Eoghan Walsh
@eoghanwalshbxl.bsky.social
2K followers 940 following 1.9K posts
Irish writer, Brussels based. Writes on food and drink, travel, keeps an urban diary at Brussels Notes https://www.brusselsnotes.substack.com
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
eoghanwalshbxl.bsky.social
I mean, what are we even doing here. Amateur hour
eoghanwalshbxl.bsky.social
I execute the perfect pancake flip and I look around the kitchen to receive the adulation that is due and it's empty. What's the point of having children, I wonder.
eoghanwalshbxl.bsky.social
Is Waterford a gaelic football county? This is the kind of knowledge I'm lacking!
eoghanwalshbxl.bsky.social
(he was probably right, though 😂)
eoghanwalshbxl.bsky.social
I remember when the first rugby team was started in our secondary school, one of the teachers in charge of the GAA teams complained we had a chip on our shoulders because we were agitating for some pitch time on the school pitches. Know your place was the vibe
Reposted by Eoghan Walsh
daithitoms.bsky.social
As someone who grew up in a staunchly soccer household with people involved at every level the grip of the GAA on so many narratives of public service and civic mindedness had always baffled me. Soccer in Ireland (and most sports too) are amateur, community based, voluntary activities.
darach.bsky.social
GAA exceptionalism has definitely been due a peg-lowering.

The phrase "centrist rugby Dad" speaks to a fantasy where GAA is this benignly egalitarian, progressive and welcoming space. This is not everyone's experience but good luck to them if they say so.

www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic...
Malachy Clerkin: The Jim Gavin fiasco was a long overdue humbling for GAA exceptionalism
Micheál Martin had his head turned by Gavin’s football success, forgetting it’s just a sport, no better or worse than the rest
www.irishtimes.com
eoghanwalshbxl.bsky.social
Also to be clear, I was not Protestant, not that there's anything wrong with that of course.

It was just the only co-ed primary school in the area that was also non-denominational. Which meant alongside us atheists were a Hindu family, a Muslim family (when that was less common), and a Swiss gir,.
eoghanwalshbxl.bsky.social
Living over the road from the local football pitch was probably influential too, but it's odd to think now that growing up on our suburban estate in Carrigaline, not one of the lads played GAA.

We were football - Roy Keane, Cork City, United, etc. - all the way through
eoghanwalshbxl.bsky.social
Growing up in Cork, Pairc Ui Chaoimh was the stadium down the road from my nana where Michael Jackson performed.

I did actually go to a game there for the first time last year, and it was great to see Munster beat the Crusaders.
eoghanwalshbxl.bsky.social
Going to a Protestant primary school (very much a jolly hockeysticks millieu) has fairly inocculated me against the charms of the GAA, but it's also meant I don't really understand its pull on Irish society
darach.bsky.social
GAA exceptionalism has definitely been due a peg-lowering.

The phrase "centrist rugby Dad" speaks to a fantasy where GAA is this benignly egalitarian, progressive and welcoming space. This is not everyone's experience but good luck to them if they say so.

www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic...
Malachy Clerkin: The Jim Gavin fiasco was a long overdue humbling for GAA exceptionalism
Micheál Martin had his head turned by Gavin’s football success, forgetting it’s just a sport, no better or worse than the rest
www.irishtimes.com
eoghanwalshbxl.bsky.social
Similarly, I took my kids to the camogie final in Dublin this year, and when we were back in belgium the eldest asked if I could teach her how to play ebfore she went along to the local club here in Brussels. I had to demure, not knowing much of the basic rules
eoghanwalshbxl.bsky.social
Worst of all this might mean Heimir gets a contract extension off the back of the potential of this performance when the best for both parties might be to part ways after the qualifiers
eoghanwalshbxl.bsky.social
An exasperating performance by Ireland - not just bc of the late goal, but bc they so often do this: excellent results in games that often don't matter, only to play abysmally in games they appear to think are below their level?

Like, where was this level of concentration in Yeravan? Arghghghgh.
eoghanwalshbxl.bsky.social
Looks like a classic Ireland performance. Good agains the good teams, bad against the "bad teams". At least we're consistent.
eoghanwalshbxl.bsky.social
and that's when they're playing well...
eoghanwalshbxl.bsky.social
I'd name my kids Caoimhin if it wouldn't fuck up their everyday lives in Belgium.

Get to fuck, Ronaldo!
eoghanwalshbxl.bsky.social
Looks like a classic Ireland performance. Good agains the good teams, bad against the "bad teams". At least we're consistent.
eoghanwalshbxl.bsky.social
Thanks for including me (and Jasper) and prompting a bit of a return to "orthodox" beer writing for a change! And in his defence, Farrell was on your side when it came to pastry stouts (he's usually such a equable chap 😂)
eoghanwalshbxl.bsky.social
haha - I'd a lovely pint of cider (I think) a year after you, having walked down from the orchard at Pechkam's earlier in the day. God's country, as they say.
eoghanwalshbxl.bsky.social
Filou enjoying the new record player (Simon and Garfunkel, to be precise)
eoghanwalshbxl.bsky.social
As much as anything I think it’s about having something to write about
eoghanwalshbxl.bsky.social
Ik voel dit ZO hard. Dochter van 9 heeft een nieuw coach dit jaar en voor het we’re in 3 seizoenen hebben wij te maken met “ik wil niet gaan”. Mede dankzij a man who has never once heard of positive reinforcement
eoghanwalshbxl.bsky.social
“A cul de sac at the end of the world“ is one of my favourite recent short story collections (not to mention Trespasses).

This is great news.

www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...
New Louise Kennedy novel out next year
Books newsletter: a wrap of the latest news and preview of tomorrow’s pages
www.irishtimes.com
eoghanwalshbxl.bsky.social
As a child of no faith but a big fan of Wikipedia I’m a sucker for all of their weird quirks
eoghanwalshbxl.bsky.social
Just to add, I feel like Judaism would be a religion I could get along with. It’s feels quite argumentative about minutiae. Like me.