The Soccer Touch

When you are in Dublin, especially over the summer months, you should make an effort to see a game of Gaelic football or Hurling, two uniquely Irish sports which have passionate support throughout the country. The summer period is when the annual championships in both sports take place, and each county fields a team. The championships culminate in September and tickets are like a gold dust, but you might find another event earlier in the summer that isn’t sold out. The biggest stadium in Ireland – for any sport – is Croke Park, and that’s where the highest-profile events take place.

Gaelic football

Gaelic football became popular as early as the 16th century, when teams might have consisted of all the fit men of a town or parish. In those earliest days, the rather unorganized game would begin between the two towns and end when one side had managed to force the ball across a line into the other’s territory.

The modern game plays like a mix of soccer and rugby. Teams of 15 players kick or hand pass a ball around a grass pitch towards each others goals to either score a point over the bar or goal. The ball used in Gaelic football is round, slightly smaller than a soccer ball. The action is fast and furious, and play is rough. Protective equipment is nonexistent.

Hurling

Hurling is similar to lacrosse or hockey. It’s played on a large pitch with a curved wooden stick (or “hurley”) and a 6.5 cm (2.5 inches) leather ball (or “sliothar”). It can be described as one of the fastest and most skilful field games in the world and it’s not for the faint of heart. Bodies bang, the ball is as hard as a baseball, and the sticks are made of solid ash.

While Gaelic football is an old sport, hurling is ancient. Irish mythology is replete with tales of heroes, such as the legendary warrior Cú Chulainn, who were expert hurlers. Such myths point to a hurling history some 2,000 years old and the sport’s prominent place in Irish tradition.

Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA)

While the games boast ancient roots, their modern history is inseparably linked with the revival of Irish culture and nationalism that occurred in the late 19th century.

In 1884, with Ireland under the rule of the British Crown, a group of Irish nationalists met to establish an organization for Irish athletes, the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). The initial plan was to resurrect the ancient Tailteann Games and establish an independent

Irish organisation for promoting athletics, but hurling and gaelic football eventually predominated.

It is still the governing body of hurling and Gaelic football (as well as of ladies football and carmogie, a hurling-like sport for women). GAA has always promoted more than just sport. The Gaelic Athletic Association was a cultural thing and it was created as a direct response to the way in which Irish culture was being eliminated. Along with the Gaelic League and the Irish Literary Revival, it provided a mechanism for the creation of a sense of Irish identity.

Gaelic games in politics

In its early years, the Gaelic games themselves took on political significance in the troubled Ireland of the time.

The athletic association developed a strong rural network across Ireland, and many GAA members were involved in events connected with the 1916 Easter Rising.

By 1918 the organization was banned by the British government, but the games were still played as an act of Irish defiance. The game was touched directly (was itself influenced) by the conflict.

Bloody Sunday

On 21 November 1920 the Irish Republican Army (IRA) assassinated 14 British agents and their informants in Dublin. Later on that day British forces (the infamous Black and Tans) opened fire on the crowd at a Gaelic football match in

Michael O’Sullivan
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/irish-sports-91474.html

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Digital camera technology has evolved very fast during the last two years. Cameras now have plenty of new features and more power at prices that almost anyone can afford. This article is aimed to provide you with everything you should know in order to make a good purchase.

What are the costs?

Digital may sound expensive to some people, but it’s no longer true. You can find very good devices at prices below $100 that are perfect for beginners and kids. Of course, at the higher end of the market you can spend thousands of dollars for the latest DSLR camera. Anyway, if you’re not a professional photographer who needs to set everything manually and have interchangeable lenses, you can get everything you need for $150-$400.

How many megapixels do I need?

Let’s start by understanding what a megapixel is. A digital photo is composed of pixels (short for picture elements). A thousand of such little squares is a megapixel (MP). Camera models vary in the number of megapixels they have, but the higher is not always the better. Resolution, which determines the clarity of the image, is dependent upon the number of megapixels. A higher resolution will get you clearer photos, but they will also take up a lot of space on your memory card so you can;t take too many photos without carrying extra storage. If you don’t think you will print your photos in large sizes, but limit to 4”x6” and 5”x7”, or if you mostly email them or post them online, there’s no point in buying a camera with more than 5 or 6 megapixels.

How much control over the camera settings do I get?

Most cameras let you choose how much control you have, from completely manual, where you determine everything, to fully automatic, where all the settings are the camera’s defaults. In between there are a lot of pre-sets modes you can choose from, ensuring that you shoot well exposed and clear photos whether it’s a bright sunny day, a late night or an indoor event. You also have the option to change colors to sepia or black & white for more versatility. Some cameras also have options to correct common problems such as red eye. When you shop for cameras, compare design features and shooting modes. First check if the have the basic ones like portrait, landscape and action, then look for extras like night and snow mode. Higher-end models let you have even more control, allowing you to set shutter speed, ISO and aperture yourself or just one and the camera sets the rest accordingly. It can be fun to experiment with these different settings and see what the photos turn out like. And if you don’t like them, you can just erase them and take others.

Optical vs. digital zoom: what’s the difference?

Optical zoom is the function that moves your camera lens to get closer to the subject without moving and without making the photo look pixelated. Digital zoom is a feature that crops part of the image and stretches it to make it look bigger, just like you would crop it and enlarge it with a photo editing application. The difference is it happens in the moment you take the photo. It is sometimes difficult to say which is which, because manufacturers often present a combined number of optical and digital zoom power. What they do is multiply optical and digital zoom. For example, if a camera has an 8x digital zoom and a 3x optical zoom, they say it has a total zoom of 24x. You should care more about optical zoom because this is what will get you clear photos.

How about size: is heavier always better?

You should choose a camera that fits your lifestyle from all points of view. Slim cameras, for instance, are very easy to slip in your pocket and take along anywhere. Models that are a little larger have more features, such as more manual control and a wider LCD screen. Larger ones may include stronger zoom, which is very useful to capture the architecture details of an ancient building you visit or take great shots at a soccer game.

What extra equipment should I get?

First of all, you need batteries. Many cameras use A4 ones, which have to be replaced once in a while, more frequently if you take many photos at high resolution. The auto-focus function and LCD screen also eat up a lot of power. Rechargeable batteries can be a good option and there are two types: Lithium ion (Li-ion) and Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH). Newer models often come equipped with Li-ion batteries. Rechargeable batteries hold more energy and can be recharged several times. You have to look in your camera manual to see what type of batteries you need. Another thing you should invest in is a memory card, which is where your camera stores the images. It’s better to have several memory cars available especially if you go somewhere where you expect to take a lot of photos. The memory card should have at least 1 GB so that you never run out of space. A docking station is another useful thing if you have rechargeable batteries. It provides an easy way to recharge them and you can connect it to your PC in order to upload pictures. A carrying case is another good investment. It not only protects your camera, but you can also use it to carry memory cards and extra batteries.

Now you have enough information to make a good purchase. Good luck with your decision!

Alex Don

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When considering whether to purchase a cell phone or a blackberry, one of the most important features to consider is cell phone technology. While blackberries still out perform the traditional cell phone, cell phone technology is rapidly catching up. With the cell phone’s ability to text, download, instant message, and even calculate the tip percentage in a restaurant, their technology is ample for most individuals.

Blackberries have a considerable amount of technological capability when compared to cell phones of even just three years ago. And while blackberry technology continues to advance, it is not progressing at the same rate as cell phones are. Cell phones have increased so much in their popular necessity that most technological manufacturing companies are focusing on the implementation of cell phone advancement. Cell phone advancement turns into a larger profit margin than blackberry advancement.

With the enhancements to cell phone technology that have already taken place, most people replace their cell phones every 12 to 18 months. Very few people hold on to their cell phones for more than 2 years. It is important to cell phone owners to keep up with the latest technology and everything that a cell phone is capable of handling.

Blackberry replacement statistics suggest that the average blackberry owner replaces their equipment every 24 to 48 months, thus lowering the repurchase value. Just like any other technology equipment on the market, with greater popularity and equivalent technology advances, the cost of the technology decreases even as the technology itself enhances.

Most people choose cell phone technology due to its relative ease and familiarity. Those who are not inclined to get excited about new technology do not even know what a blackberry is, though nearly everyone knows what a cell phone is and what you can do with one.

Each individual’s personal inclination toward technological advancements is a matter of choice. Cell phones are such a staple in our society that even those who have alternate technology still carry a cell phone. It can be more convenient than trying to explain something new to someone who doesn’t understand it. Cell phone technology isn’t that far behind most other portable technological advancements. Cell phone technology has advanced to the point that most of us would be lost without our cell phones. We rely on them for everything from placing a call to waking us up in the morning to knowing when to pick up our kids at soccer practice.

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Playing street soccer allows you to practice some tricks you can’t always get away with in the game. Liven up your game with the helpful tips from a professional soccer player in this free video on street soccer tricks.

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