Second Lisbon vote - This is not the time for protest vote

MOST of us treat September suggestions from Kilkenny and Kerry hurling and football supporters that they are terribly worried that this might not be their year with an equal degree of scepticism and amusement.

The apprehensive, poor-mouth protestations of these Gaelic games superpowers are, at this stage, all part of the predictable and engaging dramas leading up to All-Ireland finals. No one believes them and no one believes that they really believe it either. However, the weeks before the finals are enlivened as their opponents are built up with a sincerity that would do Bono proud.

How reassuring it would be if we could treat the admissions from Foreign Minister Micheál Martin and Environment Minister John Gormley that the Government faces a tough battle to get the Lisbon treaty ratified on October 2 with the same bemusement.