There he is in typical pose, tearing out of defence at full stretch, about to hop the leather from his left hand and God help anyone blocking his path.

It was the kind of send-off he would have loved — a packed house, music, humour, sporting people, and, most importantly of all, friends from all over the country.

POLITICAL pressure is mounting for a decision to give the go-ahead to a long-awaited, 72-bed community hospital in Dingle.