Six Nations - Thugs must not ruin this historic day

THERE could hardly be a more eloquent intervention than Michael Hogan’s hand of friendship gesture in the simmering controversy over the singing of God Save the Queen at today’s historic Six Nation’s rugby match between Ireland and England at Croke Park, the symbolic heartland of Gaelic sport.

Few Irish people are better placed to speak on this sensitive topic than the nephew of Tipperary footballer Mick Hogan who was shot dead in a revenge atrocity committed by British colonial forces on Bloody Sunday, November 21, 1920.

His clarion call for respect to be given to the English team’s national anthem will go a long way towards counter-balancing the entrenched attitudes of some die-hard elements.