FURTHERMORE
By Gerry Moran
And so the list goes on… That illustrious sporting list, the list (and this is just a sample) that goes: where were you when Packie saved and David O’Leary scored? Where were you when Katie won Gold? When Kelly won Gold twice? And now: where were you when Rory won back-to-back Masters in Augusta?
Me? I was in the Sceilp Inn just down the road from where I live. I was on a high stool and in the best of company, namely Frances, Brendan and Johnny, three neighbours of mine. Now there’s good and bad about watching sport, in this case the golf, in good company. The good is that we’re all singing from the same hymn sheet (which we would be anyway) but because we’re enjoying each other’s company we’re singing in harmony, great harmony; we’re singing as a team or to use a word that’s orbiting in my brain at the moment – ‘crew’, thanks to the recently returned to Earth crew from Artemis 11.
And I loved mission specialist Christina Koch’s (the first woman to go to the Moon) reflection on looking down on Earth, this tiny ball in the incalcuble vastness of space: “We are crew,” she said, implying, I guess, that Earth is our ‘capsule’ spinning in space and we humans, like any good crew, need to work together to look after it – though by God we sure don’t behave like a unified crew right now. Then again, perhaps we never did!
And I thought it wonderful that the crew of four travelled further into space than any humans before and were first to observe the back side of the Moon – a feat almost as marvellous as Rory’s back-to-back win in Augusta! And I presume their timing wasn’t lost on you all – I could just hear them talking to NASA saying: “Get us back to earth in time to see if Rory McIlroy can do the Masters back-to-back.”
And boy but I’ve digressed. The downside to looking at sport in good company is that you occasionally take your eye off the ball, literally, because you’re too busy yapping and chatting until someone pipes up: “Hey, I thought he was two, not one, under or what hole is he on now?”
Back then to basics as in – folks, let’s park the pleasantries and watch the damn golf. The thing, of course, about watching golf is that, like the game itself, it’s rather calm and civilised. We applaud politely when a good shot is played and sigh quietly when there’s a mishit, unlike a hurling match where we shout and roar and even resort to foul language not least when a foul is committed on our man that goes unchecked by the ref.
That’s what we need in golf – a referee! A visible one in standard black kit with a whistle, who we can vent our frustration on when things go awry. And how would it work? Haven’t a clue but we need someone to roar at, as in: “Would you get that crowd back from the fairway, ref, and tell those Yanks to stop hollering when our man’s putting.” You get the picture.
Well thank God there was no need for any of that carry-on in the Sceilp last Sunday night. Rory got his back-to-back and we strolled back home calmly and quietly contented.
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Delighted as I was for Rory McIlroy I was even more delighted for Eamon Langton [pictured] on hearing that he is to receive the Freedom of our City – an honour, me thinks, long overdue. I drank in Langton’s when it was a cosy, charming bar and watched it evolve over the years into the ‘empire’ it has become thanks to Eamon’s brilliant business acumen.
I am in awe of you, sir, and I have, throughout the years, some marvellous memories of wining, dining, dancing, and more, in your exceptional establishment, now a renowned Kilkenny landmark and destination.
Eamon I heartily congratulate you, and Trish, and all the family, on your achievements and well deserved award. Here’s to your health, happiness and continued success.
