Tis nice to have someone so enlightened like you on here G&R, though maybe go easy with your description of Franco and Hitler as corrupt politicians, we don't want HS sued for libel! Of course everyone is entitled to admire whoever they wish, and to have whoever they like as their hero (though I think in Germany you can be arrested for calling Hitler your hero, maybe due to that corruption you talk about). However, Id say its also perfectly acceptable for posters here to say that when Hook called Churchill his hero they decided to change station. Of all the great figures in history, Id have thought there may be a man who had less responsibility for terror, murder and torture on the island of Ireland available for selection. Then again, maybe I am a party line sheep for not being a big fan of the Black & Tans carnival of high jinx in the 1920's.

Soma (UK) - Posts: 2630 - 24/11/2014 14:57:51    1674573

Either am I Soma. But we're all entitled to our opinions.even if we strongly disagree with them.The thread is about Hook's radio show, which I do like. It annoys me to hear Ireland's Call before a match. It's not a bad tune but we have our own anthem, no need for one for The Republic and another to keep a few lads happy. I know a lot of people disagree but I'm stubborn.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7360 - 24/11/2014 15:15:44    1674586

GreenandRed

Well said, We are all entitled to our opinions, including me, the beauty of George Hooks political/sporting opinions is you can just turn the dial - its brilliant, simple and for me liberating.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4897 - 24/11/2014 15:19:57    1674590

realdub
County: Dublin
Posts: 4165

1674180 Can be an annoying old fart but I appreciate what people like about him, to summarise I have to say I'm a fan :)
________________________
What are we talking here RD, Winston Churchill or George Hook?

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 24/11/2014 15:21:48    1674593

Maybe you could respect some posters decision to decide that they no longer wish to listen to a man who calls Churchill his hero then, rather than pompously suggesting they are sheep following the party line of their ancestors? If nothing else, Id suggest any Irishman who has Churchill as his hero is probably misguided or ill-informed, so I can perfectly understand why some posters would be reluctant to listen to his other opinions every day. There are still people in Ireland who can remember encountering the Black & Tans, Id say many of them would have strong views on describing the brainchild of that mob a hero.

Soma (UK) - Posts: 2630 - 24/11/2014 15:25:38    1674595

Soma
County: UK
Posts: 758

1674202 Yep, sure didn't Churchill give Ireland the Black & Tans and the country came to love them so much they are still talked about nearly 100 years later! A hero to all Irish men for that act of generosity alone! The ignorance and self-loathing of some on here is a sight to behold. +1

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 24/11/2014 15:25:39    1674596

George is great on the radio. Newstalk cover enough GAA in fairness

MartinGerard (Longford) - Posts: 275 - 24/11/2014 15:27:54    1674597

Besides, after this quote he totally lost my support

"The whole map of Europe has been changed ... but as the deluge subsides and the waters fall short we see the dreary steeples of Fermanagh and Tyrone emerging once again."

Tyrone is anything but dreary, but he's right about Fermanagh though!

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 24/11/2014 15:30:18    1674599

Apologies Soma. I meant no offence to you or anyone and the way I put it was a bit strong.. My own ancestors suffered at the hands of the Black and Tans, as have the ancestors of many posters here. I'm not a fan of Churchill myself. But I'd still rather listen to Hook rather than most other presenters. I respect anyone else's views that they wouldn't listen to him for that reason alone. I understand their reasons but think it's a bit narrow-minded to be so bitter about something that you'd miss some good radio when a lot of radio is complete tripe.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7360 - 24/11/2014 20:41:24    1674707

Not at all G&R, nothing said on here would offend me. Just find constant efforts to rewrite Irish history and erode culture and traditions tiresome - especially when it often seems to be done in an effort to gain favour with British/Americans/Europeans etc. People should be proud of their heritage, an Irish person describing Churchill as their hero suggests to me they have some sort of self-loathing about who they are. Others will have a different opinion and I have no problem with that.

Soma (UK) - Posts: 2630 - 24/11/2014 21:50:22    1674733

brendtheredhand
County: Tyrone
Posts: 9910

1674593
realdub
County: Dublin
Posts: 4165

1674180 Can be an annoying old fart but I appreciate what people like about him, to summarise I have to say I'm a fan :)
________________________
What are we talking here RD, Winston Churchill or George Hook?



Never had the pleasure of Winston's company, I'm too young :D

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8596 - 25/11/2014 13:02:49    1674784

I enjoy George & his Friday evening show, which is like listening in on a chat in a pub between two young ones & a cranky oul fella, is great.

As for Winston Churchill, he was like most of us, some parts good some parts bad, but I do admire his never say die attitude when all seemed lost.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 25/11/2014 13:42:17    1674797

MuckrossHead

I enjoy George & his Friday evening show, which is like listening in on a chat in a pub between two young ones & a cranky oul fella, is great.

As for Winston Churchill, he was like most of us, some parts good some parts bad, but I do admire his never say die attitude when all seemed lost.

Agreed and agreed, I especially love George's friday show aswell when he's constantly arguing against two or three younger people and also contradicting Dr Ciara Kelly. As for Churhill, very divisive figure with plenty of good and bad points but he was a great figure of resistance in WW2 (even though the US and Russia essentially won the war) and also I do get the impression that he'd be great company to go for a pint with.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 25/11/2014 14:59:29    1674816

Got to agree with muck and Htaem on this one. As for Churchill, well I too would have mixed feelings on the man, but in fairness I think why George has such a affinity to him has less to do with politics and more to do with Churchill suffering from the black dog as he put it, a condition George himself openly admits to suffering with. And that is one cause we can all support.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 25/11/2014 18:38:38    1674904

Did he ever play the game......No !!
He is very patronising and arogant... and we the tax payers pay his over inflated 340,000 rte wage per yr

cuchulainn35 (Armagh) - Posts: 1676 - 25/11/2014 19:12:19    1674910

Cuchulin. Just two observations
Firstly are you still living in armagh? If yes then your taxes goes to pay Gary lineker.
Secondly newstalk is not subsidies of license fee, actually as a independent radio station the amount paid to its presenters is a fraction than that paid to the likes of tubs etc
Now the only thing that he made get paid for out of license fee is his punditry on rugby bit like brolly, who I don't have anytime for. But you can't win them all.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 25/11/2014 19:27:11    1674914

Royaldunne once again on the money (must stop agreeing with Meath people :-)


Cuchullain, did Hook play what game? He played and coached rugby at a high level and that is his sport. Again, I would question whether yourself and others have ever listened to him as rugby is only a small part of what he talks about - which is everything really!

Anyway, I am not a huge rugby fan, but he is by far my favourite broadcaster. By a long puck!

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 25/11/2014 19:52:19    1674918

Yeah hurlingdub, don't worry normal service will resume once O'Byrne starts :).
But on this you are very right.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 25/11/2014 20:33:16    1674927

Don't know if this was mentioned in the other posts and i don't have the interest in him to read all these posts but did anyone hear him after the rugby on sat saying something like "that is the reason why rugby is the greatest game in the world".Hilarious

someday (Limerick) - Posts: 1104 - 25/11/2014 20:50:54    1674930

That is his opinion. Mine is that Gaelic football is, others hurling, others soccer, others rugby. I don't like tea actually the smell of it makes me wretch, wife can't function without her cuppa first thing in the morning. Different strokes for different folks. If we were all the same it'd be a very booring world. Just cause you or I don't agree with his theory on what is great sport is totally irrelevant and actually has no baring on his radio show , I have a passing interest in rugby probably more than soccer these days and honestly if I'm looking for insight into a match I'd listen to him or pope as in fairness they'd know what they talking about.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 25/11/2014 21:28:47    1674935