Express Yourself

One of the Irish man’s less endearing traits is the one whereby he is emotionally inept. The Irish man struggles in areas where his counterparts further south thrive. He can’t use words like passion or beauty. He can’t sip a glass of wine and sit looking into a woman’s eyes for lengthy silent moments. Nor can he easily (or soberly) tell a woman how beautiful she is or how her radiant smile lights up his every day.

Towards his friends he is guarded, hiding emotion at the pit of his very being. He is wary of the ribbing he will get if he breaks from the fashion norms of brown shoes, jeans and Tommy shirt. To hide his own insecurities, he will seek out the less mainstream to be the butt of his jokes, scoffing at their willingness to show feeling or break from Gaelic social norms.

Maybe, this is why a large section of G.A.A. fans are voicing their displeasure with the behaviour of Eoin Kelly, John Mullane, Dan the Man & Co lately. You know the picture. Knees slightly bent, leaning slightly back and pumping their fists into the air with emotion sweeping across their face and veins bulging. The Waterford fans stand and roar back their approval. It’s a scene you can commonly associate with the trio and their colleagues in recent years. As common as the badge grabbing and kissing we see as they bear down on the Town End in Thurles or The Hill further North.

Those opposed to the gesticulation will cite an ever growing trend to adopt unwanted practices which are laden in the games of our foes across the sea. A hint of diving has approached our shores as has the encouragement to referees to dish out appropriate punishment for misdemeanours. It’s felt this dampens the purity of our games and is a road we dare not travel.

Showmanship is rife in the world of soccer and is viewed with glee by the receiving fans. Personally I detest it and see it as merely another avenue to boost a player’s advertising appeal and popularity. The examples are in no short supply. Wayne Rooney, boyhood diehard Everton fan. Within a month of arriving at Old Trafford he was kissing his new badge after scoring against Fenerbache. Ronaldo has fulfilled a boyhood dream by joining Madrid and took a nice new packet with it. Robbie Fowler is known to celebrate his goals by sniffing white lines on the Anfield pitch. What do these actions mean? Are the individuals credible?

Manchester United fans, from Ireland, London and maybe even Manchester, see Rooney’s gesture as an expression of pride in the new clobber and their knees shake as he woos them. In this sense, I can understand why our Members look on with suspicion when the mavericks from the South-East reel away and erupt in emotion.
I love it though. When Setanta rounded Lohan in 2004, eventually shook off his shackles before rattling the net in Thurles, he charged the terrace whilst nearly ripping the geansai off himself with the clench of his rebel crest. It was a moment when he became one with the Cork fans. Just like when Mullane or Donaghy spin away after raising another flag.

Why is it different? Because it is genuine. It is highly likely that Mullane will catch the eye of a friend or club man when he looks to the stand. His emotion is returned with interest. He is expressing his pride in where he’s from, the fans are expressing their pride in where they are from. They’ll be there when their team collapse in the qualifiers and they’ll be there when they climb The Hogan. Like a marriage, the path will not always be smooth but the vow stands; Till death do us part.

So I say enjoy the moments. The GPA are coming and who knows where their march will bring our games. For now, the emotion is pure, the connection is solid. So I say, let the Irish male have the opportunity to express himself.