European Dodgeball Championship in Limerick
This year's European Dodgeball Championships, taking place at the University of Limerick from the 26th to the 29th of June. RTÉ reporter Joe Caulfield is there for more.
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RTÉ News
2 days ago
- RTÉ News
'I didn't know whether I'd get back playing football' - Chloe Mustaki grateful for first Ireland start in three years
Republic of Ireland international Chloe Mustaki admitted that there was a time when she did not know whether she would be back playing football, let alone representing her country again, after featuring in the first of this week's two friendly games against the USA. The Girls in Green lost 4-0 to the world number one side in Denver, Colorado in the early hours of Friday morning Irish time. But beyond the result, it was a significant night for Mustaki as the 29-year-old bridged a three-year gap since her last start which had come all the way back in April 2022. After the match, when asked by RTÉ soccer correspondent Tony O'Donoghue if she had believed that she would ever start in the green jersey again, Mustaki said: "Honestly, not really. About 15 months ago, I didn't know whether I'd get back playing football. "So it's been a big year for me personally to be honest. I have a lot of people to thank as well. But I'm just really, really grateful and hopefully there will be more to come." Mustaki, who overcame cancer earlier in her career, suffered a hip injury last year that kept her out for a number of months. Starting at left back in the absence of the rested captain Katie McCabe, Mustaki played almost the entire match before being subbed off for Izzy Atkinson in stoppage time. "First start in three years or just over three years, and first game in eight weeks so a pretty big shock to the system to be honest," said the Bristol City player. "But a great opportunity for us to learn. These are the best in the world and you can see that. Obviously (the USA) are mid-season, so they're fit, they're sharp, they're ready to go. "We've learned so much tonight and hopefully we'll learn more on Sunday as well." The game was staged at high altitude which, along with the 30 degree Celsius temperature, added to the challenge for Carla Ward's team. "It was pretty tough conditions especially in the first half but I thought we adapted pretty well," she said. "Obviously, we've been here for the guts of a week so we've been training, trying to get used to it but you can't really prepare for those conditions, so all you can do is be your best, communicate, stay tight as a unit and we did our best tonight and hopefully we can improve for Sunday as well." Ireland will have to absorb the lessons quickly with the second friendly against the USWNT to come on Sunday evening in Cincinatti, Ohio and goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan, who wore the captain's armband for the first time on her 50th Girls in Green cap, had mixed emotions given the result. "Obviously, not the result I or the team wanted so that's frustrating. But a really proud moment for myself to get my 50th cap and to lead the team out, it's a huge honour, so I'm very proud," said the New Jersey-born shot-stopper. "We knew what the game was going to be. Best team in the world, you're going to be under the cosh sometimes so I tried to step up, wish I could have saved a few more. "But it was a good effort, defensively at times from us. We switched off at times which is frustrating and disappointing for our standards and what we want but obviously we're learning from it and move onto the next one." The Everton player added: "They're the best team in the world for a reason so we know the quality that they possess but I think we know the quality we have too and we showed that at moments tonight but maybe not enough, so we have to show them respect but we also need to do what we know we're capable of on the ball and defensively as well." Caitlin Hayes also started and having had a bit-part role earlier in Ward's tenure, she relished greater involvement. "Of course, it's just good to play football. I've obviously not played that much since my move to Brighton and obviously back in international," said the Brighton & Hove Albion defender. "But I'm just grateful to play football, grateful to have an opportunity and long may it continue, fingers crossed." On the task awaiting the Irish on Sunday in Ohio after the defeat in Colorado, Hayes added: "We know we can be better. We know we can turn up and get rid of those little mistakes and hopefully we can do better with the 4-0 and take our chances maybe a little bit better. But we're a team that's ready to go, we'll work on our chances and we'll hopefully take our opportunities in the next game."
Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Diarmuid Connolly slams Parnells debacle after RTÉ Prime Time revelations
Diarmuid Connolly has blasted the Parnells controversy as going against everything that the GAA stands for and said he hopes 'justice is served'. Dublin great Connolly is disgusted that the club went into liquidation earlier this year, despite Parnells making €22m for the sale of land in 2008. "It's very sad, I live very close to the Coolock area," said the two-time All-Ireland winner. "They are the second longest serving GAA club in the capital. "Parnells always had a huge catchment area. Coolock is a massive, massive area, and it is underprivileged, so they need the outlet in the area and to do what they did is criminal." RTÉ's Prime Time this week looked into the club's fall and revealed that one players received almost €20,000 over a year and four month period for coaching, travel and subsistence, while a coach was paid almost €17,000 for travel and subsistence payments over a nine-month period. "I saw the interviews from some of those past chairmen and some of the guys on the executive, I'd like to see the 50-odd more that went through that executive and I'd like to see the minutes of the meetings," Connolly said. "To lose €22 million over the space of a decade is criminal. Somebody has to be held accountable for it. There's a lot of people have to be held accountable." Stephen Cluxton, the nine-time All-Ireland winning Dublin captain, wrote a letter to the club detailing his 'frustration at the direction in which the club was being led' and he stepped down to the second team. "They sort of ate each other from the inside out," said Connolly. "They were getting players down the country, they were giving them cars, they were giving them jobs, they were giving them accommodation, but they weren't looking after their own. "They weren't looking after their own - they were looking to win a championship with money. That is completely the wrong way to look at it, it goes against everything the GAA stands for. "I just hope justice is served. I hope Parnells can come back. They have no club, no pitch. It is a really sad state of affairs." Diarmuid Connolly was speaking exclusively to BoyleSports as a Gaelic Games ambassador ahead of the All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals.
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Irish Independent
Letters: As McStay leaves Mayo role, expect a few sparks ahead of the next appointment
Once, while visiting a rural pub in Hollymount, Co Mayo, a mature regular made a valid point: 'It's the hope that keeps us going – and if we ever win an All- Ireland football final, the hope would turn to complacency.' As we say farewell to Kevin McStay and his team, every bar in Mayo and beyond will be the setting for discussions about who should be next to drive forward the county's footballers. I hope it's a well-charged battery. There may be some sparks from the positive and negative leads that lie ahead. Seamus Joyce, London Mayo's ruthless handling of manager's dismissal leaves bad taste in mouth As a Sligo and Connacht GAA supporter, I am dismayed and disappointed at the way in which Mayo GAA has dispensed with the services of the senior inter-county manager Kevin McStay. Given the man himself must have been bitterly upset to step back from management on health grounds, having taken ill at a training session, I think it crass of the county board to have cut short his tenure in this way. If there is a chink of light, there is currently a senior management vacancy in Sligo, and I know Kevin would receive a warm welcome in the Yeats county if he felt he had unfinished business in the GAA. Stephen O'Hara, Carrowmore, Co Sligo Denying fans the chance to watch today's game on RTÉ is beyond scandalous Can anyone out there give me one good reason why we, the licence fee-payers, can't view a very exciting anticipated match today at 4pm in Croke Park between Donegal and Monaghan on our national broadcaster, RTÉ? This is a disgrace. Shame on the GAA. Brian McDevitt, Glenties, Co Donegal ADVERTISEMENT Relying on other nations for our security is absurd in this unsettled world In support of Christy Galligan ('Who will protect Ireland when we cannot, and will not, protect ourselves?', Letters, June 23), I wish to cite the imprudence of Europe's long-standing defence and security dependence on the US 'coming home to roost'. This week, we witnessed Nato secretary general Mark Rutte grovel to Donald Trump at a meeting in The Hague. On the battlefield, without US overwatch, Ukraine continues to be hammered by Russia, leaving its citizens more vulnerable to future aggression from Vladimir Putin. These lessons could not be starker. Depending on another party (as Ireland has always done) to provide or guarantee our security is absurd. The perpetual prevarication about our defence must stop and be replaced by a set of resolute actions. Will this be costly? Most definitely, yes. Michael Gannon, St Thomas Square, Kilkenny Nato leaders have learnt the best way to get results is to capitulate to Trump It was reported that the atmosphere at the recent Nato summit was little short of obsequious towards Donald Trump. It seems leaders have worked out that if they want a US buy-in to Nato, they have to commit to Trump's spending demands and then flatter him into believing he is the only person who can make things happen. It appears to have worked. The US has renewed its commitment to defending other Nato countries and the language was expletive-free. But I would like to ask: Why did Nato leaders refuse to mention Russian aggression? I find this perplexing. John O'Brien, Clonmel, Co Tipperary Using 'Republic' as prefix in Ireland's name does not discount the six counties I read with interest Gerry Cummins's letter ('That Republic of Ireland moniker belongs only in one place – a football park', June 26). I think the use of 'Republic of Ireland' is correct, as is Ireland and/or Éire. I prefer Ireland, but the prefix 'Republic of' is also correct and doesn't mean the six counties in the North are disclaimed. The island of Ireland will be reunited sooner rather than later. I predict that one day, an all-Ireland football team will win the World Cup. Dominic Shelmerdine, London While Gaza and Ukraine dominate the headlines, we cannot forget Sudan As the horrors of war in the Middle East fill the headlines, it is important that we do not forget the apocalyptic suffering of the Sudanese people, who are in the middle of 'the world's largest humanitarian crisis', according to the UN. Tens of thousands of people have died as a result of the country's civil war, which began in 2023. More than 12 million people have been displaced. According to the World Food Programme, 24.6 million people face food insecurity, while 637,000 face 'catastrophic levels of hunger'. There have been attempts to end the conflict, and the Irish Government has provided over €10m in humanitarian support. Unfortunately, this horrendous war continues. It is imperative that world leaders give this the same attention as the humanitarian disaster in Gaza and the devastating war in Ukraine. Tadhg Mulvey, Trim, Co Meath When it comes to doing certain chores, it's best to strike while the iron is hot I ironed a shirt this morning. That may not seem newsworthy, but in my household it marks an event of some significance due to its rarity. It brought me back to my teenage years, when I first started taking an interest in girls. At that time, the only way I could appear in a crisply ironed shirt was by paying my sister 50p to do it for me. This morning, however, I took matters into my own hands. To be fair, the front looked fine. It was only when I removed my jacket during the meeting that I realised I'd forgotten the sleeves. From the elbows down, it was creased chaos. Still, no one said anything, which either means they were being polite or they've stopped expecting much from me.
