Day: October 17, 2023

Dia is Mhuire díobh go léir a cáirde and welcome to my Report.

Oh dear, I suppose you can’t win them all. I was treated to dinner by a couple of friends at a nice hotel in Killarney on Saturday night. The room was well stocked with diners. Some celebrating  the birthday of a young man at the next table, others down along enjoying private conversations and having their food. At eight o’clock we were conscious of a crowd in some other room beyond, noisily settling down to watch the match and you could sense the air of expectancy even at a distance.  We knew how Ireland was doing by the number of roars that went up but thought that there should be more. Then came the end and the whole place went dead. Disbelief. A feeling that was multiplied all over Killarney and over the whole of Ireland as our hearts went out the players. I have to be the least competitive person in the world. Challenge nobody in case I’d lose, so I have no way of experiencing the awful pain of defeat that is being felt by our wonderful team today. Learning to accept defeat must be a hard nut to crack, but it is a one that  any competitor, be it an individual or team has to be ready for because nobody wins all of the time and the younger the lesson is learnt, the better. It kills me to see little children sobbing on stage or equestrian arena or games pitch, having failed to make the grade. Some like me, never try again, while others forge ahead  in the earnest hope that some day their ship will come in and often does but not always. My heart goes out to our gallant losers.

[read more …] “Eily’s Report – 17th October”