🔴⚪️The Friday View 18/07

A county holds its breath - it's showtime for Cork this Sunday. Plus: padel, a Rebel fanzone, a raft of motions, and our guide to what's on besides that match!

McCarthy’s on Princes Street is match ready.

We Do It For Pat: Tickets, flags, flasks, ten-mile queues at the toll gates on the M8, and four hundred million renditions later of “Killeagh”—it’s finally crunch time this Sunday in Croke Park, as the Cork hurlers, for the second year in a row, seek to bring home the Liam McCarthy Cup.

What a joyous few months of following the team it’s been. This Sunday will see the culmination of a Championship that’s had such highs, a crushing low, and more goals than the City Council has flower baskets up its sleeve. This is arguably the best Cork side in a generation, and while the expectation and pressure are enormous, especially given the two-decade gap since Cork last won an All-Ireland, this is a side that still has much to give.

They’ll be meeting a Tipperary team who, though beaten twice this year, will come at them hammer and tongs, buoyed by the pride they took in overcoming Kilkenny in the final quarter of the semi-final.

Hopefully, it will be a cracker of a match, and Cork will prevail. Corcaigh abú! (Is it too late to ask for four spare tickets?)

And the winner is…the chairman: “The last raffle I was at was very interesting, because the people who ran the raffle actually won it! So it’s not unusual for that to happen now and again.”

So said the late, great Dermot Morgan in one of his many on-the-money lines as Fr. Ted Crilly in Fr. Ted. That line might well have been uttered by the Glanmire GAA club secretary before the raffle for ticket allocations for the upcoming All-Ireland.

An image doing the rounds on WhatsApp, Twitter, and Reddit shows that the club’s chairman, main sponsor, secretary, captain, manager, treasurer, and coaching officer received the 16 tickets allocated to the club by the GAA, after a draw (supposedly). It’s unclear whether this draw was open to the entire club or if it was a second one for those higher up the club’s hierarchy. However, a report by The Echo last week stated that intermediate clubs like Glanmire received sixteen stand tickets and twenty terrace tickets in their allocation.

It’s probably worth noting that Glanmire GAA is a football-only club and the sister club of Pat Ryan’s Sarsfields. The number of tickets each club receives can depend on how many players it has on the panel, but it’s likely that Sarsfields, where most Glanmire-area tickets would have come from, had a larger allocation than Glanmire. They might have been a bit cuter with their distribution!

Michael Guineys on Oliver Plunkett Street, match ready too!

Fanzone tickets: Staying with tickets, Cork County Board and the City Council joined forces to open Páirc Uí Chaoimh this Sunday for the All-Ireland. There are still free tickets available via Eventmater for the screening. The 20k capacity fanzone is fully ticketed, alcohol-free and u16s must be accompanied by an adult. Build that LUAS!👀👀

That tattoo: Cork have no reason to be too cocky - it has been twenty years since the Liam McCarthy Cup has been past Mitchelstown, with three final defeats since then. However, one Cork fan, originally from Waterford, is so sure that Cork will win that he got some fresh ink on his forearm saying ‘Cork All Ireland Senior Hurling Champions 2025.’

Michael John Murphy, who lives in Mayfield, told The Examiner that he won’t “need to change it”, and he won’t be removing the tattoo if Cork lose either.

Bus lane fines: Gardaí in Cork City issued 690 penalty notices to drivers using bus lanes in the city’s bus lane network in 2024, up from 515 in 2023 according to figures published in The Irish Times this week. (Currently, they’re at 225 fines issued for the first quarter of 2025 which suggests there could be an increase on last year). However, that still only works out at roughly 1.9 fines a day in 2024.

Balubas: Liam Heylin, a court reporter with The Irish Examiner and The Echo, indeed, the only dedicated full-time court reporter in Cork, produces some of the finest copy in both publications. Over a lifetime in courtrooms, he has transcribed, narrated, and dissected every manner of crime, misdemeanour, fraud, and countless displays of public disorder. With years of experience downstream of district court judges, he has honed an unerring instinct for when and how to seize upon a line that sparkles, or explodes.

For example, his opening line here from June 11:

A District Judge said he could not understand why a man in Cork city centre “goes baluba” for no reason and attacks two gardaí.

The story continues:

His solicitor Killian McCarthy said the defendant could not understand why he behaved the way he did. Judge Philip O’Leary responded: “I can’t understand it either.”

Judge O’Leary said at Cork District Court: “It is as bad as I have heard in a public order incident. He goes baluba — I don’t know if that is even a real word. But he tears a radio off a garda, throws it across the street and grabs another guard by the stab vest.”

Heylin sticks to the facts and the outcomes of the case, but what is intriguing is the word ‘baluba’. To answer Judge O’Leary’s question, baluba is indeed a real word rooted in real people and a real incident, but the phrase “to go baluba” likely has currency only in Ireland, where it’s used disparagingly.

The expression “to go baluba” owes its origins to the Luba (sometimes called the Baluba) tribe in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It entered Irish lore after members of the tribe attacked and killed an Irish peacekeeping mission sent to protect them in 1960. There’s a certain irony in an Irish peacekeeping force in Africa attempting to shore up a failed European colonial project.

Indeed, it was this very history that likely sparked the confusion leading to the attack on an eleven-man section from the Irish Army’s 33rd Battalion when they encountered the Luba tribe. The tribesmen, mistaking them for European mercenaries, launched poison-tipped arrows, killing nine soldiers. The revulsion in Ireland at the attack led to the Lubas being depicted as barbaric, and the word balubaseeped into the vernacular. Clearly, it hasn’t gone away—at least not in some quarters.

Tria Café, the new operators of the café in Fitzgerald’s Park, opened for business earlier this month. According to disposal records released at this month’s full council meeting, the annual rent for the city council-owned premises stands at €24,000. The lease agreement runs for 10 years.

A game of padel anyone? Hazelpath Limited, led by Tim Murphy and David Farrell, has lodged a planning application for the latest zeitgeist sport. The proposal seeks a change of use for the warehouse to accommodate five padel courts along with hot and cold therapy rooms at the site near the Black Market on Monahan Road. The businessmen appear to be hedging their bets - they're seeking permission for just five years. A decision from planners is expected next month.

Box-ticking exercise: Cork City Council issued a public tender for a coffee shop operator on the Marina Promenade. The accompanying photo and map shows the site where Cortado is firmly established (and has been for years), so expect Cortado to stay put.

Is this you? While massive events, such as an Oasis gig are non-existent, Páirc Uí Chaoimh is on the hunt for a new venue and events manager. The €70k role involves "managing high-end corporate events, match-day hospitality, and large public functions. Details here.

Competing motions:Is Cork city centre thriving and open for business, or drug-addled and a gangster’s paradise? Yes, it’s a stupid question, but two different motions this week – one by Cllr John Maher (Labour) and the other by John Deasy (Independent) – take off from these points.

The latter wants Cork City Council to poll residents of all five electoral areas to determine whether or not they regularly visit the city centre, and if not, why not? Cllr Deasy’s thesis is that many of those who avoid the city centre do so because of drug-taking, anti-social behaviour, violent disorder, rough sleeping, and a general air of threat and menace (balubas, anyone?). These views, he said, are consistent with what is being reported through various media channels.

At the same meeting, Cllr Maher’s motion was more positive: that Cork City Council will introduce a ‘Cork City is open for business and is a safe city’ campaign, with a focus on affordable and incentivised parking mid-week, activities that cater for our older community and for families from all over our city to enjoy, and to enhance the community spirit of our city centre.”

As always, the answer is more complex and nuanced. News reports and morning chat shows have been, and forever will be, dominated by “awful” news (if it bleeds, it leads). That said, Cork city centre – and most Irish town and city centres – are dealing with a number of factors, such as a vacancy and dereliction crisis, an accommodation crisis, and underfunding for health and addiction services.

The symptoms of this play out on the streets. Likewise, Cork City Council is playing catch-up on redeveloping the city – and, in fairness, that is happening in parts (Bishop Lucey Park, Morrison’s Island) and not in others (the Event Centre, Parnell Place) – but will an expensive consultant-led poll not tell us what hundreds of pages of reports haven’t already? In the meantime, more flower baskets, anyone?

Humans only: Cllr Shane O'Callaghan proposed an interesting motion this week that will likely garner both support and pushback, particularly from the dog-walking community.

'That Cork City Council introduce a byelaw prohibiting dog owners from bringing dogs into Cork City's cemeteries. The byelaw should enforce a complete ban on dogs entering any cemetery in Cork City and stipulate that any owner who allows their dog to enter a city cemetery may be issued with an on-the-spot fine.'

Previously, the councillor - who ran in the last general election - has supported dog parks. However, there's a clear distinction between dog parks and cemeteries. If we were to wager on this motion's future, our bet would be that it ends up in 'motion heaven' - the graveyard where so many proposals languish until some future councillor revives them (see: election posters, dog fouling, footpaths, dereliction ad nauseam)

Two become one: The Irish Examiner has a new editor - and so too has the Echo - with both roles being filled by the same person. Ultimately, this dual position went to Examiner veteran John O'Mahony, who steps up from his role as managing editor (content). He replaces outgoing Irish Examiner editor Tom Fitzpatrick and Echo editor Gráinne McGuinness in this six-figure role.

Given the delicate balancing act required to oversee two different publications, it was always likely that The Irish Times Group (which owns both papers) would opt for an internal candidate rather than appointing a Dubliner to what will undoubtedly be as much a political as an editorial position.

Bishop Lucey Park to be renamed: While the city centre park off Grand Parade remains a building site - with its revamp scheduled for completion in November - it looks sets to reopen under a new name following a council vote to rename the park.

Cllr Ted Tynan initiated the process in May by proposing the park be renamed "Páirc na mBan Chorcaí." In Cllr Tynan’s original motion, he outlined how the park should no longer honour Bishop Lucey given the extent of abuse that took place under his watch. The City Council voted to name the park in his honour in the first place.

Though Cllr Tynan’s specific suggestion wasn't adopted, the matter progressed, resulting in this week's chamber vote where councillors approved the renaming by 17 votes to 11.

Cllr Niamh O'Connor (Labour) told T+D that "the standard procedure for naming parks and bridges will now be initiated by the Chief Executive."

What are Fine Gael Councillors up to?: The Luas, when it arrives, may well be the most transformative project in Cork city for a century. The proposed route would see the light rail cross the Lee from Kent Station via a new bridge, yet some councillors want to throw that very bridge under the bus.

In his motion, Cllr Des Cahill questioned: “Could the existing Parnell Bridge and Michael Collins Bridge be modified, if additional access is even needed? Must Cork’s light rail terminate at the South Docks?”

Likely answer: Given the years spent developing this route – and the fact that three new bridges (road, rail, and pedestrian/cycle) are already planned for the docks – retrofitting the older bridges seems impractical. More puzzling, however, is Cllr Cahill’s fixation on the South Docks as the terminus.

It isn’t. The actual endpoint is Mahon Point.

Before moving on, Cllr Cahill’s party colleague, Cllr Shane O’Callaghan, doubled down, warning against “rushing” (this, after years of route planning). Per The Echo, O’Callaghan argued: “What’s the point in rushing every aspect? Massive parts of the harbour could become unusable.” He further fretted the bridge might become “a bridge to nowhere” if Luas plans stall.

“Massive parts of the harbour”? The proposed Luas bridge would sit just 400m downstream of the Éamon de Valera Bridge. File under “hyperbole”.

Best in show: Cork director Brendan Canty’s new feature film Christy won best irish film at the Galway Film Fleadh. The coming-of-age tale set and filmed in Cork’s northside (and featuring cameos from the Kabin Crew) was written by Alan O'Gorman, and stars newcomer Danny Power (The Young Offenders) alongside Diarmuid Noyes (Pure Mule: The Last Weekend, Five Minutes of Heaven).

The eponymous Christy moves in with his estranged brother Shane (Noyes) and his young family after being evicted from his foster home. It goes on general release on August 29.

Spailpín Fánach up for sale: The well-known trad bar and music venue An Spailpín Fánach on South Main Street was put on the market this week with an asking price of €1.5 million. It will become the latest of a number of large local establishments to change hands in this period of transition in the city’s nightlife scene, with Wetherspoon’s being bought by suburban bar operator Tony Cross, who owns The Angler’s Rest and Turner’s Cross Tavern, and The Electric being bought by Emporium Group, owners of JJ Coppinger’s in Midleton, Mabel Lane in Carrigaline, and The Castle Tavern in Glanmire.

While T+D teased that Benny McCabe’s Heritage Pubs vehicle might snap it up, we have been reliably informed that this won’t be the case. Elsewhere, Reidy’s Wine Vault on Lancaster Quay is still up for sale, for a reported €1.4m, as is Chamber’s on Washington Street, while Preacher’s on Washington Street and Corrigan’s on MacCurtain Street quietly shut their doors recently.

Ní bheidh a leithéid arís ann: Artist William Harrington will be laid to rest this morning following a requiem mass in North Cathedral. Harrington was born a short distance from the cathedral, just off Shandon St.

William Harrington's care home in east Cork

A few years back Elsha De Souza Twomey very kindly took me (JJ) to visit William in the care home he was living in. His speech was very poor, but he still had a spark in his eye. He was fond of a drop of the craytur, and pubs and the drinking public featured in his many drawings. I never did get round to writing that piece, but I’ll return to it.
Next time you stop into The Constellation have a look for one of his drawings. They’re also to be found in Stone Mad, the seminal autobighrpahy Seamus Murphy.

Mullets: We were reliably informed that outside of the River Lee, the largest Cork gathering of mullets this week took place in the Sin É for the official launch of the Beamish × O’Neill’s geansai where local bands Cardinals, Clifford’s and Projective were also on hand. One youngish man (sans mullet) told T+D he left the launch of his own accord, acknowledging he’d let the side down.

“I stopped in at Dan Lowrey’s on the way home,” he said. “They welcome all hair types. And none.”

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Out+About

Symplegmatic Portals by Samir Mahmood in Sirius Arts Centre

🧘Yoga in The Park: Every Saturday at 10 am, until August 30 you can stretch and breathe with free yoga classes in Fitzgerald’s Park. The classes are all-levels and take place in front of the bandstand. All donations go to Cork Simon Community.

Time, date, place: 10 – 11am, every Saturday, Fitzgerald;s Park.

🖼️Dublin-based Pakistani artist Samir Mahmood focuses on themes of identity, representation, bodily awareness and spiritual transformation, through paintings, textiles, objects and video. He exhibits new works at Symplegmatic Portals, at the Sirius Arts Centre, including a series of large-scale scrolls, and what he calls ‘queerscapes’. More information is available here.

Time, date, place: 11am- 5pm, Wednesday – Saturday until September 6, Sirius Arts Centre, Cobh

😹The July Summer Series at the Comedy Club kicks off tonight (July 18) and tomorrow (July 19), featuring homegrown talent and a few comedians from further afield en route to the Edinburgh Festival. Tickets on the door: €20. Expect a few surprises and laughs – we hope!

Time, date, place: Doors 8pm, show 9pm, Friday 18 and Saturday 18, Cork Comedy Club, 19 Coburg St

📽️Inconceivable as it may seem, if the All-Ireland hurling final isn’t your thing, the Triskel will be screening Hearts of Darkness, the behind-the-scenes documentary about Francis Ford Coppola's chaotic making of Apocalypse Now. Filmed in the jungles of the Philippines, it offers a warts-and-allaccount of one of the most famous anti-war films ever made. Tickets and more info here.

Time, date, place: 2pm Sunday July 20 and 6pm Monday-Wednesday, Trisel Arts Centre, Tobin Street.

🎶Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan 2025 finishes up this weekend with competitions and concerts. Worth catching is the Gig Rig at Elizabeth Fort, with tunes for all the family. Meanwhile on Saturday evening Tara Breen, Pádraig Rynne and Jim Murray will be holding court over at An Spailpín Fánach for what promises to be a special gig. Full programme of events here.

Time, date, place: 4pm- 8:30pm, Saturday July 19, Gig Rig at Elizabeth Fort, Barrack St, Tara Breen, Pádraig Rynne and Jim Murray play An Spailpín. Doors at 8pm.

🎸Crying Loser will be performing at a Fundraiser for Falasteen with Twitcher and Therapy Horse on Friday. Organised by Tinnitus Promotions, tickets are €10 and available on the door, there will be totes for sale and a DJ set. All proceeds go to Palestine.

Time, date, place: 7pm, Friday July 18, Dali, Lavitt’s Quay, Cork.

That’s it for this week’s Friday View. As always, any tips, comments, news or events you’d like to share with Tripe+Drisheen, you can contact us at tripeanddrisheen@substack.com. We are always happy to speak to people off the record in the first instance, and we will treat your information with confidence and sensitivity. Get in touch. Have a lovely weekend, and…Up Cork!

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This week on T+D:

Pádraig reviewed The Beacon, currently playing at The Everyman.