Latest news with #MacIntyre
Scotsman
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
A Summer Like No Other by Martin MacIntyre review: ' a small but powerful time machine'
Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Michael MacIntyre's novel A Summer Like No Other appears in your hands - or in your world - like a small but powerful time machine, packed with characters, incidents and landscapes from another age. First published in Gaelic in 2018 under the title Samraidh 1978 (Summer of 1978), and now translated into English by MacIntyre himself, the book is one of eight works of fiction MacIntyre has written over the last 20 years, alongside three collections of poems; and it tells the 1970s tale of our first-person narrator Colin Quinn, a 20-year-old lad from Greenock studying at Glasgow University, where he has just failed his end of year exams, thanks to an excessively lively social life. South Uist and Eriskay as seen from the north end of Barra | Roger Cox / The Scotsman Colin's mother comes from Barra, and has passed on to him a basic knowledge of Gaelic; and it's decided that he might gain some clarity about his future by spending the summer with his uncle Ruairidh, a recently widowed doctor who, although based in the Scottish Borders, often acts as locum GP for the summer on the neighbouring island of South Uist. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Uncle Ruairidh is also a keen folklorist, who loves to record for posterity the myths, legends and language carried by the tradition-bearers of the islands. And as young Colin accompanies him on his rounds, and on his visits to mainly elderly singers and storytellers, he is plunged deep into the life of the community - an experience made even more intense by the fact that this is the summer of Scotland's famous World Cup journey to Argentina, a tale of initial sky-high hopes, disappointment and disaster celebrated and mourned across the island, in a series of all-male gatherings at various houses, both tranquil and rowdy. The novel therefore offers an instant sense of total immersion in a mainly Gaelic-speaking island community that is both deeply connected to all the driving, optimistic forces of 1970s modernity, and also rooted in an ancient way of life and language that is threatened by those forces, to the extent that today - almost 50 years on - it no longer exists in exactly the form MacIntyre describes. Yet it's striking that Macintyre offers this deep, rich, and highly complex portrait in a way that is almost without comment or inflection, as if he simply wants to lay it before us, like a long-buried time capsule. It's not, after all, precisely an autobiographical story. MacIntyre would only have been 12 during the summer of 78, the pale schoolboy in the corner of the room at one of the football-watching parties; and although he did grow up to train as a doctor, the fictional Colin takes another path. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad So when a strong and eventually shocking storyline does begin to emerge - involving Colin's encounter with Jane, the troubled and wretchedly married great-niece of an 88-year-old islander who records some wonderful tales and legends for Colin - it seems to come very late in the tale, and to sit at a tangent to the slightly detached tone of the rest of the novel; as if over-emphasising what MacIntyre has already made clear - that island life is no idyll, but involves a human society as full of good and evil, creation and destruction, as any other. Yet despite that slight sense of dislocation, the mix of English prose and (often) Gaelic dialogue in which MacIntyre delivers the tale is unfailingly fascinating, offering a vital bridge into the rhythms of the language and culture for English-speaking readers. And in the end, A Summer Like No Other emerges as a novel that raises questions without answers - about national identity, faith, language, modernity, masculinity, vocation, violence, and the long-term impact of trauma - in a way that requires both huge descriptive devotion and insight, and a formidable creative discipline; a discipline strong enough to leave those questions burning in the mind, long after the time-capsule is closed, and the story ended. A Summer Like No Other by Martin MacIntyre, Luath Press, £10.99
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
The brilliant Bob MacIntyre boosts earned by his epic seven-week US run
Scottish star set-up perfectly for huge home events after strong Stateside sequence Flying Bob MacIntyre returns home for the next exciting chapter in his burgeoning career rewarded for a sparkling spell through the gruelling seven-week run in the States. The Scottish star's hard work has paid off having made huge advances through a key period of the campaign to cement his positions in a variety of key races. MacIntyre highlighted the successive-tournament spell with his stunning runner-up finish at the US Open after also bagging a sixth-place finish at the Charles Schwab Challenge and a Top 20 at the Memorial. With positive other outings at the PGA Championship, Truist Championship and RBC Canadian Open, the 28-year-old set himself up to sign off the sequence in style at the Travelers Championship and he duly did so with a final-day surge to clinch a tied-17th at TPC River Highlands. Chunky prize money including £1.7 million for his fabulous US Open week aside, MacIntyre has secured other key bonuses in terms of ranking boosts. Having moved to fourth place in The Ryder Cup qualification standings following his second at Oakmont, the Tartan star made key further advancements in the chase for the Bethpage in September with his six-under par total in Connecticut. Although he remains in fourth due to heartbroken Travelers' runner-up Tommy Fleetwood leaping up from seventh to second in the battle to join Rory McIlroy in Luke Donald's side, MacIntyre went above Shane Lowry in the standings and also opened further space to seventh-placed Rasmus Hojgaard with the top six guaranteed a team-place against the United States in New York. On the individual front, the Oban star has returned to his homeland for the big summer events rated at No.14 in the Official World Golf Rankings. MacIntyre is also destined for the end-of-season FedEx Cup play-offs in the States as he sits in 20th place on that table with the Top 50 making it through. In terms of the Race to Dubai figures, MacIntyre sits seventh and heading to the DP World Tour play-offs in November. With that spell now behind him and the points and the career ascent continuing, he is now back on home soil freshening up ahead of a spectacular period with two of the very biggest of the year looming large through the next month. MacIntyre's next assignment will see him defend the Genesis Scottish Open title which he won last year in memorable fashion at The Renaissance Club to back-up his RBC Canadian Open success and bag a second PGA Tour title in front of his adoring support. From East Lothian, it will then be onto Royal Portrush and a crack at the 153rd Open Championship with the scent for Major glory in his nostrils. MacIntyre's performance and end result at the US Open has fuelled his belief he can win one of the big-four events and, as well as performing impressively as a youngster at the Northern Irish venue, he also has a tied-sixth finish in the locker from his Open debut at Portrush six years ago.
Daily Record
6 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Bob MacIntyre ends Travelers in stunning style to make more key Ryder Cup moves as he sets immediate goal
Scottish star delivers final flourish at TPC River Highlands to end seven-week US run in style Buoyant Bob MacIntyre delivered a searing sign-off from his seven-week sequence in the States as he finished with a fabulous flourish at the Travelers Championship. The Scottish star completed his latest impressive spell on the PGA Tour with a brilliant late-Sunday burst to boost his finale at TPC River Highlands. MacIntyre played his last four holes of his tournament in four-under par to card a Sunday 66 and surge up the final standings in Connecticut with his best round of the week. Understandably, after such an epic performance, he was unable to recreate the scintillating magic of Oakmont the previous week and get into title contention as he had done when coming within a whisker of winning the US Open before being dramatically pipped at the death by winner JJ Spaun. But the Oban star still delivered mostly-strong work before the thrilling finale which has secured another positive step forward in the race for the FedEx Cup play-offs and, more crucially, the The Ryder Cup team. MacIntyre's Oakmont display rocketed him to fourth place in the European List and he cemented that excellent effort by banking more valuable points in Cromwell. Staring the week, the Tartan ace was one place behind Shane Lowry and one ahead of Sepp Straka in the List heading into the tournament and finished well ahead of both the Irishman and the Austrian in the closing positions at the Travelers to make more key ground. The 28-year-old went into the 28th and final competitive round of his gruelling seven-successive week spell on the two-under par mark and exchanged shots with the course to stay on that number through 14 holes of his final effort before the flying late flurry. MacIntyre first jumped forward with a chip-in eagle three on his 15th, the par-five sixth on the course as he started from 10th tee due to weather delays and restructured tee-times, to lift his position and backed it up immediately with a long-birdie putt at the next to stretch to five-under par. Following a par on his penultimate hole, MacIntyre concluded with another birdie at his last hole to cap the week and the lengthy spell of events in perfect fashion. The Scot's work has seen him take in the Truist Championship, PGA Championship, Charles Schwab Challenge, Memorial, RBC Canadian Open and US Open before this Travalers and MacIntyre will now return home for a short break before the defence of his Genesis Scottish Open title and The Open Championship at Royal Portrush the following week. Former Ryder Cup star David Howell is convinced the Scot can have a strong run in Northern Ireland having come sixth at the course in 2019 in his debut Open. He said: 'Yes [Scottie] Scheffler is going to be the favourite for that Championship, of course. But he is made for links golf, Bob MacIntyre. And he has proved to himself last week that he can win a Major because, when he had the chance, he did everything right. So he'll have his own expectations to deal with, but surely we'll have a good performance from him.' MacIntyre made it clear in the immediate aftermath of Oakmont that he isn't shying away from the Major challenge and admitted it has handed additional belief as he said: 'There's no reason why I can't win a major championship in my career and that's my goal now. I said I wanted to win the Scottish Open and I got that. I just want to win Majors now.'
Daily Record
6 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Bob MacIntyre handed huge Open billing by seven-time Tour winner and Ryder Cup hero
Scottish star ranked amongst the favourites for Portrush as he hunts first Major win Major hunter Bob MacIntyre has been billed as one of the biggest favourites for Open glory by Ryder Cup hero David Howell. The Scottish star will head for Royal Portrush next month for the 153rd Championship full of belief after his outstanding run at the US Open. MacIntyre secured a best-ever finish at Major when coming up just short behind winner JJ Spaun on a thriller final day at Oakmont. That dynamic display has merely fuelled the 28-year-old's drive and determination to go one better at one of the big-four events with the upcoming spectacular Northern Ireland his next opportunity. MacIntyre has already shown his outstanding ability on Open terrain with a tied-eighth finish behind Collin Morikawa at Royal St George's four years ago. Prior to that, he crucially performed expertly at Portrush in 2019 when charging into a tied-sixth position on his Claret Jug debut as Shane Lowry won on home soil. Howell, who played and won in both of his Ryder Cup appearances in 2004 at Oakland Hills and 2006 at the K Club, has no doubts that, although World No.1 has to be considered the favourite for the title, MacIntyre is bang up there amongst the leading contenders. The Englishman is a popular figure to viewers on the commentary team of Sky's golf coverage and, when colleague Nick Dougherty suggested during the third-round coverage of the Travelers Championship that the Scot would be 'licking his chops' for the assault on Portrush, he had no hesitation in nominating him as a big threat. Howell said: 'He will and he will have to handle being one of the favourites. Yes [Scottie] Scheffler is going to be the favourite for that Championship, of course. "But he is made for links golf, Bob MacIntyre. And he has proved to himself last week that he can win a Major because, when he had the chance, he did everything right. So he'll have his own expectations to deal with, but surely we'll have a good performance from him.' MacIntyre made it clear in the immediate aftermath of Oakmont that he isn't shying away from the Major challenge and admitted it has handed additional belief as he said: 'Aye, it does. That's the toughest test I've ever encountered on a golf course. That's as hard as it gets. 'Obviously finishing sixth in The Open at Royal Portrush was my best finish but it was a back-door effort, so to speak, due to the weather and stuff. 'But this was different. There's no reason why I can't win a major championship in my career and that's my goal now. I said I wanted to win the Scottish Open and I got that. I thought I had this one, to be honest with you, but, yeah, I just want to win Majors now.' Before Portrush, MacIntyre will return from a seven-week run in the United States ater his final round at the Travelers to have a short and well-earned break before he returns to action at the Genesis Scottish Open. The Tartan hero will be defending his crown at The Renaissance Club having produced a magnificent win in East Lothian almost 12 months ago. MacIntyre will the go straight from the showpiece Scottish event to Portrush and the bid for Open success with the FedEx Cup play-offs and an appearance for Europe at The Ryder Cup at Bethpage in September also now firmly on his immediate hitlist.
Daily Record
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Bob MacIntyre is Mr Salvage at the Travelers as he shows the world US Open heroics are only the start
Scottish star fights back to finish level on the day ahead of final round in Connecticut Battling Bob MacIntyre fought back to salvage Saturday and stay in the red at the Travelers Championship The Scottish star endured a see-saw Saturday at TPC River Highlands where a mid-round slip offered a big setback in his tournament. MacIntyre could not have started better with a birdie at the first, but any notion it was going to be smooth sailing were dispelled. The Oban ace, who finished a brilliant runner-up at last week's US Open, exchanged shots with the course until the 12th hole when an out-of-character double-bogey saw him slip to two-over par for the day and back to level for the tournament. It was at that stage where MacIntyre pulled out some customary quality and grit to recover that lost ground and, with two birdies before getting the clubhouse, he was able to sign for a level-par 70 and ensure there was no damage inflicted on the day. After the 27th round of a punishing seven-week spell which has seen him take in the Truist Championship, PGA Championship, Charles Schwab Challenge, Memorial, RBC Canadian Open and US Open before this Travelers, MacIntyre will now complete this American sequence on Sunday before returning home for a short break before the defence of his Genesis Scottish Open title and The Open Championship at Royal Portrush the following week. He also has the opportunity over the final 18 holes of the Travelers event to make some more small gains in The Ryder Cup rankings with the individuals either side of him in the European points list trailing behind him going into the last round. While MacIntyre is currently fourth in the standings after his stunning Oakmont effort, third-placed Shane Lowry found some weekend form with a four-under par round of 66 to move some places on the leaderboard. The Irishman had been struggling over the opening two rounds at TPC River Highlands, but was back in his best light with five birdies en route to a 66. Fifth-placed Sepp Straka is also in the Scot's wake at the moment and he sits at two-over par going into Sunday, but the Austrian star, who has two wins on the PGA Tour under his belt already this term, also carded his best effort of the week on Saturday with a 67. Swedish star Ludvig Aberg is also in red figures after a second-successive round of one-under moved him to a shot under the course par, but there was a huge move made by Matt Fitzpatrick. The English star has struggled to recapture his best form through the past year and has admitted that he is on the fringes of Luke Donald's side looking ahead of Bethpage as he told Sky: 'Being experienced now and knowing how it works, I'm not trying to force the issue. I'm not texting Luke saying: I really want to be there, it's really important for me. If I play well, I'll be there. If I don't play well, I won't be there. I'm happy to accept that.' Fitzpatrick knows his clubs need to do the talking and he produced a sizzling Saturday effort of 63 to rocket up the standings and onto four-under par. The Sheffield star didn't card a single dropped shot as he blitzed his way around the Connecticut circuit to surge to edges of the Top 20. Norwegian Viktor Hovland was not going to be outdone and he matched the number posted by Fitzpatrick with his own 63 to sweep into the Top 10 and give himself an outside chance of a run at the trophy. Hovland came within inches of going one lower and matching the scores of Australian Adam Scott and Canadian Taylor Pendrith, but his birdie effort at the last stayed on the edge of the cup and he remained on the six-under par mark.
