November 22, 2014
Similar Houses on either sides of the Atlantic
The Sopranos, The West Wing, The Wire, Breaking Bad, Friday
Night Lights- my pantheon of great shows to which House of Cards was added a
few weeks ago. The political drama which depicts the rise to power of the
Democratic Party Chief Whip in America is a spine-tingling drama. Even though
it is still to conclude its course as a TV series, it is sure to be one of the
great American dramas of this generation.
What few people know, myself included until recently, is
that this concept is taken from the book ‘House of Cards’ by Michael Dobbs
which was published in 1989. The American series is not the first time that the
novel has been adapted however. The book’s protagonist is the British
Conservative Party Chief Whip, Francis Urquhart. And the BBC TV series ‘House
of Cards’, which was first aired in 1990, is a direct adaptation of that idea.
Netflix is the easiest way to watch the original series,
which is no doubt in thanks to the fact that the American version of the TV
series is an independent production by the global streaming site.
The American series is exquisite. Kevin Spacey plays the
vindictive Francis Underwood sublimely, and the supporting cast are equally as
enthralling to watch due to their cynical and often heartless personalities.
So I gave the British version a shot, not expecting to make
it past thirty minutes of the first episode. I was wrong. I did not expect the
series to be so similar to the American one. A lot of the names are the same,
including Frank and his Chief of Staff, Stamper. The general storyline is the
very same and a lot of the ways in which the two protagonists show their
vindictive nature is the same. The role of up and coming Congressman Peter
Russo is replaced by the MEP Roger O’Neill (Actor Miles Anderson’s attempt at
the Irish accent is deplorable). Francis Urquhart is also door stepped by a
young journalist, who is attempting to make friends in high places so that she
can further her own career.
So the recipe is almost identical, but is it worth watching?
Certainly it is. The intro to the British version is not as dramatic as the American
one, and the posh Conservative politicians can be difficult to listen to at
times. The ‘soliloquys’ which Francis offers to the camera in the American
adaptation are much more frequent in the BBC version. The depiction
of Francis Urquhart by Ian Richardson is fantastic however. You get the
immediate feeling that Kevin Spacey wanted to replicate the cynical character
Richardson portrayed.
During exam time you often need a chance for levity. When I
was doing the Leaving Cert, I decided it would be a good time to get reading
again. In the first year of college, it was the most recent season of Family
Guy. In the second year of college, it was Homeland. This year, it will most
likely be House of Cards. My only worry is that it may ruin the American series
for me.
November 11, 2014
Opportune habits at inopportune times
Reading isn’t something I can afford too much time to these
days. Endless assignment for college and the general activities of life in
Limerick mean that ‘relaxation time’ is usually at a premium. I have found that
it is easy to develop unhealthy habits when under pressure.
I rarely read growing up. I’m sure I consumed books quite
regularly in my early primary school years but I never found it appealing to
read in the years that followed. I had my hurling, I watched TV and the rest of
the evenings were spent doing copious amounts of homework.
And then the night before my ‘mocks’ started, I discovered
napping. Hallelujah! It was a revelation. I had Agricultural Science the
following morning and I still had the bulk of my revision to do. So for some
reason I decided that I had time to go for a quick snooze before I hit the
books. I have never known refreshment like it. I was like a new man. Full of
energy, I tore through the revision for the evening. Pig farming, soil types,
the nitrogen cycle, everything was entering my brain with a renewed optimism.
An evening nap after returning from secondary school became part of my daily
routine as a result.
As well as that, I discovered reading. Maybe it was the
tedium of going through facts and definitions from school books that drove me
to it. I literally have no idea why, at that most busy time of my life, I
decided to read at my leisure. Autobiographies and sports books of all kinds, I
consumed numerous every week. I suppose it was a much needed escape from the
stress of sitting state exams. The achievement I felt when I completed a book
and added it to my growing collection was pleasing. That is the main reason why
I am not a fan of Kindles- how are you meant to show off your burgeoning
collection of reading memorabilia if it is hidden on a hard drive?
I probably read just as much as anybody else, which isn’t
anything to write about. I have on and off patches during the year when I read
at a steady pace. Until recently, when the assignments really started to build
up, I was not reading. But for some reason I turn to books when things become
really busy. I read ‘The Commitments’ by Roddy Doyle in the space of a couple
of hours last week and another book bit the dust over the weekend.
It’s a much overlooked past time which mixes serenity with self-improvement.
Not many things can match that.
November 6, 2014
A tale of two cities
I don’t regularly travel to Dublin. My only visits to the
Capital usually involve the sights surrounding Croke Park, on the days when
Tipperary are in town. Consequently visiting the Southside of the city is a rarity.
Yesterday (as far as I am aware) is the first time I have
seen Leinster House in all its glory. It was the first time I have walked
around the serene St Stephen’s Green. It was also the first time walked the
cobbled streets near Temple Bar, soaking in the atmosphere being generated by a
wide variety of nationalities.
Leaving D’Olier Street on the bus as the sun finally
disappeared under the horizon, my mood should have been optimistic and joyous.
It wasn’t. I found the visit quite eerie.
The reason I found it that way is because there was an energy
and a vibrancy everywhere. The cafes were full, the streets were thronged with
shoppers and the pubs were becoming increasingly busy by the time the evening
had arrived.
It was strange to walk around an Irish city without seeing ‘To
let’ signs in the windows of every second building. Shops and shopping centres
around the city were busy, and there did not seem to be a shortage of people
spending within them.
Of course nothing I have mentioned is decidedly negative.
This is an image of Ireland which we have been yearning to witness since the
collapse of our economy in 2008. The problem is that this is not an image of
Ireland, but an image of Dublin. I have long worried, with many others, that
the rest of the country is being left behind while Dublin enjoys a mini revival.
My viewpoint was strengthened after yesterday’s visit. I
have been living in Limerick for the bulk of the last three years, and I love
the place to bits. I rarely saw anything beyond the boundaries of Castletroy in
the first two years, but this year I have seen much more of the City itself. I
like the character of the people, the subtle charm of the buildings and its
rich history.
However the city is, like the other cities dotted around the
country, lagging behind the Capital. The energy on the streets of Dublin seems
a far cry from the main streets of Limerick where jobs and general prosperity
is being returned at a much, much slower pace.
What really worried me about the trip to Dublin however was
the feeling that we were recreating the scene of our worst nightmare. The
details of sky rocketing house prices in Dublin have been prevalent everywhere
in the media over the last year. Only six years ago, we were lamenting our
stupidity in getting sucked into this ‘bubble’, which we thought would last
forever.
Our memories are short it seems. Hopefully I’m wrong about
the possibility of another property crash, but that is exactly the way we
looked at things when a minority of economists were prophesying our economic
demise. Whether or not Limerick, among other cities, would like to recreate
Dublin’s current prosperity is another question. It strikes me as a ‘quick fix’
for our economy, and has little structure to it. It will be interesting to see
what happens in the Capital over the next 12 months.
October 28, 2014
Munster have not gone away
The bitter chill of the late October breeze. The vibrant red
emanating from the public houses. The gentle murmur from voices young and old.
The senses tingled as I made my way from the centre of
Limerick City towards the Mecca of Munster rugby, Thomond Park. The excitement
and expectation ahead of Munster’s first European game of the season made the
walk especially short.
I am a little bit ashamed to say that, despite the fact I
have watched Munster for well over a decade, this is the first time I have
witnessed the famous stadium on a European Cup weekend. I have been to many
Celtic League games, and even saw the Irish soccer team get thumped 3-0 by
Australia from high in the East Stand.
The famous Munster roar was evident from the beginning. This
was a night when fans went there not knowing what to expect. A late Ian Keatley
drop goal rescued a win in Sale the previous weekend, camouflaging an otherwise
disappointing display. Saracens, the European Cup runners up from the 2013/2014
season, were in town and looked convincing in their defeat of Clermont Auvergne
in the opening round of games. It was a must win game in a group that is likely
to be competitive until the last kicks of Round Six.
Munster did what they do best. They stifled the attacking
capabilities of one of England’s best back lines. The spirit of 2006 seems to
be within the hearts and minds of this side. The backline is robust and
stubborn. Conceding only three points to this Saracens side is no mean feat.
The competition for places in the forwards is another bonus for the province,
and for Ireland, due to the increasing number of injuries to the front row.
Dave Kilcoyne and Robin Copeland are immense figures to bring
off the bench and each entered the fray with a point to prove. A lot can change
over the next five weeks, until the next set of European games. The
international players will have three tough games to contend with during November,
and injuries are probable.
However in a tough group, Munster have done what was asked
of them. Two wins from two have put them
in control of the Pool at this early stage.
October 21, 2014
A very innocent pleasure
I am listening to U2 as I write this.
I am meant to be ashamed of that statement. At least that is
what the mainstream media and the general public would have me believe. This
bunch of tax evading, egotistical rock stars deserve the ire of every living
soul apparently and anybody who disagrees with this point of view should be
lambasted.
It is becoming a guilty pleasure to listen to U2. Once one
of the most respected bands in the world, the mentality towards them has turned
full circle and now they are struggling to maintain a good identity in the
minds of the average individual. The reaction to the release of their most
recent album, Songs of Innocence, was
remarkable.
People were being given free music, and they found a reason
to complain. Those same people probably use MP3 downloader apps on their phones
to easily listen to music without any charge. They also most likely download
their music on a variety of different websites with the soul intention of
cheating the music industry out of revenue.
Yet when U2 cut a deal with iTunes to release their new
album without charge, we have the right to criticise them somehow. Why don’t we
start judging them (and any high profile figure) by our own moral standards,
rather than assuming they must behave much more saintly than any of us could?
It strikes me as typical Irish begrudgery. Confidence and success
is something to be frowned upon- you’re a poor Irish man/woman and you should
behave as such. I remember vividly an interview conducted by Ryan Tubridy with
golfer Padraig Harrington on the Late Late Show a few years ago. Harrington had
faded into relative obscurity, soon after winning three major titles. He always
strived to improve several aspects of his game, but those changes he made to
his approach led to a loss of form and he hasn’t won a major tournament since.
He made an error in judgment as we all do from time to time.
The tone of the interview was positive however. Harrington
can come across as an amateur philosopher and is fascinating to listen to. He
is an ‘open book’ and is always happy to discuss the problems going on in his
professional career. He was determined that night. He still had the confidence
that he would come back to be a force in the game of golf again. It was a
stirring interview precisely because confidence is rarely publicly exuded by
Irish sportspeople.
In the days following the interview he was roundly
criticised. His confidence seemed to be mis-portrayed as an arrogance which he
apparently didn’t deserve to express, despite winning three major titles.
The same complex comes to mind when I think of U2. They have
risen from the working classes of North Dublin to become one of the most
successful bands in the history of music. They got there through great music,
not through the marketing which seems to drive the biggest music acts these
day. They should be seen as Irish heroes, not figures of fun.
Bono has been one of the leaders in the fight for many
humanitarian injustices around the world, but apparently that should be
overlooked in favour of his tax dealings. I will not lose any sleep if he uses
money, saved by not paying taxes in Ireland, to pay for a well in an
impoverished African country.
The following are the closing sentences of a famous article,
written in 1977, by Lester Bangs titled, ‘Where were you when Elvis died?’
“If love truly is going out of fashion forever, which I do
not believe, then along with our nurtured indifference to each other will be an
even more contemptuous indifference to each others' objects of reverence. I
thought it was Iggy Stooge, you thought it was Joni Mitchell or whoever else
seemed to speak for your own private, entirely circumscribed situation's many
pains and few ecstasies. We will continue to fragment in this manner, because
solipsism holds all the cards at present; it is a king whose domain engulfs
even Elvis's. But I can guarantee you one thing: we will never again agree on
anything as we agreed on Elvis. So I won't bother saying good-bye to his
corpse. I will say good-bye to you.”
Apparently we still do agree universally on certain ‘objects
of reverence’, but only in a negative sense. U2 seems to have that hold on a
lot of people, and no amount of discussion will change their mind that the band
are not worth supporting.
By the way, the new album is great. Try reserve your
judgment of it until you too have also listened.
October 15, 2014
I do not much care anymore (in a good way)
A year in the real world can do a lot. When you are only 21
years old, it can be crucial to your development. I cannot say that I am a
completely changed man to what I was 12 months ago. I still look the same
except for the minor beard which now emanates, as seems to happen at some point
during any student’s life.
Being put outside your comfort zone can do a lot. Yesterday
I attended a talk between Journalism and New Media students from all years.
Five other classmates stood up and spoke eloquently about things to keep in
mind as everybody else begins to settle into the course. A number of others,
including myself, spoke only briefly.
While I did not know what the theme of my ‘pearls of wisdom’
would be at the beginning, the more I spoke the more I realised how much I had
changed over the last year. I did not want to put pressure on those from the
years below us, but the importance of trying things out needed to be
emphasised.
At the end of first year, I had no intention of getting into
radio. At the beginning of fourth year, a career in broadcasting is what I have
my mind set on. It all came down to taking chances, doing match reports for
Tipp FM, then making the leap onto ULFM with a weekly radio show. Then it leads
to an extremely successful work placement with KCLR96FM.
Four months spent immediately afterwards on Erasmus in
Budapest gave me the ‘kick up the arse’ I needed to begin to experience
travelling. It gave me the confidence that it is possible to study abroad and live
in a different part of the world for a long period of time. Work does not faze
me as much as much as it did, but that may change over the coming months with
countless assignment deadlines on the horizon.
Taking chances can be terrifying but they need to be done at
some point in your life. I am happy I took mine two years ago.
October 7, 2014
Why don’t we have an ‘alma mater’?
Scrambling as I am generally to condense my thoughts on a
particular topic into a blog post, I look out the window of the Glucksman
Library. The slightly tinted leaves of trees which lie parallel to the road
shelter the incoming and outgoing students of the University of Limerick on a
pleasant yet chilly Tuesday afternoon.
It is a fantastic campus. I have enjoyed my time in the
Treaty County hugely but I sometimes get the sense that something is missing.
It is not something unique to UL. It is also not something unique to Ireland,
as I discovered during my Erasmus in Budapest earlier this year. I have been
studying ‘Identity’ as part of my current Politics module. As part of the
class, my mind wandered to what my identities are. To people in my parish, I am
from Lisballyard. To people in Tipperary, I am from Lorrha. To people from
Ireland, I am from Tipperary. To foreigners, I am Irish.
Reference is never made however to your home as a student.
Only if I am asked where I am studying, would I disclose that I spend most of
my time in Limerick as a student in UL. It is in stark contrast to the identity
students feel to their University in the US. I am an avid fan of American
sports and in particular American Football. The fact that I would happily
devote a few hours of my Saturday to watching amateur sportsmen play that sport
in their own Universities is a phenomenon worth analysing.
I merely enjoy taking a gander at the College Football
matches. The team is vital however to the identity of a University, and
students (apart from those who despise the ‘jock culture’ of college sports)
cling onto that identity for the rest of their lives. They may have left their
Alma Mater many decades ago, but they will still tune in every Saturday to
watch their team play.
I think it would be great to have that identity with a
University in Ireland. There may be a number of reasons why students in this
country do not hold a perennial link with their University. Many people do not
build their life around campus life as Americans do. It is the norm for
students here to go home at the weekend to get washing done and get some
healthy food in their stomachs. In such a vast country as America, students may
only go home a couple of times per semester at most. The University campus is
not seen as ‘home’ for many Irish students as a result.
Inter college rivalry is crucial to building that identity
however. I know many American universities, not as a result of academia, but
through sports. It is likely to be the same for most Americans as well.
Rivalries such as that between Auburn and Alabama will stir emotions in
students which will likely leave them with an everlasting attachment to their
College.
Without sporting rivalries between third level institutions
in Ireland, I think it would be difficult to build an identity with your alma
mater. The Fitzgibbon and Sigerson Cups are opportunities to build that
mentality. Some of the best hurlers and footballers in the country play in
these competitions, but the marketing of the tournaments lags way behind the
intercounty scene.
Three- four of our most important years are spent in
University, so it would be a pity not to retain a constant link. We need a
reason to do so however.
October 2, 2014
Human error is paramount to good radio
Not even a fire drill could stop the return of The Dugout on
ULFM. The show I co-present with James O’Nolan returned to the airwaves on
Tuesday, and sure enough the rustiness was on full display.
It all adds to the fun of presenting a radio show. Confusion
at the beginning of the programme about whether the microphones were actually
working led to 15 minutes of music, instead of the sports chat which our show
is meant to be feeding to the public.
It is amazing how much of a buzz even the cock-ups can be.
The adrenaline flows through your veins after a crucial error on live radio and
the onus is on you to rectify the issue. You feel as if the entire world is
listening when in fact it is probably only your Dad eavesdropping over the
internet, laughing his ass off at the embarrassment which has just befallen his
own ‘flesh and blood’.
We returned to air after 3-4 songs filled the gaping chasm
of silence in the ULFM schedule. Upon our return, a fire drill bellowed around
the corridors of the Student Union. But we ploughed on nevertheless. True
professionals continue through the fiery flames and screams from the students
outside. (I have possibly exaggerated the situation)
Then the comfort of being on the radio returned. I still
remember the nerdy, poorly attired and nervous figure I cut when I went on air
in September 2012. I have come a long way since then. I may still be nerdy and
poorly attired when behind the mic but now I don’t care as much about the
difficulties which may befall a live show.
American television is as slick as the new Nenagh bypass
during an icy spell, but it is important to normalise the errors which are made
on the low budget radio stations. Mistakes add to the allure of a radio
programme. Listeners want something interesting, whether it be the highbrow
discussions taking place on the air or a unique cock-up. It is important to own
up to such mistakes on air. Don’t pretend as if nothing happened. Irish people
like humility. Admit your errors and make fun of them.
Ray Foley, now on 98FM, is somebody I look up to in this
respect. If he or another member of his team makes a mistake, they do not
attempt to brush it under the carpet. The error is used as a talking point and
an opportunity to slag off the culprit who committed the sin.
It is better to be confident and mistake ridden. Remember
that errors occur in every walk of life. Confidence is paramount at all times,
despite the difficulties which may befall you.
September 23, 2014
Let the torment return.
I was a nervous wreck and by no means was I the only one.
Heading into any Tipperary hurling championship match, confidence is never a
trait you could associate with myself. It’s not that I have no faith in the men
that adorn the blue and gold, it is just that I am possibly an inherently
negative being. I think that a lot of Irish people have that bred into them
also.
However with 15 minutes of the All Ireland hurling final
remaining on September 7, it was a strange scenario. Tipperary were trailing
the mighty Kilkenny and were staring another defeat to their neighbours in the
proverbial face. Hope was fading and time was running out.
But the usual pessimism and disdain for life which usually
envelopes my being when Tipp trail in a crucial match was not on show on Hill 16
that Sunday afternoon. The previous 55 minutes of breathtaking hurling had left
me in a daze. How could you possibly be critical or downbeat about the
Tipperary team when they were taking part in the most thrilling sporting
spectacle I have ever witnesses in person or watched on television?
I was one of the lucky ones. Lucky enough to have been born
into a country in which hurling is a primary sport. There are many sports which
can provide fantastic entertainment, but there is no other sport on the planet
that combines the grace, skill and commitment of hurling.
The quality of the sides on the day was truly immense.
Kilkenny hit six wides in the game, Tipperary struck three. How could you
possibly be downbeat during a game in which those representing your county were
giving as good as they got, but just found themselves chasing down one of the
greatest teams the sport of hurling has ever seen.
And then the final 15 minutes managed to surpass what went
before. The surge of pride I felt when Tipp made the fightback in the final
five minutes is something that rarely courses through my veins. It may only be
sport, but it also gives you an identity. An identity that you want to defend
at all costs and also see in battle against opposing forces.
The battle recommences this Saturday at 5pm, and I cannot
wait for it.
September 17, 2014
It is a straight forward headline from the home page of the RTE website and concisely represents the victory of the 'no' campaign in the Scottish referendum. For anybody who was buried under a rock for the last number of years however, it would probably seem a hardly fathomable
headline.
The fact that a country could vote against it's own opportunity at absolute sovereignty, especially one with the rich culture and history of Scotland, is difficult for me to understand. Maybe it's my Irish blood. The fact that my ancestors and their neighbours around the Emerald Isle had to fight so ferociously for the Republic in which we now live means that many of us can't comprehend that a country could vote against independence when the only weapons necessary were a pencil and a small piece of paper.
It strikes me as a defeat of the simple positive characteristic 'confidence'. The 'no' campaigners and supporters had no belief that they could go it alone. I am sure that each and everyone of those who voted are supremely proud of being Scottish, but they could not overcome their fears that they didn't have the means or the capability to build their own country.
That is the biggest disappointment.
It seems to be a trait in this part of the world that confidence is not tolerated. Anybody who is seen celebrating their achievements is accused of being a 'mé féiner' and is dismissed as somebody who has lost the run of themselves. The possibility of failure is highlighted more than the chance of greatness. The media has a lot to answer for in this regard, but individuals must take it upon themselves to change the mentality of their population.
In my opinion, Scotland have missed an opportunity for something great. It is rare in modern times that a developed country would have the opportunity to start afresh, build a society which could incorporate the wishes of the entire population. Instead, the fear of failure became too much. The status quo was preferable because it is what they know, even if that status quo does not live up to their standards.
The fact that the main British parties did not have enough faith in Scotland to go it alone (of course they had vested interests in maintaining the Union) is a kick in the teeth for positivity. They were effectively being told that they needed to be looked after by the United Kingdom, and didn't have the means to go it alone. Of course they did, but pessimism reigns supreme in this part of the world.
It strikes me as a defeat of the simple positive characteristic 'confidence'. The 'no' campaigners and supporters had no belief that they could go it alone. I am sure that each and everyone of those who voted are supremely proud of being Scottish, but they could not overcome their fears that they didn't have the means or the capability to build their own country.
That is the biggest disappointment.
It seems to be a trait in this part of the world that confidence is not tolerated. Anybody who is seen celebrating their achievements is accused of being a 'mé féiner' and is dismissed as somebody who has lost the run of themselves. The possibility of failure is highlighted more than the chance of greatness. The media has a lot to answer for in this regard, but individuals must take it upon themselves to change the mentality of their population.
In my opinion, Scotland have missed an opportunity for something great. It is rare in modern times that a developed country would have the opportunity to start afresh, build a society which could incorporate the wishes of the entire population. Instead, the fear of failure became too much. The status quo was preferable because it is what they know, even if that status quo does not live up to their standards.
The fact that the main British parties did not have enough faith in Scotland to go it alone (of course they had vested interests in maintaining the Union) is a kick in the teeth for positivity. They were effectively being told that they needed to be looked after by the United Kingdom, and didn't have the means to go it alone. Of course they did, but pessimism reigns supreme in this part of the world.
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