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A FIANNA FÁIL Senator has defended the Ultimate Fighting Championship, after a fellow Seanad member called for UFC fights to be banned in Ireland.
Fine Gael Senator Catherine Noone had described Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) as “ultra violent” and “awful”, before admitting that she had “jumped the gun” on the issue.
Today, Fianna Fáil Senator Averil Power, who boxes in her spare time, described UFC and MMA as “incredible” sports.
Speaking on the Tubridy Show on 2fm, Power said people should be “incredibly proud” of Irish fighters such as Conor McGregor and Aisling Daly.
“I’m a big fan of MMA and UFC,” she said.
Power likened criticism of the sport to that which once surrounded women’s boxing, before Katie Taylor brought it to the masses.
“I think Katie has massively changed the perception of the sport, obviously by excelling at it, by doing so incredibly well … She’s such a nice lady.”
People have this idea that boxing is just about aggression and violence and it’s not. It’s the opposite, it’s all about discipline and control and not losing the head.You take the blow but then you’re thinking strategically, you’re being rational. It’s about defence as much as it’s about offence.
Power said people should watch MMA before criticising it, as many of its vocal opponents “don’t know anything about the sport”.
“If you haven’t seen it, watch it and then you can say anything you like about it, but watch it first.”
She said the sport is highly regulated and has a very low rate of injuries, adding that participants are “trained to highest level, they know how to protect themselves”.
“It’s actually far safer than many other sports, it’s really well-regulated, there’s tonnes of rules about no head butts, no gouging, certain kicks are forbidden.”
Abuse
Noone received online abuse after her initial comments, including a rape threat.
Power said this was unacceptable, noting that she had also received a rape threat when her motion to recognise Palestine as an independent state was passed.
She said she enjoyed getting into the ring “when I’ve finished the verbal sparring inside of the Seanad”.
If I can work off my frustration in the gym it makes it easier to be nice the rest of the time.
When asked by Ryan Tubridy who she’d like to fight, Power joked that she might have to challenge Noone: ”I hear that’s she’s saying now that’s she’s willing to be educated and learn more about the sport.”
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Only About 50 years overdue.
Various types of ingredients for sale
I only wish they had banned it altogether and the Ballinasloe fair as well. It’s just cruel look where most of them poor horses end up. Starving on land that is not suited or them with people who really not give a s**t about them.
tesco??
Yes and you can get a bite to eat when you are there
I’m sure it would be a lovely day out with the family now!
it surly will boss
That’s it steam roll decades of tradition, it’ll b a joke and the market in any shape will cease to exist in any form within 6 months… The councils intent I’m sure….
Here’s hoping
Maybe what you say is somewhat true Paul, but the council had all the ammunition they needed to extinguish the fair after the two shootings and attack with a slash hook.
*effectively extinguish
Wasn’t only the Council who had the ammunition
The widespread maltreatment of the animals didn’t help the traders’ cause either.
200 years of tradition wiped out by DCC at the stroke of a pen. And all because some yuppies bought fancy apartments in Smithfield and didn’t want to share the square with the market once a month. Shame on the Councillors who voted to effectively end what was a fantastic day out for Irish people and tourists.
Fantastic day out for tourists ?? People attacking each other with slash hooks and shooting each other ??? Hardly normal behavior!!
Hope so
May be so Con. They could have ensured the law was rigorously enforced there first of all, rather than limiting a monthly fair to once every six months
I wonder how ferocious DCC would have been in bringing in these bye-laws if these were council flats in Tallaght or Clondalkin overlooking a square.
Con, this horse fair is a relatively new fad its not been around long enough to be regarded as a tradition. 200 years ago that part of Dublin was rural and what took place was a farmers market with all animals bought and sold. Are any of these people proper farmers, I wont bother with a question mark because I can make a very positive guess.
Dave, you don’t have to be a farmer to own a horse.
Graham, you can’t lose – there will be a book (anyway) written about the loss of a 200 year old tradition … or how Smithfield was modernized, in spite of culchies/farmers/travellers, kids from Finglas
Dario, the pen in the wrong hand is mightier than a kalishhnikov
@Con. You dont have to be a farmer but it helps. Helps the horse get raised in the right conditions. If there is a book about the loss of a ’200 year old tradition’ then that book will be B.S. People come to Dublin to live in a city and Smithfield is now central Dublin, do you not want Ireland to modernize?
Awaytafuk wi dem horses boss
Where’s the beef !
The Cobblestone hopes it’s a great success! For the past few years most pubs in Smithfield/Stoneybatter area would close during Horse Fair Day till about 5pm, hopefully this will mark a new era for all involved but mostly the Horses. Smithfield Horse Fair/DCC have put on a program of events including photography, talks & trad music from 9.30am http://dccartsoffice.newsweaver.ie/flyer/1h9ir8kot0d
Larry good. M a. N No. I TO Tacke. The. Lottttttttt. RAw Hide. Mn. Mn. Mr Bundey
Jack you do work
In the Knackerd
Smell box
In. The BogggggS
Clara
Glad for colm kiernan grand man and always looks after his horses
have your say