Might have know sure when he went to Katie’s club and seen no toilet or anything he did sod all then either

He’s just a d***
Lining his own pockets
Like them all

I suppose Enda has forgotten that millions of Irish expats and descendents were watching the games and cheering for the Irish athletes. This could mean billions of tourist euro for the country.

CIE needs to donate an open top bus (they can afford it), get U2 out on O’Connell Street to play some Ra-Ra songs (they can afford to pay for the whole event, but let’s ask them to donate this time), and get the President to shake hands and welcome home our athletes (he CANNOT afford to let this event not happen).

Boyzone????????

I know, Roddie. My bad! Have amended above to say U2. Will probably get thumbs down there too. What about Imelda May? Or Jack L?? Really . . . any well-known musical figure(s) can donate a couple hours and their voice to welcome home our athletes. Heck, if I had the money, I’d pay for it!

I could guarantee Irish people would volunteer their time for free for our athletes

Typical, it’s always the governments fault – even though yesterday there was a report on here saying that it was the athletes preference that they spend time with their families and attend local events (like the one in Bray) first before a national one in a few weeks. But sure it’s all the Governments fault – sure they even control the weather!!!!

Ryan,

The athletes have an obligation to their nation to put the nation before their families for the homecoming ceremonies. It’s only one more day. And when the athlete’s go back to their own towns and cities, there will be local ceremonies. But the national one is extremely important. We’ve supported the athletes so we feel we have the right to show our appreciation when they come home.

Imagine the American athletes, or even the British athletes, refused a homecoming ceremony. Would never happen. So why is it happening in Ireland?

So you would force the unwilling athletes to attend a national homecoming because they owe it to us, have an obligation? I think they have fulfilled any obligation to us by perferoming to their best abilities. After they have already put family secpond by representing the nation at year round competitions by ! Nice one Kemberlee, great way to show your appreciation for their efforts! Bully them to do something they don’t want to do! It is supposed to be about them not us..or you!

TW,

So you’re saying it’s OK for our athletes to thumb their noses at the Irish people by refusing to allow them to show their gratitude for the athlete’s efforts? We’ve all given up hours of our time this last two weeks to watch and support our athletes.

There is an assumed obligation and expectation when one takes up a task, such as an athlete in an international event, that there is a follow-through with something like a parade to celebrate the victories and the participants. When our sporting teams come back, such as from the World Cup games, the team is given a parade and celebrations to show the nation’s appreciation. Why is it any different between footie teams and Olympic athletes? How would the Irish people feel if Giovanni Trapattoni brought his team back from a major event, then thumbed his nose at supporters and said, “Couldn’t be bothered. I don’t feel like waiting an extra couple hours to go home.” There would be holy war over it. So what’s the difference if it’s Trap or Taylor?? Or any of the other Olympic athelets?

*Maybe* our athletes should not have participated if they weren’t going to follow through on this assumed expectation?

bet you if some bright spark at the civil service suggested that a celebratory parade be held in the Bahama’s they’d soon find the money and be queuing up to be on the plane. or if it Jedward had won the Eurovision (god forbid) there would have been a parade . along side beties idea of a statue to boyzone singer steven gately it just shows how far away from the real world these muppets live.

If you read the Independent’s article on this, the Irish Olympic Committee only had good things to say about Varadkar. And it was the Mayor of Dublin/Dublin City Council that asked the IOC to pay some of the cost, not the Irish Government.

@Kemberlee: Does it really matter if an event is held tomorrow or in two weeks time i.e. when the athletes are better rested and might enjoy/appreciate the event more? Some have children after all.

Ryan,

Re family . . . Katie’s fight was in the middle of the week. She’s been playing in the Olympic Village ever since. There’s no reason she couldn’t come home early or her family travel to London to visit.

There’s no reason why a parade can’t be held in a day or two, but not a week or months. By then, it will be a nonevent. If that’s what everyone wants . . .

Get real here kemberlee, thinking the Athletes owe us something as a nation, and you keep referring the the “Irish People” .. It seems YOU are the one who wants to see them, i would prefer to ask what they wanted and not what some gombeen on a public forum or politician wanted. They have replied “NO” we would rather spend it with our familes.. which i find perfectly ok.
Thinking they owe you some sort of gratitude for supporting them now is it, ?? You may as well send them an invoice for the cheers and the goodwill u sent !

Should “for once” have been treated as equals? And only for the occasion that was in it?

I supposed it’s best not to get carried away with too much continuing equality.

All of them should be cheered. They were all part of Team Ireland and only cheering the winners goes against the ethos of the Olympics.

And like I said above local events will probably take place tomorrow, with the athletes getting a chance to spend time with their families before an event in a few weeks time. Surely that’s understandable?

its not bertie is bloody Enda lets not forget its enda and co in charge now !

The Olympics may be over but is anyone talking about the start of another major sporting event – the Paralympics? Surely this deserves big recognition also! Best of luck to all athletes involved!