Following 2012 was always going to be tough to match with regards sporting moments, but 2013 certainly left us with some memorable sporting events. The City took a look back at some of the most unforgettable sports stories of 2013.
Lance Armstrong admits to doping: In January 2013, Lance Armstrong shocked the world by admitting to doping during all seven of his consecutive Tour de France titles. Despite the fact that most people suspected it, it was still fascinating to hear the former record holder admit to the doping after so many years of denial.
Ferguson Retires: The premier league said goodbye to one of its longest serving and most successful managers when Sir Alex Ferguson announced his retirement as manager of Manchester United in May this year. The 26 year stint at the club saw him win 13 Premier League titles, 5 FA Cups, 4 League Cups and the Champions League twice. He ended his final season at the club in great fashion leading United to their 13th Premier League title and 20th English title overall.
Oscar Pistorius murder charges: On February 15th, the world was shook by the news that famous Paralympian Oscar Pistorius may have murdered his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. Pistorius has yet to stand trial for the case in which his 29 year old girlfriend was shot dead at his luxury home in South Africa.
Andy Murray wins Wimbledon: It was the moment the British public had waited so long for, and the pressure was higher than ever for the young Scottish man, but Andy Murray held his nerve to win his first Wimbledon title in July this year. The 26-year-old Scot became the first British player to win the Wimbledon men’s singles title in 77 years with his victory over Novak Djokovic.
4000th winner for McCoy: Northern Irish jockey Tony McCoy made history in November when he won his 4000th career win over jumps. McCoy, who had made no secret about his desire for a 4000th win, reached the milestone during a second of two races at Towcester Racecourse, Northamptonshire.
Irish Ladies bring home the grand slam: The Irish ladies Rugby team made history in March winning their first ever Grand Slam after a muddy battle against Italy in Parabiago. Irelands captain Fiona Coghlan led the side to a 6-3 win as they secured their fifth win of the 2013 six nations campaign.
Boston Marathon bombings: On April 15, the world watched in horror as bombs went off near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. The horrendous and cowardly act killed 3 people and left 264 gruesomely injured.
Heffernan takes gold: Irish Walker Robert Heffernan won gold after triumphing in the 50km walk at the World Championships in Moscow earlier his year. After narrowly missing out on a medal on four occasions at the championships, the Cork native took a clear lead after 44km to secure his victory. He became only the third Irish athlete to win a Gold medal at the World athletics championships, following on from Sonia O’Sullivan and Eamonn Coughlin.
The Lions Tour 2013: The British and Irish Lions tour took place during the summer and saw the team take a 2-1 victory over Australia in a three test series. The win was perhaps overshadowed from an Irish person’s perspective by the controversial dropping of Brian O’Driscoll by Coach Warren Gatland before the final game.
Clare Hurlers win All-Ireland: Clare won the All-Ireland hurling title for the first time since 1997 in September. They overcame a strong Cork side to win 5-16 to 3-16 in Croke Park. Hero of the day, Clare hurler Shane O’Donnell scored three goals in the opening 19 minutes of the game to help his county to victory.
Ireland narrowly defeated by the All Blacks: Hearts shattered throughout the country as New Zealand made a remarkable come back to bring the sides level in the last seconds of Ireland’s test match against the All-Blacks at the Aviva Stadium in November. A conversion was all the separated Ireland from the biggest win in its rugby history. As the ball soared between the posts Ireland’s almost brilliant victory turned into one of the country’s most heart-breaking defeats.
Scottish professional tennis player Andy Murray, ranked World number four and British number one, has been crowned the BBC Sports Personality of the Year for 2013.
The award was issued in Leeds’ First Direct Arena on the 15th December 2013.
The 26-year-old starred in the 2012 Olympic Games for Britain, achieving a gold medal in the men’s singles by defeating Roger Federer in straight sets in the final to become the first British singles champion in over 100 years.
Murray also won a silver medal in the 2012 mixed doubles with his partner Laura Robson, narrowly missing out on the gold medal with a loss in the final.
Murray in action. Photo courtesy of Roland Garros on Flickr
At the US Open 2012, Andy Murray became the first British player since 1977, and the first British man since 1936, to win a Grand Slam singles tournament, when he defeated Novak Djokovic in five sets.
To top off an incredible year, breaking several records and achieving magnificent milestones, Murray won the 2013 Wimbledon Championships, becoming the first British man to do so since Fred Perry, 77 years previously. He saw off the threat of Djokovic again in the final to achieve the title.
Murray looked very appreciative and happy to have won the award, and lightly joked during his acceptance speech, “no matter how excited I try to sound my voice still sounds incredibly boring.”
The tennis star is said to have won a landslide victory as, for the first time, the winner received more votes than the rest of the ten contenders combined.
Nobody before has won the award with over 50 per cent of the poll, but Murray received almost 56 per cent of the total online and phone poll. Such is his admiration and respect among the citizens of the nation.
Whether he is considered British or Scottish by the divided United Kingdom, there is no doubting Murray’s quality as an athlete. He certainly captivated and won the hearts of the nation, securing a British gold and silver medal at the Olympics last year and winning the 2013 Wimbledon Championships.
Step back in time and come along to the Christmas Fair at the National Print Museum at Beggars Bush, where you can start your Christmas shopping and pick up unique presents you won’t see elsewhere.
On the ground floor you will find the permanent exhibition of printing machines, printing blocks, photographs, books and pamphlets as well as a coffee shop looking out onto the old military barracks of yesteryear.
As you walk up the steps to the sounds and smells of Christmas, you will see all the stalls selling home-made chocolates, hand-made soaps, 3D jewellery, home-made preserves and most importantly, there is a letterpress stall.
This is the third year the Christmas Fair has been running and Carla Marrinan, managing the museum, told me the museum tries “to create a shopping experience that is beyond a regular shopping mall and they have a variety of stalls with only two of the same stalls having participated every year”.
Carla pointed out “there are also activities for children, a chance to see the collection and, you can also try the printing yourself and make a Christmas poster”.
The National Print Museum has a reference library, ideal for research at third-level, as well as an online searchable catalogue.
It’s open every week day from 9am-5pm and in the afternoons on Saturdays. You can book a guided tour or browse at your leisure.
On the penultimate weekend of the Airtricity Premier League, there were wins for Bray, Dundalk, Sligo and Shamrock Rovers.
Bray won away to Bohs thanks to a Kieran Waters goal in the 76’ minute. The win was long overdue for the Wicklow men but still might not save them from the drop.
Anto Flood has been terrific for pats. credit goal.com
Dundalk coasted to a 4-0 victory over Cork at Oriel Park. ‘The Town’ opened the scoring through Player of the year Richie Towell in the 33’ Minute. Patrick Hoban doubled the advantage on 45’ minutes with a contender for goal of the season.
A John Kavanagh own goal just after the break confirmed Cork’s misery before John Dillion sealed a fantastic season for the Lilywhites.
League Champions St.Pats stumbled to a draw at home to Derry. The Candy-stripes fell behind to a Mc Namee goal in the 34’ minute but Anto Flood rescued a point with his 81st minute equailiser.
UCD suffered heavily to Rovers at home, the Tallaght men opened the scoring through Robinson in the eight minute before Gary Mc Cabe converted a penalty in the 11th minute.
The excellent Richie Towell. credit goal.com
Robbie Benson pulled one back for the students in the 64th minute before Mc Cabe and Stewart put the result beyond doubt.
On Saturday Sligo beat Drogheda 3-1. Anthony Elding celebrated two fine strikes in the 38th and 66th minute, the latter being a spot kick.
Evan Mc Millan made it 3-0 in the 73rd minute before Gavin Brennan pulled one back for the cup finalists albeit from a penalty.
This weekend sees the final round of games in what has been an excellent season for Irish domestic football.
It was a sad day on Grafton Street today as former employees of Wallis Retail (Ireland) Ltd picketed outside its doors in objection to the closure of the chain store.
Tomorrow, 19th October, Wallis, which is a part of the Arcadia multiples Ireland Group, is closing its Grafton Street store and making its staff redundant as part of a deal to sub-let its store to another high street retailer.
Long-term employees of the Arcadia Group store will now be left jobless from today.
According to accounts filed by Wallis, the company recorded a €2.12 million pre-tax loss last year.
The Mandate Trade Union have asked Wallis to adhere to a prior agreement of five weeks redundancy per year worked.
“It’s absolutely disgraceful, what is happening here. Some of us have been here for ten years,” explains Melanie Rooney, a former loyal employee of Wallis on Grafton Street.
“Some of the people here have kids and families to support and we were told last week the shop is closing tomorrow.”
“All we want is for our disputes to be heard to be treated fairly with the respect we deserve.”
Melanie Rooney and her collegue picketing outside Wallis in the rain on Grafton St yesterday.
The company have also refused an invitation from the State’s industrial body, the Labour Relations Commission, to attend a conciliation conference in an effort to resolve all of the issues in dispute.
This closure is happening is happening despite the group paying a dividend of €92 million to their owners in 2012.
It is to assign its sub-lease to another UK retail chain, Cath Kidston, which specialises in floral print handbags and homeware.
Dublin claimed the treble in 2013, the National league, Another Leinster crown and the coveted Sam Ma Guire.
How and why did the Dubs have such a fine season, after Mayo exposed them in last summer’s All-Ireland semi-final?
Jim Gavin took over from Pat Gilroy and introduced lots of youth into the metropolitan’s side. Jack McCaffery, Paul Manion and Ciaran Kilkenny to name but a few.
Dublin topped the league table and set up a league final meeting with Tyrone. In a magnificent game of football Dublin won by the minimum, 0-16 to 0-15.
Five weeks later Gavin’s boys overcame Westmeath quite easily on a score line of 1-22 to 0-09.
Kildare and Kieran Mc Geeney were next to challenge; a goal from Tomas O Connor inside the first minute gave the Lillywhites a great platform but Dublin hit back with four goals of their own to hammer Kildare by 16 points, 4-16 to 1-09.
Bernard Brogan is a hero for the Dubs. credit liberty.ie
For the third year in a row Meath were in the Leinster final, having only been outdone by a Bernard Brogan goal in 2012 the Royals were full of confidence. And after an excellent first half Meath looked to be on their way as they lead by four at the break.
Second half goals from Paul Manion and Bernard brogan, however, ended Meath hopes as Dublin won their 52nd title.
In the All-Ireland quarter final Dublin had 85% of the possession, six clear cut goal chances and hit the post on a couple of occasions and still only managed to beat Cork by five points, 1-16 to 0-09. It was in this game that the Dubs showed their real strength as a force in Gaelic games.
In the semi-final Colm Cooper showed why he is the greatest player of all time with a virtuoso display. However the great man’s efforts couldn’t stop the champions elect as they ran out winners by seven points, 3-18 to 3-11.
Dublin before the All-Ireland final. credit john mulhollandbookmaker
In the final, the biggest in history if you believe the hype, Mayo were hoping to bridge a 62 year wait for Sam. In the first 25 minutes Mayo were sharper, hungrier, fitter and more coherent but their failure to convert their chances in scores coupled with Bernard Brogan’s first goal eight minutes before the break shattered James Horans’ side.
Another Brogan goal in the second half cancelled out Andy Moran’s earlier strike and the Dub’s were celebrating their second title in three seasons and 24th in total.
This taut, suspense filled psychological thriller starring Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal is, without a doubt, one of the best films of the year so far.
Taking place over seven days, Prisoners follows the search for Anna Dover and Joy Birch; two six-year old girls abducted from outside their homes on Thanks Giving, as well as the mental and emotional toll this takes on their families.
Jackman excels as a man struggling to come to terms with his daughters disappearance [credit:cinemablend.com]The film begins at a break-neck pace, the opening credits barely finished rolling before the girls go missing. However, this is by no means another fast-paced action flick, the next two hours slowly building suspense and gathering pace to culminate in a breathless final sequence.
Jackman is again hugely impressive, this time as devout survivalist Keller Dover, father of the missing Anna. Keller’s desperation to find his daughter and the strain this puts on his faith is a central theme to the story.
Following Dover’s descent into violence is Detective Loki, the intriguing police-officer who has never failed to solve a case up till now. Gyllenhaal’s range is apparent here, his restrained performance as the tattooed loner-cop with the facial tick at odds with his last role in the light-hearted End of Watch.
Gyllenhaal as troubled police-officer Detective Loki [credit: popmatters.com]The film’s subdued sound-track helps cultivate the sense of tension through-out the film, while the prevalence of trees and other wooden objects is a subtle nod to Dover’s inability to see ‘the wood for the trees’ in his manic attempts to locate the missing girls.
‘Skeletons in closets’ (or under floors) are another key theme; histories of characters becoming increasingly relevant as the film progresses. Indeed, the consistent mentions of both Dover and Loki’s pasts are invaluable in developing a three-dimensional sense of the protagonists.
At its heart though, Prisoners is an impressively told story, one that reels you in and keeps you on the edge of your seat right up to the final second.
Historical buildings opened up all over the capital from October 4-6 as Open House Dublin celebrated its 8th annual celebration of unique Irish architecture.
With special ‘access-all-areas’ dispensations being given to visitors of some of the city’s most iconic architectural landmarks over the course of the weekend, patrons were given the opportunity to glimpse into historical venues such as Farmleigh House, Casino Marino, Uras an Uachtaráin plus 97 other buildings for free.
Organised by the Irish Architecture Foundation, guided tours were provided to give a fascinating insight into places of interest ranging from educational and political institutions to cutting-edge community and residential new-builds in what has been deemed by the IAF as the country’s largest celebration of architecture.
My tour took me to one of the most instantly-recognisable landmarks on the island in the form of the GPO on O’Connell Street before heading south over the river and getting a behind-the-scenes view into the Earlsfort Terrace complex, which now plays host to the National Concert Hall, and the adjoining Iveagh Gardens.
2013 is fast becoming the year of everything Irish. The diaspora abroad are being invited back to Ireland as part of The Gathering 2013 and also, closer to home, organizations dedicated to preserving and promoting Irish as a living language are rowing in behind Bliain na Gaelige 2013 – the Year of the Irish Language.
Over 80 organizations have signed up to-date – universities, teacher groups, student groups from all levels, radio, television and print media, local and national community groups, training organizations, governmental supports and the usual list of national agencies that promote the language, such as Conradh na Gaeilge (CnaG).
Síne Nic an Ailí, a development officer in CnaG, spoke to theCity.ie about the plans for the year, and theCity.ie reporters Fionnuala Holohan and Patrick Gormley went in search on the streets of Dublin of some of the reported 1.7 million Irish residents who say they can speak the language:
Le haighaidh níos mó eolais, téigh go dtí http://gaeilge2013.ie/
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