IT WOULDN'T be Christmas time without a selection box and this week’s Off the Fence has something for everyone - well, unless you hate the GAA in which case some would say (not me) you’ve possibly picked the wrong newspaper (don’t panic, heavyweight champion of the world and everybody’s favourite bleeding heart liberal Tyson Fury also gets his due).
We’ll start this week on a positive note. Andy Watters’ feature on the family of GAA founder Michael Cusack went down a treat with the readers - and, whisper it quietly, a second instalment may be on the cards.
‘PATRICK from Newcastle’ emailed us with praise for historian Michael Anderson (and, more importantly, Andy), who has uncovered the history of the GAA’s founding family.
“What a superb and informative cultural feature on the Cusack family. Michael Anderson’s patience, attention to detail and the miscellaneous avenues he had to go down to glean all this information is nothing short of fantastic.
“Very well done to Andy Watters for printing the feature - and a huge stack of praise to Michael Anderson for the immensely enjoyable and factual feature he created. A brilliant read ! Very well done.”
THERE was further praise on Facebook and Twitter.
‘Danielle’: “Great wee read - sad though and typical of the times back then.”
‘Mary’: “What a great and interesting story.”
‘Geraldine’: “Have a read of this if you have a spare five minutes #history #GAA”
BRENDAN CROSSAN'S feature on Armagh legend Ronan Clarke also struck a chord with our readers. Bursting onto the scene in 2002 as a prodigious 19-year-old, Clarke’s career was unfortunately restricted by injury and, worse, in August the Pearse Ogs clubman spent five days in an induced coma after colliding with a goalpost.
‘Armagh fan’ contacted us to wish Ronan well in his future endeavours.
“I want to say a big thank you to Brendan Crossan for his article on Ronan Clarke. Ronan was a star for Armagh until he stopped playing. You will never be forgotten Ronan, good luck in your future years.”
‘NIAMH’ on Twitter wrote: “Brilliant read. Brilliant player #Legend”
‘Dougie’ said: “Brilliant article, people remember class, that’s why they remember Ronan Clarke.”
Clarke formed an almost telepathic partnership with Steven McDonnell in a golden era for Armagh football. McDonnell also tweeted his thoughts: “Great article on Clarkie today @CrossanBrendan. Hard to put into words though how great this guy was.”
MEANWHILE, another former Armagh star, Aaron Kernan, has joined The Irish News sports team. His first column gave an insight into what makes Ulster champions Crossmaglen tick. The magic formula? Hard work, damn it.
Aaron’s maiden column drew praise on social media
‘Peter’ wrote: “Superb article! That’s why they are top of the tree!”
‘Sean’ said: “Cross would give a lot of county teams a run for their money.”
‘Tomás’: “Brilliant from @AaronKernan in his first Irish News column today. If anyone can talk about having club games in same calendar year, he can.”
The world’s greatest daughter also appreciated our latest appointment.
‘Niamh’ wrote: “Buying the Irish news to read Aaron Kernan’s column. Then telling your dad you bought it for him so you look like a brilliant daughter.”
AARON is taking on the mantle of one Paddy Heaney - whether he likes it or not - and ‘Mickey from Newfoundland’ is absolutely livid that Paddy has had a career change, so he is. Mickey, the stage is yours: “Readers. Don’t request or wish or think Paddy back. Demand to have PADDY HEANEY back. YES.
“I am old enough to remember his grandfather (also named Paddy) buying cattle in Scullions yard on Bellaghy fair day. On my bookshelf right beside a signed copy of Seamus Heaney poems I have Paddy Heaney’s Against the Breeze booklet. Not signed but of great value.
"We really need more of Paddy and less of Brolly. You don’t know what you’ve got until it is gone. Bring back Paddy.”
If you don’t ask, you don’t get, I suppose.
‘DOWN fan’ contacted us to congratulate ‘Saffron Vision’ for its resounding success at the Antrim county convention. Six of its eight members won a place on the new county committee, including new chairman Collie Donnelly, and our caller only wishes his own county would follow suit.
“I just want to congratulate Saffron Vision. I only wish that other counties would take heed because I think the GAA is slipping sadly. I’m from Down and I would love to see something like that there - a lot of our clubs have had similar complaints to ‘Saffron Vision’. Again congratulations.”
‘A LIFE-LONG Tyrone supporter’ rang in support of Mickey Harte after Shay McGuigan angrily hit back at comments the Red Hands boss made about players who withdrew from the inter-county panel in April.
McGuigan, one of a five-man exodus, bemoaned on Monday that Harte was “great at destroying a player’s confidence.”: “I’ve been to countless Tyrone matches up and down the country through the years and I’ve watched Shay McGuigan and to be honest Mickey Harte is right.
“In my opinion, he may have worked very hard and fair play to him but he was a bit off the standard required.”
OUR readers also came out in support of BBC journalist Andy West, who was suspended for criticising a decision to keep boxer Tyson Fury on the shortlist for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards. To cut a long story short, Fury’s views on gay people and women are a bit quaint.
‘Joseph’ said: “If Tyson Fury can come out with what he has said then why is this gentleman persecuted for speaking his mind? It’s double standards if the BBC let his nomination for spoty stand.”
‘Alana’ said: “It’s time the BBC got their priorities right.”
‘Frankie’ said: “Wear your suspension as a badge of honour, Andy!”
‘James’ said: “The BBC should be ashamed of itself. The people’s channel? Can I have my license fee back please? #theydontspeakforme”
