The ghosts of Christmas past had it harder than us

ENOUGH. Enough of the affairs of State. It’s the time of year for reflection and excess, joy and pain, laughter and tears. And whatever you’re having yourself with a hot drop.

One reflection that has engaged me in recent days is how far we have come as a nation. Whatever gripes there are about modern living, a delve into the past suggests that we’ve never had it so good.

Here’s a Christmas-cracker question for you. Would you walk 20 miles to watch a hurling match? Would you walk 20 miles to actually play in a hurling match? Such was the lot of John ‘Jack’ Lowry. A young man from south Galway, he missed the bus to a major match in Birr, Co Offaly, and had to take off on foot. He made it to the match on time, and took his place on the pitch.