Editorial: Show your support for the Kilkenny Cats twice on Sunday!

It’s still a little hard to believe that, while we are only at the beginning of July, by Sunday evening, there will only be two teams left in the All-Ireland senior hurling championship.

As for Kilkenny’s opposition in the semi-final, it couldn’t have worked out better. A camogie and hurling double-header, both facing the same county — the same opposition who have been fierce rivals down through the years.

In the hurling, Tipperary are keen to assign themselves the underdog label, but they won’t lack for confidence. The game is unlikely to be anything similar to the most recent meeting, dominated by multiple red cards.

With no Limerick in the picture at this stage, the other side of the draw sees new favourites Cork take on a buoyant Dublin. There is speculation that Dublin may have already given their ‘All-Ireland final’ performance, but take nothing for granted.

The circumstances are reversed for the camogie, where Tipperary go in as favourites. Hopefully, the Cats can turn around their recent run of results, and find a higher gear again this weekend. Whatever happens, the very best of luck to both Kilkenny teams on Sunday in Croke Park. Let’s run up the black and amber now, get behind the Cats, and show your support as Kilkenny’s All-Ireland pursuit goes into overdrive!

GEORGE BROWN
It was heartening to see the turnout in Inistioge for the annual George Brown memorial event at the weekend.
The local man died fighting Franco’s fascist forces in the Spanish Civil War — a conflict that was both a pre-cursor and training battleground for World War II.

As the world seems to increasingly lurch toward a third iteration of world war, and the era of the strongman returning to global politics, it is important for events like the memorial to continue their tradition. Speakers touched on some very relevant and sobering topics, and lamented the global order and limitations of the UN in its current form.