Letters to the Editor: An excellent match in a top-class stadium

Irish Examiner

06-06-2025

For more than half a century, I have been fortunate to have enjoyed many thrilling hurling and football games at the old 'park' and latterly SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, but last Tuesday evening's Uefa Women's Nations League match between Ireland and Slovenia has to rank right up there in terms of skill and enjoyment.
The demographic of the crowd, which seemed to consist for the most part of groups of teenage girls, and even younger, served to create a vibrantly refreshing atmosphere of pure unadulterated excitement and an almost innocently empathetic sense of support for the Irish team. This contrasted sharply with the usual matchday win-at-all-cost atmosphere generated by largely adult male supporters.
This is surely a huge tribute to the connection which the Irish ladies' team has established with these young girls, a segment of our population which has up to now, for the most part, been devoid of any sporting heroines to whom they can relate and seek to emulate in the future.
On the field, Ireland produced a heart-warming display full of skill, determination, and spirit which, with a little luck, could have delivered the four goals necessary to top the table.
It was gratifying for the home crowd that central to this display was the contribution of the Cork girls — from the silky skills and ball control of Denise O'Sullivan, to the industry of Megan Connolly, and the splendid match-winning goal scored by Saoirse Noonan.
One of the standout moments of the evening for me was the sight of Megan Campbell emerging from the tunnel and throwing the ball a prodigious distance into the Slovenian penalty area.
Ireland's Denise O'Sullivan with supporters after the Uefa Women's Nations League B match between the Republic of Ireland and Slovenia at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork. Picture: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
It evoked memories of another player from a different code and another era, an All-Ireland winning hurler with Cork in the 1940s, Billy 'Long Puck' Murphy, who was reputably capable of hitting the sliotar almost from one end of the park to the other.
The performance by the team was testament to the work of coach Carla Ward and her backroom staff, and was also due in no small way to the outstanding display of skill, drive, and leadership of captain Katie McCabe — reminiscent in many respects of Cork's own Roy Keane.
There was one other winner on the evening — namely the stadium itself, which looked resplendent in the evening sunshine, with the pitch in pristine condition and supporters afforded a superb view of the action on the field, regardless of where they were seated.
Great credit is due to the Cork County Board and the GAA authorities for making Páirc Uí Chaoimh available for the staging of this and other similar matches.
As always, we are all deeply indebted to the stewards, groundsmen, and the many volunteers without whose efforts it would not be possible to stage such matches. Long may SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh continue to offer us such thrilling sporting spectacles such as we all enjoyed on Tuesday evening.
Tadhg Nash, Ovens, Co Cork
We need a complete overhaul of animal rescue
Regarding the article 'Ireland's animal welfare system is unfit for purpose and animals are suffering because of it' ( Irish Examiner, Tuesday, June 3): I have been involved with Animal welfare for many years, both here and in the UK. Smaller rescues are at breaking point. The abuse of animals is relentless.
Pets are being surrendered as landlords will not allow them in their homes. This adds to the fact that the country went crazy during the pandemic. So many cross-breeds were bred for extortionate amounts of money, and a lot of these mixed breeds should never have been bred, causing unnecessary problems with eye problems, heart defects, biting issues — the list goes on.
We need a complete overhaul of animal rescue.
If an animal needs urgent care, we have no authority to go and seize the poor animal; we have to contact the ISPCA to see if they can send an inspector out. The gardaí are very reluctant to assist as they don't have the necessary training or facilities to deal with animal welfare.
Puppy breeding needs to have far more legislation and big fines for those who don't comply.
It takes far too long to get a cruelty case to court: An independent court system that deals with just these cases is needed, and imprisonment and a huge fine are needed. It is no good banning them from keeping animals; they just keep them somewhere else.
The grants we apply for every year don't go far enough. Vet fees have increased dramatically, and rescues can only do so much.
Thank you for your wonderful article thank you for highlighting this very important issue.
Bridget Banham, Knockcroghery, Roscommon
It's our duty to protect our oceans
Ahead of World Oceans Day tomorrow, we urge all those who depend on our waters across industry, transport, tourism, and beyond to move past words and take real action to protect our most essential natural resource.
At Brittany Ferries, we depend on the ocean and believe it's our duty to safeguard it. When everyone takes responsibility to reduce their environmental impact, the results can be significant. That's why we have introduced LNG-powered vessels, Salamanca and Santona, on our Rosslare to Spain routes. These ships are designed to cut sulphur and particulate matter to near zero while reducing emissions by up to 20%.
The vessels are also equipped to run on transition fuels, such as biomethane and e-methane, which will play a key role in our energy security as Ireland works toward a net-zero society by 2050.
While the arrival of these two new vessels will make a significant difference to our carbon footprint, the protection of our oceans relies on the co-operation of industry, society, and governments across the globe.
Our waters are a natural resource under growing pressure from climate change, pollution, and loss of marine biodiversity. We must act urgently and together to combat this.
Hugh Bruton, general manager, Ireland Brittany Ferries
Limit on Defence Forces deployment abroad
Watching the Oireachtas committee debate on the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 last week, one issue stood out to the casual observer.
Leaving aside the larger and more emotive issue of the 'triple lock', the question was discussed about the benefits of raising the number of Defence Forces members allowed to serve abroad — in a lawful and recognised operation — from 12 to 50. The answer is relatively simple.
A group of 50 can encompass the widely utilised and accepted military unit of a platoon of 33 persons, plus or minus, (+/-) who are operational and militarily ready for engagement, with the necessary support personnel — technical maintenance, signals (including drone operators), medical, and minimal admin element, to deploy an independent military unit — independent platoon, platoon plus, augmented platoon, the title is inconsequential — as part of a larger UN or EU mission.
Any reader who has worked in the regular or reserve Defence Forces, Civil Defence, or Scouting Ireland will recognise the logical utility of this measure.
This is not an esoteric question about how many angels will fit on the head of a pin, it is a meaningful military concern, for soldiers and their families.
Tim O'Connell, Capt (retired), Ballinteer, Dublin 16
Dismal Hiqa response to nursing homes scandal
Regarding the RTÉ Investigates special report on the nursing homes scandal, it took Hiqa 17 weeks before they carried out an inspection.
Taking into account that many protective disclosures were made by concerned workers, Hiqa's response was dismal, damming, and immoral. I do not trust this agency or the Government that is pushing the private nursing home agenda to care for the wellbeing of a very vulnerable sector of our society.
Citizens of Ireland, please let your public representatives know your feelings. It is in your own interest that you do.
James Jackman, Castleknock, Dublin 15
We need to show compassion for the elderly
I support fully the chairperson of Safeguarding Ireland in calling for an independent authority after Wednesday
nights RTÉ Investigates documentary into alleged failings of care in two nursing homes. It was heartbreaking to hear two leading doctors in geriatric medicine describe the undercover footage they witnessed as shocking and disturbing.
One doctor quite rightly posited the notion: 'What's the point of adding years to life if we cannot add life to years as well?'
It's my contention that compassion, kindness, humanity, and empathy should be as much a recruitment standard for care workers, nurses, and doctors as their exam results. We hear a lot about compassion for the elderly. Isn't it time we showed some?
John O'Brien, Clonmel, Co Tipperary
Scandal caused by decades of government failure
The RTÉ team who revealed the horrific happenings in two nursing homes are to be commended, but it made very disturbing viewing. However, equally disturbing was the fact that one of your editorial writers saw fit to highlight this latest national scandal with a heading 'State failing its citizens of all ages' ( Irish Examiner, June 5). And how right he or she was.
Where will it all end? Practically every week another horrific national scandal emerges, and our do-nothing Government does not seem to care.
In fact, I would go so far as to say that the people of Ireland have had to put up with more than one useless government over the past 20 years or so, and there is no indication whatsoever that governance in Ireland will improve in the immediate future.
It is almost a certainty that it will become more difficult to get on the housing ladder, all areas of the health service will continue to disimprove, and nobody as usual will be held to account.
Liam Burke, Dunmore, Co Kilkenny