Irish Examiner View: Michael D Higgins served this State well

Tue, 11 Nov, 2025 - 01:00

Michael D Higgins’ 14-year term as Uachtarán na hÉireann has come to an end and, while his time in office has sometimes been controversial, there can be no doubt that it has coincided with a defining period in modern Irish history.

While he has sometimes been a thorn in the side of the government of the day by questioning legislative and policy matters, he has also been a statesman of considerable merit, representing the country on a variety of international stages which necessitated a high degree of diplomacy.

Prevention is better than cure when it comes to sports injuries

Illustrative research down the years has proven vital in identifying areas of behaviour which can have a debilitating effect on those humans engaged in it.

The findings by researchers at Ulster University, for example, that hurlers are more likely to be vulnerable to suspected concussion in the final quarter of a game because the high intensity and non-stop nature of the sport, is instructive.

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These results, it is to be hoped, will inform coaches and mentors and allow them adapt conditioning, substitutions, and awareness of fatigue-related injuries.

The research also identified that shoulder and torsos are the main impact source for suspected concussions, while in Gaelic football, arms were the main cause. This data alone will benefit administrators and referees especially in the prevention and management of concussion within the GAA.

Concussion has become a huge issue across many sports. Rugby authorities are currently the subject of a major class action lawsuit by players who maintain ongoing health issues were caused by a failure to protect them from concussions. The NFL in the US too had to pay out hundreds of millions of dollars to players and their families suffering from CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy), a brain disease caused by repeated head injuries.

Prevention is always the best cure, and it is to be hoped that the GAA pays attention to the findings of this latest research.

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