Failing our sports stars: The Sports Minister may have been trying to engender some Olympic spirit last week

But Ireland’s high-performance system is under-performing, with sportsmen and women left to scramble

Paddy Barnes (in blue) of Ireland competes against Devendro Laishram of India in the Men’s Light Fly Getty
Derval O’Rourke Inpho

The power of accurate observation is often called cynicism by those who haven’t got it. And if, on Tuesday in Ballina, you looked on with anything other than cynicism, then you sure haven’t got it.

There stood Minister of State for Sport Michael Ring, ten days away from a general election, in the third ...