Latest news with #BrendanDevenney
The Irish Sun
16-07-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Land of a Thousand Welcomes? Ireland doesn't seem to be after GAA Palestine's trip for kids was cruelly denied
THE Land of a Thousand Welcomes? Perhaps not . . . The charity group GAA Palestine recently 3 33 children had been due to arrive in Ireland on Friday Credit: Social Media Collect 3 Support was shown for them during the All-Ireland football semi-finals Credit: Sportsfile 3 Donegal legend Brendan Devenney did his best to convince Micheál Martin to act on the matter Understandably, the group were on cloud nine at the prospect of leaving their war-torn homeland. A four-night stay in Dublin was due to kick off the trip on Friday. A VIP tour of Donegal legend Brendan Devenney was due to meet the group in his county next week before they returned to Palestine on August 1. That was until last week when all 47 visa applications that were submitted in mid-May were refused and desperate pleas to the Department of Justice Read More On GAA That decision saw protests take place at last weekend's All-Ireland football semi-finals at Croke Park. Big-hearted Devenney was a full-blooded forward who played with passion during his Donegal days. And that passion was there for all to see at the weekend when he was on BBC duty for Taoiseach And as Martin left the field, Devenney seized the moment and door-stepped him. Most read in GAA Hurling Devenney revealed to SunSport: 'Can you imagine the outpouring of emotion these children would have got when they came here? 'You saw me tackle Micheál Martin, he had the power to stop it. He seems like a nice enough man, but my life and job is with people. 'Easiest interview I've ever had' jokes RTE GAA host after pundits go back and forth before Meath vs Donegal 'I just said, 'I'm involved in this trip for the Palestinian kids, I'm in charge of the Donegal leg and we need to get this done'. 'The documentation was accepted in the Irish embassy in Israel and €38,000 had to be paid in flights, and they insisted that the flights were paid for up front as part of this, and now that money can't be refunded. 'He said it's down to the Department of Justice, but he has the overall say in all of these departments. "So many people want this to happen, and so many people have put so much time, energy, and money into this yet the Government has blocked it, and it's a complete joke.' GAA Palestine travelled to the Department of Justice on Monday in an 11th-hour plea to have the visas approved. But after hours of waiting, they were told to enter an appeals process — scuppering the group's planned arrival on Friday. DOJ REPLY SunSport contacted The Department of Justice and their reply read: 'The Department appreciates that the decision to refuse these applications has caused disappointment. 'These applications were given very careful consideration and the reasons for their refusal have been communicated in the decision letter. 'Each visa application is decided on its own merits. However, it is the case that the organisation of an event, no matter how good the intention, does not guarantee that a visa will be subsequently granted. 'Applications made on behalf of minors who are not travelling in the company of their parents must be supported with evidence that appropriate child protection measures are in place during the visit. 'In all cases, evidence of financial means, employment or other ties that indicate a person intends to return home are important criteria.' GAA Palestine insist all documentation and supporting evidence requested was submitted. And that final paragraph of the Department statement grates given that this a group of mainly children who are coming from a war zone. Is this Ireland? Is this really us? Let Them Play.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Favourites Donegal must respect Meath
Brendan Devenney says Meath have had a "brilliant season" but he is backing Donegal to reach the All-Ireland final. Meath have defeated Dublin, Kerry and Galway in a giant-killing season as they look to reach a first All-Ireland decider in 24 years at Croke Park on Sunday (16:00 BST). Advertisement Ulster champions Donegal, themselves looking a first title since 2012, stand in their way. "You have to give them respect, they've been the story of the season," said former Donegal forward Devenney. "Does that story keep going? That's the question now." Devenny feels there have been mitigating factors to Meath's underdog wins - such as beating Dublin outside Croke Park and an under-strength Kerry underestimating their opponents - but says the quarter-final win over Galway shows what they can do. "The one that would cause you the most concern as a Donegal supporter would be the Galway game. Advertisement "There was some serious backbone from Meath and there are warnings in there for this Donegal team. However, with Michael Murphy back on the panel and Jim McGuinness at the helm, Devenney feels Donegal's experience on the big stage means they will have too much for Meath. "It's a fifth semi-final in six years and there is a serious amount of experience in the Donegal team," he said. "Even though Meath have had a brilliant season, I'd still put Donegal as favourites."
BBC News
13-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Favourites Donegal must respect Meath
Brendan Devenney says Meath have had a "brilliant season" but he is backing Donegal to reach the All-Ireland have defeated Dublin, Kerry and Galway in a giant-killing season as they look to reach a first All-Ireland decider in 24 years at Croke Park on Sunday (16:00 BST).Ulster champions Donegal, themselves looking a first title since 2012, stand in their way."You have to give them respect, they've been the story of the season," said former Donegal forward Devenney."Does that story keep going? That's the question now."Devenny feels there have been mitigating factors to Meath's underdog wins - such as beating Dublin outside Croke Park and an under-strength Kerry underestimating their opponents - but says the quarter-final win over Galway shows what they can do. "The one that would cause you the most concern as a Donegal supporter would be the Galway game. "There was some serious backbone from Meath and there are warnings in there for this Donegal with Michael Murphy back on the panel and Jim McGuinness at the helm, Devenney feels Donegal's experience on the big stage means they will have too much for Meath."It's a fifth semi-final in six years and there is a serious amount of experience in the Donegal team," he said."Even though Meath have had a brilliant season, I'd still put Donegal as favourites."
RTÉ News
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
The Championship: Onus on Armagh and Tipp to prevail
On this week's programme, Brendan Devenney on Armagh's need to deliver an Ulster title and Meath's greater momentum ahead of the Leinster football decider, while Niall O'Meara feels it's a must-win game for Tipperary against Clare in the Munster hurling round-robin. Also, we hear from Jim McGuinness and Kieran McGeeney on the showdown in Clones and Niall's view that more needs to be done in making the hurling championship more accessible on tv.
