The decision to employ a private security firm at Páirc Uí Chaoimh to control fans attending the Munster finals is just the latest advance in the race to turn the GAA into a corporation. Until now clubs provided volunteer stewards, but in the name of maximising profits the heavies have been called in.

Pat Rabbitte’s statement in the Irish Examiner about "licence fee evasion being an ongoing scourge" beggars belief, but also confirms just how far the Labour Party has drifted away from its core, human values and how lost the party is.

While taking shelter from the rain outside Bank Of Ireland, College Green, Dublin, today at 11am, I noticed a homeless man sleeping in a doorway.

While a possible twining between Waterford and Haikou city, China, might yield cultural and business rewards, it is a concern that it might take place at the expense of the non-human members of our society.

Last week the Government announced the establishment of an ex-gratia redress scheme for women who underwent symphysiotomy.

In the fullness of time it may well emerge that one of the many anticipated negative knock-on effects of the Garth Brooks saga will be a reluctance by headline acts to perform in Croke Park. What appears certain is that a cap on concerts at GAA headquarters in future years will be rigorously enforced.

The Garth Brooks concert failure demonstrates an arrogance and contempt of ordinary people by powerful decision makers.

What a turn-up for the books! It’s hard to imagine Finance Minister Michael Noonan suddenly realising he could chop, possibly, up to €1bn from this year’s budget! A new crock of gold was discovered. I believe he can do it because of gains from certain illegal activities — ranging from fuel and drug smuggling to drug dealing and prostitution.

With the retirement of Ruairi Quinn, who tried vainly to make positive changes to the education system, problems lie ahead for the incoming minister for education. It will clearly be difficult with a highly militant and entrenched teaching profession, backed by politicians, often teachers themselves, determined not to give a centimetre, no matter how it might help their charges and so their country.

What do you get when you play a country western song backwards in Ireland?