it onto a school rugby Junior Cup side, there is no restrictions really and harmony amongst the codes.

MBTGOG wrote:I think we're lucky in Limerick city and the environs as everyone is encouraged to play a multiple of sports and until maybe you make it onto a school rugby Junior Cup side, there is no restrictions really and harmony amongst the codes.

The rest of Ireland (both sides of the border) could truly learn a lot from that.

That's the utopia Munsty.

Dublin is a place that's ill at ease with itself in general. Take for example our land marks. Every one of them has an ironic nickname:

The Spire - The Stiletto in the Ghetto
Statue of Joyce - The prick with the stick
The women talking - The hags with the bags
Statue of Anna Livia - The floozie in the jacuzzi
The Statue of Molly Malone - The tart with the cart

It's humerous and all that, but it's endemic of the Dublin psyche to insult ourselves, our heroes and our city. You would never see anything like a "peoples republic of Cork" tshirt here. Not our style...

Rory goes one better

That's true Mick but I think that's the capital culture. For Cork, there is somewhere to compare themselves to and coming up short in the tangible aspects they create an identity that they can be proud of and feel part of.

Dublin doesn't have the "older brother" to try show off to so has never fostered that sense of "us against them" which others have, which means that divisions are rife within the place.

Though I could be talking complete bull.........

Everywhere else in Ireland has a chip on their shoulder, is what Munsty is implying.

I think that's a very good description of things mate.

I read your edit Mick.

Mick ill have you know the spire is called "the stiffy by the liffey"

Does Belfast Notch?

Mickado wrote:American golf fans wreck my head.

That "GET IN THE HOOOOOOOOLE" malark they go on with is poxy...

Proves they're as thick as pig Poopie when they shout, "in the hole" when the golfist is driving off the tee on a par 5.

Trollocks, that's a word I plan to use in the next week.

Anyone else got any words they'd like to try out soon?

"Golfist"?

hughie1986 wrote:Mick ill have you know the spire is called "the stiffy by the liffey"

It's the syringe in the dinge too Hughie. Just supports my point even more though. We can't settle on one self deprecating nickname...

There's a gas one for the statue of Phil Lynott, can't remember it though.

The statue of Patrick Kavanagh on the canal is called "the banal by the canal" - classic!

MBTGOG wrote:
"Golfist"?

I'm sure you can work it out.....

We've covered a lot of sport tonight: nfl, ice hockey, golf....i'm sure there's some oval shaped ball game around too :p

Phil Lynott is the Ace with the Bass.

Not that self deprecating i suppose...

Prop, sure we'll discuss the oval ball. Who's going to win the grand final this year? Collingwood and St Kilda look like the front runners to me...

65 from Rory. Maith an fear!

Grand final? Collingwood? St Kilda? Have you been on the special whiskey again mick?!

Edit: just did a google search and discovered you were on about AFl, how dare you.....blasphemey in the pub :p

MBTGOG wrote:Does Belfast Notch?

Have a chip on it's shoulder? I don't think so. Belfast is so divided against itself I don't think people don't really think about the rest of NI, nevermind the island of Ireland. It's still a very segregated city in a lot of places, with old grudges and long memories and the paramilitaries remain a pervasive element in the poorer areas. The resentments in this town are raw, recent and local.

What's interesting is when it comes to rugby, particularly Ulster Rugby, we have a massive chip on our shoulder when it comes to Southern journalists, or the Southern view of Ulster in general. We're always bemoaning a lack of recognition, some people go as far as to say the IRFU doesn't represent us at all! And I argue vehemently against that as I feel the IRFU has done a huge amount for us.

But rugby is all Ireland. Rugby is one of the few things there's genuinely significant cross-border organisation on- a united front for Ireland between North and South exists in rugby that doesn't exist in economics or politics. I think the fact we are seperate from the rest of Ireland is reflected in our attitudes towards a lot of things but when you look at rugby fans it's a little microcosm of how attitudes might change if the North became more integrated with mainstream Irish society and less with the United Kingdom.

And on that overly heavy note, c'mon Rory and I'm off to bed. Got a shift tomorrow and got to be in at 9.

I remember Martin Bell the BBC correspondent being asked if Israel and Palestine would ever find peace and he said possibly not but that Ireland would as they play rugby together. At the time I thought that a flippant remark as it was long before the Major government started talks that lead to the Good Friday Agreement. I hope he's right and the current resurgence in Irish Rugby will have wide ranging effects politically. However if history tells us anything it is that plain economics determine a nations future and I think the cosying up of Dublin and London is the more significant event for the prospects of peace and prosperity in both countries, that of course being born of economic necessity.

That's part of the reason why I love this sport. It's a brave, fragile bridge across a bitter divide. People from wildly different backgrounds- people who even carry different passports- come together in Dublin on test weekends to support one team, and sing one anthem together. That's the feel good story of Irish Rugby.

The tragedy is that anthem was written by Phil Coulter.

Notch wrote:That's part of the reason why I love this sport. It's a brave, fragile bridge across a bitter divide. People from wildly different backgrounds- people who even carry different passports- come together in Dublin on test weekends to support one team, and sing one anthem together. That's the feel good story of Irish Rugby.

The tragedy is that anthem was written by Phil Coulter.

I just peed myself laughing Notch. That was excellent...

Hey I'll have nothing said about that anthem, my daughter loves it. She wound up my dad a treat before the Wales V BaBaas match by asking which team were Eyeland and then why weren't they playing, over and over and over. In the end he tried to teach her the words. I didn't know he knew them! I mean why would he? He even put on a brouge as he sung.

He still doesn't like Phillip Matthews. They were colleagues when he was playing and I think they got on well enough then, but pundits tend to polarise (if they are at all interesting)

Right big day tomorrow. Trip to Mannaw. Quite excited now, but better get some kip.

Nos da, slaap lekker, gnite.

Enjoy your weekend all

'Diff tomorrow for me and some fine Welsh ale with Penfro, and any others who can make it.

Cardiff may be the youngest capital in Europe (1955?), but it's rapidly becoming a great place to visit. I haven't been abused there for being English for a number of years now

I still have to get through tomorrow though and I'm sure Penfro will tell me "where to park my chariot!"

Remember the sing-song in the Westgate, for the benefit of those who were there after the Amlin final

Morning!

Just off to work to do a few last minutes then off on my trip. See you Monday.

Oh Lucky or any Dragons regs, is the Passport office still open in Newp'? I'll need a new one by the end of July. If not, how long does it take to get one if you send the forms off?

Morning all, busy day today must dash


http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/
http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/rugby/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport?mobile-redirect=false
http://sport.scotsman.com/rugby
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/rugby/
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/rugbynation/
http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/rugby

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/headlines.cfm?c_id=80
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union

Glas. I renewed mine last month and it was back in a week. Cost £77. I beleive it's around £120 if you go via the pp office.

You can shove your fricking chariot up y............................

Bore da pawb / good morning all. Friday is upon us!

Glas, I know they're going to keep the Passport Office in Newport running but with loads fewer staff and you won't be able to go there to get a new passport. Whether that change has come in yet, I don't know.
Really windy here on the docks this morning. Damn headwind slowed me right down!

Morning all,

Last day in the school today. Got my aunt's famous chocolate cake to bring back to Chester with me as well tonight.

Morning All

Harrow - enjoy the beer fest with Penfro this weekend.

Munsty - I'm sure that cake will go down well with the ladies. Do you fib and say you made it yourself?

Glas a du wrote:Morning!

Just off to work to do a few last minutes then off on my trip. See you Monday.

Oh Lucky or any Dragons regs, is the Passport office still open in Newp'? I'll need a new one by the end of July. If not, how long does it take to get one if you send the forms off?

enjoy your trip Glas, and yes the office is still open at Newport.

hughie1986 wrote:You can shove your fricking chariot up y............................

Why is it that only rugby "supporters" from other countries have such offensive songs about England ? Are there any such songs sung against other countries ?

Why don't you post a thread about it outside and find out?

Because I'm asking in here.

That sing song was great Craic!