Feature

When a national sport gets sleazy.

The week's news at a glance.

Ireland

Declan Lynch
Irish Independent

Gaelic football was once a hallowed Irish tradition, said Declan Lynch in the Dublin Irish Independent. The game, a native Irish version of soccer that dates back to the 19th century, is still Ireland’s most popular spectator sport. But the fan base has become sullied. Last week, many who attended the Dublin vs. Meath match “were speaking darkly of fans openly snorting lines of cocaine in the toilets.” A more un-Irish activity could hardly be imagined. First of all, cocaine is expensive, and Gaelic football has always been a game for the people. Worse, several of the snorters allegedly sported mustaches—and they weren’t even foreigners. It’s a bit of comfort that “the traditional ways have not been entirely abandoned,” since the “coke fiends were also said to be drinking savagely.” Still, back in your father’s day, fans could be depended upon to brawl in the stands fueled by nothing but beer and whiskey. It’s a sad time for Ireland when “the buzz of a big match is not enough in itself to excite” us.

Recommended

Uganda's 'shameful' new anti-gay law
Protesters against Uganda's anti-homosexuality bill
Global lens

Uganda's 'shameful' new anti-gay law

War under the sea
A nuclear-powered U.S. Navy submarine
Briefing

War under the sea

Xi Jinping tells national security team to prepare for 'worst-case scenario'
Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Chinese Troubles

Xi Jinping tells national security team to prepare for 'worst-case scenario'

Putin blames Kyiv for 'terrorist' drone attack as war comes home to Moscow
Moscow apartment damaged by drone
Hitting close to home

Putin blames Kyiv for 'terrorist' drone attack as war comes home to Moscow

Most Popular

Why are so many boomers homeless?
Homeless person and tents
Today's big question

Why are so many boomers homeless?

Xi Jinping tells national security team to prepare for 'worst-case scenario'
Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Chinese Troubles

Xi Jinping tells national security team to prepare for 'worst-case scenario'

Fossils uncovered in Australia are 107 million-year-old pterosaurs bones, scientists say
Reconstruction of Australian pterosaur.
ptero-sighting

Fossils uncovered in Australia are 107 million-year-old pterosaurs bones, scientists say