At an individual level and as a nation we have a horrible need for validation by others and othe countries
Social media, Joe.ie has amplified this want and in a perfect feedback loop it has grown to a deafening level
Tfk is a bastion against this cultishness borne of insecurity.
Ya its bizarre. And embarrassing.
Im not into UFC and didn’t watch it last night cos Ive no interest in it. His fans might be mugs, bandwagoners, joe.ie type… most would be your Liverpool/Man Utd supporter who are into the Dubs. They’d argue over whether Neville was better than Carragher but then hate both when they played in the world cup finals. The typical Man Utd fans as seen on Apre Match.
That said; I met McGregor at the boxing back in October in the Stadium. He actually speaks normally, not like he does when he’s being interviewed. He also had time for everyone. There were queues of men, women, teenagers, kids lining up to meet him. He had time for all of them, it was photo after photo. His mate was catching t-shirts for him to sign which he did for all. He would say hello, how are ya, photo, then turn and sign the t-shirt his mate had catched, then turn back to greet whoever was next up and do it all again. T shirts flying back and forth, smiles in all the photos…really nice.
Whatever people think of the ‘sport’, McGregor was an alright sort that night and that’s all I have to go on.
He’s had the opportunity to make a fucking mint and he’s taken it, fair play to him. In fairness, I don’t like Jedward’s music but they are reported to have earned over €6m…fair play to them too!
He should be winning the marketing award in Business and Finance…certainly not SPOTY
Irelands SPOTY award is a joke mate, he’s as entitled to win it as some of the cunts who have, forgive the formatting, taken from WIKI
1985 IRL Barry McGuigan Boxing Defeated Eusebio Pedroza to become World Boxing Association featherweight champion.
1986 IRL Seán Kelly Cycling He finished on a podium in a grand tour for the first time when he finished third in the 1986 Vuelta a España.
1987 IRL Stephen Roche Cycling Winner of the 1987 Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and World Cycling Championships.
1988 IRL
NIR
IRL Eamonn Darcy
Ronan Rafferty
Des Smyth Golf For winning the Alfred Dunhill Cup.
1989 IRL Christy O’Connor Jnr. Golf For a stunning 2 iron shot on the last hole at the Belfry which he left just 4 feet from the hole during the successful 1989 Ryder Cup.
1990 IRL Packie Bonner Football For his famous penalty save from Daniel Timofte of Romania at the 1990 FIFA World Cup.
1991 IRL Ralph Keyes Rugby union Overall top scorer with 68 points at the 1991 Rugby World Cup.
1992 IRL Michael Carruth Boxing Gold medallist in the welterweight section at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games.
1993 IRL Sonia O’Sullivan Athletics Silver medallist in the 1500m at the World Championships.
1994 IRL Sonia O’Sullivan Athletics Gold medallist in the 3000m at the World Championships.
1995 IRL Sonia O’Sullivan Athletics Gold medallist in the 5000m at the World Championships.
1996 IRL Michelle Smith Swimming Triple Olympic gold medallist for the 400m individual medley, 400m freestyle and 200m individual medley, and bronze medallist for the 200m butterfly event.
1997 IRL Ken Doherty Snooker Winner of the 1997 World Snooker Championship.
1998 IRL Sonia O’Sullivan Athletics Double gold medallist at the World Cross-Country Championships and double gold medallist at the European Championships.
1999 IRL Roy Keane Football Captain of the Manchester United team that completed a treble of English Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League successes.
2000 IRL Sonia O’Sullivan Athletics Olympic silver medallist in the women’s 5000m at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. [1]
2001 IRL Mick McCarthy Football Secured qualification for the 2002 FIFA World Cup for the Republic of Ireland national football team. [2]
2002 IRL Pádraig Harrington Golf Member of the European team that won the 2002 Ryder Cup. [3]
2003 IRL Barry Geraghty Horse racing Winner of the Aintree Grand National on Monty’s Pass. [4]
2004 IRL Ronan O’Gara Rugby union Member of the Ireland team that won the Triple Crown in the 2004 Six Nations Championship. [5]
2005 IRL Seán Óg Ó hAilpín Hurling All-Ireland-winning captain with Cork and winner of a third All-Ireland medal.
2006 IRL Henry Shefflin Hurling Won his fourth All-Ireland medal with Kilkenny as well as being named Hurler of the Year for a second time. [6]
2007 IRL Pádraig Harrington Golf Became the first Irishman in over sixty years to win the Open Championship. [7]
2008 IRL Pádraig Harrington Golf Retained his title as British Open championship, thus becoming the first European to win back to back major championships.
2009 IRL Brian O’Driscoll Rugby union Grand Slam-winning captain and member of the Leinster team that won the 2008–09 Heineken Cup [8]
2010 NIR Graeme McDowell Golf Winner of the 2010 US Open and member of the European team that won the 2010 Ryder Cup. [9]
2011 NIR Rory McIlroy Golf Winner of the 2011 US Open. [10]
2012 IRL Katie Taylor Boxing Olympic gold medallist in the women’s lightweight section at the 2012 London Olympic Games. [11]
2013 NIR Tony McCoy Horse racing 18-times champion jockey who created history in November when he rode his 4,000th winner over jumps. [12]
2014 NIR Rory McIlroy Golf Won the 2014 Open Championship and 2014 PGA Championship, became the first European to win three different majors, and was a member of the European team that won the 2014 Ryder Cup.
Nordies like McIlory and McCoy should not be allowed win as they are British
Also neither of them play a sport.
I was watching Pigley yesterday morning and the sheep said he wanted to play a sport. Mrs Sheep suggested he play golf to which he responded “Golf is a game, not a sport” 
Jakers?
Yip. Great show.
Fucking outstanding, auld Horny Hornsby
Most of what you say is bang on. But in reality he was just doing his job. He has no-showed at 2 fan events in recent months as well.
One of the reasons Steve Collins didn’t quite capitalize on his fame within Ireland was ge was an asshole and openly hated the signing crack. Maybe he didn’t care, but i do think people remember it in time. Fame is fleeting for most.
He’ll be a Hollywood star in 2 years… I can’t wait to read the comments on here bashing his movies.
I liked Collins for that.
Jesus you really were not given any attention as a kid were you.
I was never a fan of the populist stuff - it’s why the staters keep voting in corrupt parish pump politicians, they’re weak at the knees for people who whisper a few sweet nothings in their ears.
You are missing the point of the conversation just to throw something randomly in.
X100 it’s fuckin embarrassing
You “unsheeped” yourself tassotti like the rest of us well travelled folk,some night call us odd
Collins wasn’t that bothered about what people thought of him, his actions and motives were not of a populist objective. I admire that about him.
To paraphrase Jerry Kiernan: Nobody plays UFC.