Paul Hosford: Prickly response to the chaos at Oriel Park is nothing new for O’Donovan

The sports and culture minister's incandescent rage about Drogheda United fans is typical of his combative approach to issues concerning his brief — just ask RTÉ or the Arts Council

Flares thrown onto the pitch during Dundalk’s home game against Drogheda resulted in damage to Dundalk’s new astroturf surface. Pictures: Nick Elliott/Inpho

In the great pantheon of things that could occupy the media agenda for a week, a Friday night game in Oriel Park is a new one for me.

Every Monday, weary hacks keep an eye on what was happening over the weekend and what might happen this week, keen to see what has set the agenda for the coming days. Not many on Monday morning expected it to be a group of League of Ireland fans and their flares.

This kind of pyrotechnical display has become more of a feature of the league in recent years and when Drogheda fans travelled to Dundalk for a first derby in a year and a half, fireworks were expected on the field.

What happened instead was what appeared to be a co-ordinated throwing of lit flares onto Dundalk’s new astroturf playing pitch, which had received Government funding — this part turns out to be important later.

By Sunday, both clubs had condemned the actions of the fans, which also resulted in a 12-year-old supporter suffering burn marks on their face.

The statement began: “Dundalk FC and Drogheda United FC wish to thank the vast majority of supporters, as well as the staff, players, and volunteers who attended and participated in Friday’s League of Ireland fixture at Oriel Park between the two clubs.

“However, both clubs strongly condemn the actions of a small minority of individuals whose behaviour has no place in football.

“Damage was deliberately caused to Dundalk FC’s new pitch — a facility that serves not only the club’s first team but also hundreds of academy players and local community groups each week.

“This act of vandalism undermines the spirit of rivalry that should exist between our clubs and instead harms the wider football community in our region, and the reputation of the League of Ireland.

“Both clubs would like to remind supporters of the dangers of pyrotechnics usage and the throwing of missiles inside stadia, which is illegal and strictly prohibited at all League of Ireland fixtures.

“Rivalry is part of what makes fixtures between Dundalk FC and Drogheda United FC so special. But it must always remain passionate, respectful, and safe.

“There is no justification for actions that put lives at risk or damage facilities used by young people and the wider community.”

Flares are not a new thing in the league, as fans of many teams will tell you. In 2022, Cork City were fined €1,600 by the FAI over supporter behaviour at their opening two First Division games of that season.

The differences with last week’s game, however, were subtle but very noticeable. Firstly, fire damage to what is effectively a plastic surface is obviously quite different than if it were grass. Secondly, the pitch was completed with the aid of about €500,000 of State funding. Thirdly, and most importantly, the sports minister was at the game.

The astroturf pitch after flares from Drogheda fans burnt the pitch.

Seated in Oriel Park that night for the 1-1 draw, just yards from the flare throwing, was Patrick O’Donovan: The Co Limerick TD whose department had invested the funds in a new pitch at the Louth stadium.

If on Friday the minister was unimpressed, by Monday he was seething. Taking to the airwaves with RTÉ’s David McCullagh, he hit out at the “gougerism and thuggery” of those involved.

“It was gougerism and thuggery in its worst form, where people obviously came to the match armed with flares, armed with missiles to cause criminal damage. And in the process, a young child got injured, got burnt and the pitch had very significant damage caused. It was a disgrace, actually,” he told the RTÉ presenter, as he put a halt on all astroturf funding for League of Ireland clubs.

“It’s taxpayers’ money literally going up in smoke. I’ve spoken to the FAI and the league about it, and I’ve spoken to my own department. We’re not going to be doing this a second time.”

If the media who gathered on the grounds of Trinity College that afternoon thought he may have moderated that message when he joined the NFL to announce the financial impact of last year’s game, they were in for a land, as Mr O’Donovan doubled and even tripled down, saying the League of Ireland would have to satisfy him that changes would be made to prevent similar scenes and he expected the rest of the league to row in behind him to create “upward pressure”.

The reaction was swift, with one newspaper branding his response “idiotic”, and questions were raised about whether the GAA or other sporting organisations would face the same fate should their fans transgress in a similar way. 

Refused to back down

However, Mr O’Donovan spent the week refusing to back down, even though the Taoiseach and his junior minister Charlie McConalogue disagreed.

In truth, it was in keeping with the version of Mr O’Donovan who has been seen, since his appointment by Micheál Martin last January, in the culture, communications, and sport portfolio — and for some time before that. 

Never afraid of finding someone with whom to spar, the Limerick man seems to enjoy being on the front foot — especially when one of his stakeholders is in the public firing line.

When news broke of a botched IT project at the Arts Council last year, one Government source described him as being “incandescent” with the incident — while he would say he was “desperately angry” and the incident was “a cause of huge annoyance and anger within Government”.

He has also sought to been seen to be taking a strong hand with the national broadcaster, telling this paper he will not provide a “second bailout” to RTÉ or renew its ring-fenced annual funding arrangement when it runs out in 2027.

Mr O’Donovan is combative with journalists and the opposition, too, with one Cabinet colleague saying he was a man “who can use a sledgehammer, even when it’s not needed”.

Patrick O'Donovan: His retention in Cabinet by Fine Gael leader Simon Harris suggests his truculent approach to his dealings in the media and public are, if not admired, respected. Picture: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

In truth, his elevation to the senior ranks at Cabinet surprised some within Fine Gael, not least because in 2021 reports suggested Mr O’Donovan had engaged in a “sting operation” against his now-party leader. 

But his retention in Cabinet by Mr Harris suggests his truculent approach to his dealings in the media and public are, if not admired, respected.

At the same time, pitching Mr O’Donovan as purely Fine Gael’s attack dog would be wrong. Once seen as the vanguard of the party’s conservative side, he has overseen the extension of universal basic income for artists, and announced this week the gift of a building in Limerick from billionaire JP McManus is set to establish a women’s museum in Limerick City, so perhaps he is being influenced by his brief?

Some party colleagues currently believe Mr O’Donovan is sharpening his skills in anticipation of a higher office when Simon Harris re-assumes the taoiseach’s role next November, with public expenditure one job mentioned multiple times.

If Mr O’Donovan was in that job, one does not believe he would struggle with the part of it that requires a pantomime villain. Just ask League of Ireland fans.