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Colm O'Rourke

GAA crowds are limited to 200 right now

Colm O'Rourke Opinion New normal is working well but some tweaks are required - 200 really is a ludicrous limit for big GAA venues

The pandemic seems to have been good for one sport - golf. When footballers and hurlers could not do anything else they were able to play golf, so many clubs have had a surge in membership. The fact that occasional golfers who just paid green fees could only play now as members forced their hand. The choice was join or don't play at all. So a game which was struggling to attract new young members has been given a boost. It's an ill wind that does not blow some good.
MINISTER: Joe McHugh. Photo:Gareth Chaney/Collins

Colm O'Rourke Opinion As students wait for answers, the only result so far is uncertainty

The canals in Venice are getting cleaner and clearer. The education waters in Ireland are getting muddier by the day. When the minister decided to abandon the Leaving Cert in June with no other plan in place, there was utter confusion among parents, students and teachers. I was bombarded by people looking for answers. When will the exams begin? What is the story about classes in July? Will school reopen in May or even September? What is happening with the Junior Cert? Will teachers off in June or July or be expected to teach in class or online? What is the plan?

'The most motivated students and parents will continue to work hard on making the best of this crisis but a very high percentage will do less and less. Especially the non exam years'

Colm O'Rourke Opinion For the sake of our students, a way should be found to carry out this year's Leaving Cert

All secondary students should have been starting their Easter holidays this Friday. A time for a bit of freedom, with Leaving Cert students in particular using it as a time for a more relaxed study regime. Instead, we are caught in the half light, not knowing whether school will resume at all or maybe on a phased basis for exam classes. The phrase ''school is out'' has taken on a new meaning.

Stephen Cluxton, arguably the greatest goalkeeper of all time, leads his men on All-Ireland final day

Colm O'Rourke Opinion Cluxton or Cullen? Bernard Snr or Jnr? Who makes the cut in a tale of two Dublins?

This is the long day's journey into night. It may take a while but games will resume, people will argue, laugh and complain about such trivial things as football, or maybe such important things as football. Our games measure the temperature of the nation during the year and when they return we will think even more of them. A bad county match, a brilliant junior B club game and even more so a group of under 10s going at it... these scenes colour our lives.
At Congress next Saturday it will be proposed that post-primary schools competitions should end in January, which defies logic. Photo: Ray Ryan / Sportsfile

Colm O'Rourke Opinion Lessons must be heeded now before elitism destroys the schools game

I have been critical many times in the past of those who have decided that the paying public in Croke Park cannot be trusted with replays on the big screen of controversial (and not so controversial) incidents. At the slightest hint of danger, the screens flash to an advertisement. Censorship GAA style. Meanwhile, over in Lansdowne Road, all acts of foul play are replayed over and over again without any rioting in the streets.

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