An American's reflection on her journey to Irish citizenship
'That's it! You should change your name to Gina Dublin,' one of the coaches at my gym said, grinning as I told him – and just about anyone within earshot – that I had just received my official invitation to attend Ireland's naturalisation citizenship ceremony in Killarney on June 23.
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Irish Independent
39 minutes ago
- Irish Independent
Close finishes abound in very competitive stake at Enniscorthy greyhound stadium
Right from the off, in heat one of the second round, we saw a good front-running performance from trap three runner Fairly Giddy who broke smartly to lead while chased by trap one runner Bust The Tins down the back. And while Giddy had a nice enough lead, gradually the chasing Bust The Tins closed the gap and took the rail off the final bend to deliver one last effort to catch the leader. Fairly Giddy stayed strong though to hold on by half a length and score in a good 29.03. Heat two saw another runner get out quickly to lead as Cushie Mystery, the 6/4 favourite, was chased by trap one runner Tip Top Roxy into the back. Tip Top moved to challenge Cushie at the third bend and these two fought out a good battle all the way to the line, but Cushie with the inside line dug deep to score by half a length in a fast 28.90. Heat three went to another pace-setter as trap one runner Misterin Sam went around the opening bends in front and the 6/1 shot was not for passing, fending off the challengers. In the end Sam was a snug enough three-quarters of a length winner from the running-on trap three's Ashwood News who could not go with the early pace but finished strongly. Heat four went to the even-money favourite as trap three runner Anthony's Way got away well to lead from trap six runner Ballybreen Luna who made a really good race of it to the final bends. It was at that point that Anthony's powered away to put four lengths between them at the line in a time of 29.03. This week's semi-finals promise some tight racing and it would be a brave person who could call the six finalists. Enniscorthy trainer Davy Morris continues to reel off the winners, recording another nice double. In race seven his trap five runner, Killoughrim Jet, was sent off the 6/4 favourite and punters were counting their money as he showed fine early pace to open up a nice lead down the back. However, turning for the judge his stride began to shorten and some backers were getting nervous as Killoughrim needed the line and was all out to hold the finishing run of trap six's Stripe Buddy by a neck in a time of 29.46. His second winner came in race eight, the first semi-final of the A1/2 Dual Distance Stake over the 550 yards trip. His trap six charge Bono Champ went up in front from the favourite, trap five runner Swift Ambitious, with the third-placed runner, trap one's Vinegarhill Rhys, always in that spot as they ran down the back in Indian file. Bono kept up the gallop and did enough to hold Swift by half a length in a time of 30.39. The second semi saw a much more convincing winner as trap six runner Bog Cush Cat led and missed the trouble at the opening bends to come right away to score by ten lengths in a time of 30.26. On the Monday night there was a re-run of the Timeclub@Enniscorthy Greyhound Stadium round one heat four (grade A5), and there was a convincing winner in the end. The favourite, trap three runner Dashing Tom, did well to free himself of possible trouble into the opening bends as trap four runner Ned On Fire set the pace. Dashing did just that to go second and challenged the leader strongly into the lower bends. However, Ned battled on well to make a race of it but nearing the final bend Dashing took control and came right away from the latter to score by five lengths in a time of 29.06. MONDAY, MAY 26 Race one: 1, Toker Pablo (owner, Philip Lynch, New Ross), 29.04; 2, Piercestown Ella, four and a half lengths. Race two: 1, Kiltrea Amy (owner, John Doyle, Kiltrea, Enniscorthy), 29.82; 2, Malbay Dolly, two and a half lengths. Race three: 1, Dashing Tom (owner, Thomas Power; trainer, Myles Roban, Enniscorthy), 29.06; 2, Ned On Fire, five lengths. Race four: 1, Milltownsherlock (owner, James Nolan, Enniscorthy), 29.80; 2, Lord Sydney, one length. Race five: 1, Skyview Princess (owner, Eugene Dempsey, Castlebridge), 29.68; 2, Woolies Arabian, two lengths. Race six: 1, Threebestfriends (owners, Sam O'Brien and Cormac Doyle, Enniscorthy), 29.08; 2, Na Fianna Dan, five lengths. Race seven: 1, Priceless Maria (owners, Bryan and Kathleen Murphy; trainer, Paul Hennessy, Co. Kilkenny), 28.95; 2, Toker Hillside, three lengths. Race eight: 1, Gymstar Fabiola (owners, Jimmy and Dara O'Reilly, Wexford town), 29.01; 2, Ellie's Gem, four lengths. THURSDAY, MAY 29 Race one, A2/3 April Stakes round two, heat one: 1, Fairly Giddy (owner, Margaret Stafford, Ballymitty), 29.03; 2, Bust The Tins, half a length. Heat two: 1, Cushie Mystery (owner, Thomas Codd, Enniscorthy), 28.90; 2, Tip Top Roxy, half a length. Heat three: 1, Misterin Sam (owner, Michael Galway, Adamstown), 29.11; 2, Ashwood News, three-quarters of a length. Heat four: 1, Anthony's Way (owner, Wayne McGrath, Enniscorthy), 29.03; 2, Ballybreen Luna, four lengths. Race five: 1, Elsiemazie (owner, Dermot Reid, Enniscorthy), 29.43; 2, Hillbilly Dixie, one and a half lengths. Race six: 1, Likeashadow (owners, the GDG Syndicate, Enniscorthy), 28.92; 2, Auntie Ann, seven and a half lengths. Race seven: 1, Killoughrim Jet (owner, Damien Fitzgerald; trainer, Davy Morris, Enniscorthy), 29.46; 2, Stripe Buddy, a neck. Race eight, A1/2 Dual Distance Stake (550 yards) semi-final: 1, Bono Champ (owners, Tony Kenny and Conor Cullen; trainer, Davy Morris, Enniscorthy), 30.39; 2, Swift Ambitious, half a length.
Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
Sligo manager Tony McEntee taking positives from Kildare game as they draw Carlow at home
Tailteann Cup Round Three SLIGO manager, Tony McEntee, insisted after his side were defeated by four-points following a mammoth second-half comeback, that they won't be afraid of Kildare should they meet them again later on in the Tailteann Cup.
Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
Road races at west Limerick village in the balance following Governing Body agreement
The Southwest Road Racing Club Athea's will have to wait another two weeks before confirming if their planned road racing event this September can go ahead.
