Donal Óg will continue to stir debate in Cork

We don’t live in a utopian society in Ireland, but there is much for which we should be grateful. Freedom of speech and freedom of the press are brilliant bonuses here — look at North Korea and other ‘closed’ and oppressive countries.

It’s a fantastic sign of maturity that different views can be expressed, agreed or disagreed with, parsed, analysed and discussed with no recriminations. A prime example was yesterday’s Irish Examiner and the coverage of Donal Óg’s venture to the Banner County. Michael Moynihan feels Donal Óg’s move increases his chance of being Cork hurling supremo; Cusack’s Clare assignment means that his appointment as Cork senior hurling manager is more likely now than it was 24 hours ago. On the facing page, pundit John Fogarty opines that pigs will fly before he (Donal Óg) has a similar opportunity in his native county anytime soon.

Isn’t it mighty that hurling-related matters will be debated around the firesides of Cork and Clare for months to come?