Éirinn go brách

I somehow missed this at the time, but Jessa mentioned it to me this morning, just in time for Indigenous Peoples' Day tomorrow. Lacrosse is to be featured for the first time in International World Games history next year in Alabama, but the organising committee disqualified the Iroquois Nationals team from competition on the grounds that the Iroquois were "not a sovereign nation" (don't get me started) and do not have an Olympic committee. (For the record, the Iroquois Nationals compete at the international level in the World Lacrosse Championship, where both their sovereignty and their foundational role in the Creator's Game are recognised. They finished third in the most recent worlds in 2018.) Following an outcry from the lacrosse community, the IWGA then reversed course and stated that the Iroquois could compete after all—if a place could be found for them in the tournament.

Enter Ireland Lacrosse—or, rather, exit Ireland Lacrosse, as the Irish team sacrificed their spot in the tournament so that the Iroquois team could be represented. "There was so much more to be gained for the sport as a whole than for Ireland to gain from that one tournament," said Michael Kennedy of Ireland Lacrosse. "It was the right decision to pull out to enable the Iroquois to take part."

Read the whole feel-good story in Michael Glennon's piece at RTÉ.

Robins: an Irish Christmas card

Possibly the most charming birds ever...

Glengarriff

Glengarriff (Gleann Garbh), on Bantry Bay in west County Cork.

Rounding out Kerry

Atlantic view near Waterville.

Deenish (Duínis) and Scariff (An Scairbh) Islands.

More coastal scenery.

Uplands between Whitestrand and Sneem.

On the way up to Caha Gap.

Allaghee Beg and St. Finian's Bay

Allaghee Beg (Alachaí Beag), on the Skellig Ring.

Skellig Islands, as seen from the little harbour at Allaghee Beg.

Views around the harbour, which is hardly more than a boat slip.

For all I know, this tiny creek has sea-run browns and Atlantic salmon in it as well.

Another beach, a bit further along at St. Finian's Bay.

Rossbeigh Strand

I never thought I'd see a beach to rival my beloved Assateague, much less proclaim it publicly. But Rossbeigh...Rossbeigh (Ros Beithe) has mountains. And if I stand atop those mountains, on tiptoe, and look to the southwest, and squint hard enough...well, I can imagine Assateague, anyway. So now I have two favourite beaches.