Like Fiji, West Cork isn’t known for its hurling. Well, it wasn’t until last weekend but now all of that is changed, as Kilbrittain have outdone all others and landed the whale. That isn’t to dismiss the glory of 1994 but, and it’s hard to admit it for those of a certain age, that was a long time ago now.

We hear the party is still going on down that direction and the success is a triumph not only for the village, but for everyone west of the Viaduct who do, in fact, know what a hurley is.

The young men on the team who snatched victory in the final hour, have carried with them a touch of class throughout the campaign, most visibly as they remembered their late team-mate Oisín Gillain at every step of their campaign.

Fr Emmanuel might have at least 30 more saints to add to the wall down in St Patrick’s, and not to commit blasphemy but Mark Hickey has surely been elevated to god-like status by now, as have Ronan Crowley and Philip Wall.

Speaking of, what’s in the water in that household? His sister Kate Wall travelled to the All-Ireland Club Camogie championship final replay with the Barrs just two weeks ago, where they were narrowly defeated by Athenry. ‘Wall to wall’ success in that household (some puns are too obvious to use; some are too good not to).

This is where the best of Ireland lies: in the stories of success at a local level. In an international sense, this week has been particularly grim. Here in Ireland it feels like something is at a standstill, as we’re waiting to see what that megalomaniac in the west will do to his countrymen, witnessing what despots in the east are doing to their people.

But life happens at the local level, and goes on regardless. Kilbrittain have no doubt inspired many, particularly children, to pick up a hurley this weekend and have a go at the small ball. Congratulations from all at The Southern Star, and enjoy your success.

A moment for Easkey, of course, who didn’t make it easy and gave the local side a great game. The Sligo side of course have now been defeated twice by a rebel contingent, first by a side from north Cork, and now West Cork. We hear the boys down Cloyne direction are only just warming up to take them on next.

Though this be madness

It seems doubtless that Hamnet is at least worth a watch. Nonetheless, it’s time to rein the theatrics in. The bard himself would cringe at the melodramatics, the fever, the tempest of emotion that has gripped Irish airwaves. Do they have any shame?

One reviewer in the last week, a quite normal woman by all accounts, breathlessly declared Hamnet to be ‘the most emotionally devastating film of all time’. That’s some statement to make; has she seen Bambi?

Nothing short of hysteria gripped the country in a wider sense on Monday, after Ms Buckley’s Golden Globes win. It was only matched by the spasmodic joy that Rory McIlroy brought out in people that time he hit a small ball better than anyone else hit a small ball.

Thankfully, back on home soil and miles away from Hollywood, the good people of Kerry gave a more normal reaction in the face of the Kingdom’s win. Kerry(wo)men are known for their canny way of keeping things to themselves, staying quiet like the cute hoors they are.

An insincere overreaction wouldn’t be their way of doing thing at all: the lady doth protest too much, and all that.