The late Mike Kenny and myself indulged in a bit of a fantasy one fine day of a rugby test between Ireland and the All-Blacks. In the daze before Google we decided we’d make up our own words for the New Zealanders’ spine tingling ditty The Haka.
I’ll chop you – I’ll eat you – I’ll burn your bones – was one of the more memorable lines we never jotted down.
By the time we went home the following morning we had it completed. It too went into the fog-bank with so much else.
I thought of it yesterday while watching our heroic Irish women stand up to and hit the ground with the awesome power of the ‘Black Fern’ brigade.
To have to begin any undertaking on the receiving end of the haka – delivered with so much enthusiasm – you’d want your nerves well steeled.
I know men hereabouts who didn’t face that kind of fury after spending a week on a tour of public houses in the area.
I watched the game on TG4 and the commentators Paidí Ó Lionaird agus Páraic Ó Cuinn were wondering if head coach Philip Doyle and his management team were thinking about introducing Siobhán Fleming when Ireland caused the sensation of going ahead of the reigning world champions.
They did, and boy did she get stuck in. In spite of putting her body on the line so many times against the Americans on Friday, Siobhán’s steadying influence and experience wore down any notions the New Zealanders might have had of getting out the unfamiliar situation the Irish women had put them in.
Natives were glued to the game too in the hope of getting a glimpse of Castleisland’s Sharon Lynch.
At the rate in which injuries are mounting in all camps in the competition, locals are hoping that Sharon’s first full international cap is only a game or two away.
The Irish women will now take on Kazakhstan on the coming Saturday, August 9th at 12noon and again TG4 will bring us all the action.
We can only salute to bravery of the team and the way they tigerishly tore into the All-Blacks and we wish our local girls the best of luck and an injury-free run for the remainder of the competition.
Is it dangerous to dream of bonfires in Currow and in The Island at this early stage?
If you’d like to send a message to Siobhán and Sharon you can do so below or do so very simply and just Like and Share.
