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Irish Independent
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Meath will have it all to do against Armagh in All-Ireland Championship opener
They commence their latest bid for All-Ireland honours against Armagh in Round One of the TG4 SFC at Pairc Tailteann this Saturday with the throw-in at 3pm. It is to their credit however that they have remained competitive and managed to qualify for the knockout stages in both 2023 and 2024 considering the turn over of players in that short space of time and the number of All-Ireland winners who departed the scene for a variety of reasons since that last final win over Kerry. The most recent meeting against the Orchard County was a final round NFL tie at the Athletic Grounds at the end of March where a late free converted by Emma Duggan gave Meath victory, 2-12 to 4-5. Armagh had already booked their passage to the final at that stage where they lost out to reigning All-Ireland champions Kerry, 4-14 to 0-11. They also clashed at this stage of the competition 12 months ago with Meath boss Shane McCormack coming up against the county he previously managed. There was late heartbreak for Meath in that match as they were on level terms until Niamh Coleman struck for an Armagh goal in the closing minutes. Meath hit back with a brace of points in added time but the hosts held on for a 3-9 to 1-14 win. Armagh's most recent outing was their Ulster final win where they justified their tag of hot favourites with a 3-9 to 0-7 victory over Donegal to retain their title. There were two cracking goals from Aoife McCoy and a Player of the Match performance from her fellow 2024 All-Star Lauren McConville. Niamh Coleman scored Armagh's other goal while their third All-Star from 2024 Grace Ferguson notched a point from the wing back position. Ace markswoman Aimee Mackin still hasn't returned since her cruciate knee injury sustained in the 2024 provincial final while Ulster All-Star Dearbhla Coleman is also out with an injury. However, Armagh can still call on an abundance of experience in their latest bid to lift the Brendan Martin Cup for the very first time. They reached the semi-final in 2024, going down to eventual champions Kerry, 1-8 to 0-7. That is an indication of the task facing Meath in this latest clash. Meath of course are coming off the back of yet another Leinster final defeat at the hands of Dublin. That was a game where Meath were attempting to bridge a 25-year gap by winning the provincial crown and for long stretches it looked as if they would gain that overdue success. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more They opened up a six point advantage in the opening half and were full value for their four point lead nearing the end of the third quarter. However Dublin called on all their experience in the final quarter with eight unanswered points to win their 12th consecutive provincial title though they were somewhat flattered by the 2-13 to 1-12 victory. That performance should instil great confidence into Shane McCormack's side ahead of this All-Ireland series. Emma Duggan, Vikki Wall, Aoibhin Cleary, Mary Kate Lynch, Niamh Gallogly and Megan Thynne are still key figures while some of the younger players including keeper Robyn Murray, Ciara Smyth, Kerrie Cole and Karla Kealy are adopting well at this level. Home advantage is a plus going into this crunch tie but Armagh who have been knocking at the door over the past few years will start as favourites to make a winning start. Kildare are the other county in this Group Three and that will be an away fixture for Meath. The top two counties advance to the knockout stages with the winner's of the group having a home quarter final tie. The bottom team in each group contest the relegation play-off.
Irish Independent
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Stars of the golden age of Hollywood recreated by Wicklow artist for stunning exhibition
The exhibition, by local artist Shane McCormack, features pencil portraits from that golden age and will appeal to both art collectors and admirers, and of course fans of a time when real movie legends were created – Lauren Bacall, Humphrey Bogart, Gary Cooper, Joan Crawford and Judy Garland. Shane McCormack was born in Dublin in 1970. After many years working in both animation and photography he went back to study visual art at Bray Institute of Further Education and graduated from IADT, in 2014. As a freelance illustrator specialising in portraits from film and TV, Shane has worked on licensed subjects like Star Wars, Star Trek, The Walking Dead and The Hobbit. His short film, The Hotel, which was screened as part of Culture Night last September, is a fascinating piece of social history focusing on the former Bray Head Hotel – a favourite of the stars when filming at Ardmore, and where scenes from Frank, Breakfast on Pluto and The Commitments were also shot. The notes for Shane's new exhibition offer a glimpse into the world of the Hollywood greats and a window into the creation of these fabulous pieces of art. 'Hollywood, the power of the image transcended mere representation; it became a force that defined and redefined cultural ideals, personal identity, and collective memory. Hollywood's golden age, with its meticulously crafted visuals, created a landscape where image was not just an aesthetic choice but a carefully constructed narrative. "The glitzy, glamorous depictions of stars on screen, as well as the staged publicity photos, offered an idealized version of life, full of elegance, strength, and romance. Yet, these images also served as a mirror to society, reflecting and shaping the norms and desires of the time. 'The manipulation of light, costume, and framing in early cinema served not only to enhance the storytelling but to elevate the star persona to almost mythical proportions. In an era before social media, these images were some of the few ways that audiences could form a relationship with the stars, and thus, their images became inseparable from their real lives. The image was both a mask and a truth, a carefully curated persona that could command admiration or critique. 'In examining vintage Hollywood, Shane is fascinated by how the photograph or film frame captures a fleeting moment, one that is forever frozen in time yet continues to evolve in its significance. What remains poignant is how these images continue to resonate today as artefacts of both escapism and aspiration, as well as reminders of the complexities behind the facade. The power of image in vintage Hollywood lies not just in its glamour, but in its ability to shape memory and influence culture long after the original light has faded. Through this exploration, Shane seeks to uncover the layers of artifice and authenticity that intersect in the history of cinema and visual culture.' Hollywoodland runs at Signal Arts Centre, Bray, from Monday, June 9 to Sunday, June 22.
