Séamus Ahearne: Politics…church…soccer…and Mayo for Sam!
ANDY BURNHAM:
Andy Burnham claimed that the the three major influences on him were: Everton FC, the Labour Party and the Catholic Church. Now it is rather interesting that he said – it was in that order! He is rather refreshing as a character. He has that light and easy touch. He comes across as someone relaxed in his own skin. There is a certain hesitation on Andy. He has a similar casualness, which went so awry for Boris. But most people feel that there is more to Burnham than there ever was to Johnson.
LEADERSHIP:
However, there is something needy in the general population, in all of us. We crave characters in life who can bring a smile to our faces. Leadership is a delicate ‘flower.’ We look for that something extra. That someone who can brighten up life. Who promises us and delivers some humour. Who gets things done but cheerfully and realistically. Who has that extra drive. Who can inspire us. Who can explain how to escape the dullness and preoccupation with problems. Who can show us a way forward. Who isn’t full of candy floss or woolly promises.
CHURCH LEADERS:
In Church life too, many very competent people are swallowed up in leadership. The administration takes over. The Governance issues are everything. The problems soak the life out of many a leader. How do we protect some possible leaders from being destroyed in the job? We need to look at the job descriptions and change them to the reality. It is good to reflect on those leaders who have stirred us. There are too many who are dour and solemn. Who are full of piety but bereft of humanity. It sometimes seems that holiness is expressed in a frosty exterior and a lifeless handshake! John the 23rdlifted everyone. He had that jolly look, and the grandfatherly outlook. He also gave us Vat 2. Francis had some frivolity and that touch. There was a simplicity in his understanding of faith, and he was a loose man. He did say the unpredictable, but he had that warmth and a sense of mischief. That was good. It really should be part of the job description for any bishop; for any priest; for any minister. For all of us.
THE MUSIC OF FOOTBALL (WORLD CUP):
The World Cup has ended. The Final was indeed an anti-football game. The poetry of football didn’t happen. The interval hardly added to the music of the game. Now Cape Verde did bring something miraculous to the tournament. Pico Lopez did. Spain and Argentin felt the wonder and danger of the little ones with Cape Verde. That was delightful. Infantino and Trump were a bad distraction to the World Cup. Overall – Spain and France did show us the beauty of sport and football.
MAYO AND SAM:
But then we came to yesterday. No one expected that Mayo could do it, but they did. Whatever about the curse, those youngsters smashed it. Here was this amateur game played with heart, with commitment, with togetherness. How did that compare to the professionals of the Premier League or to the World Cup? The All-Ireland was magnificent. The emotion was volcanic. The explosion of tears and delight were life enhancing. The speeches and interviews were amusing and amazing. We were all from Mayo. I got a WhatsApp of a team photo, and of course Donald Trump, got into the picture. Young Liamy managed to put Sam on the Reek.
THE GAA AND BRENDA FRICKER!
I rather liked what Brenda Fricker was quoted as saying on her Oscar (My left Foot). She didn’t like these prizes. She felt that it should never be about the individual, but rather about the collective. Well yesterday was about the Collective. In some ways, there shouldn’t have been a Player of the Match. The Team did it. The background staff did it. The management did it. The families did it. History itself and the curse did it. They were magnificent. What a wonderful organization the GAA is. I’m not talking about the great successes. I am thinking of the ordinary everyday. Of passing along by Erin’s Isle, and seeing all those children playing and the volunteers behind it. That club is called the Parish and should be. And that is what the Parish has to be. From such an example – we can truly learn what Communion means.
WHAT IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD LIKE AND WHERE IS GOD FOR US?
Over the weeks – we have been told what the kingdom of heaven is like. Wheat and weeds. Baking. Mustard seed. Fishing. We have to move from being outside observers to being intimately involved. What is God like for me? Where is God for me? What are the God-moments, the Grace-moments, the Good-places, the God-people? I heard the people at evening Mass share those moments on Saturday evening and it was an inspiration. And it was very real. I don’t know how it could be possible for any of us to ‘preach’ if the stories of those present, aren’t and weren’t shared. That isn’t preaching. Those present are the ‘preachers.’ Even women! The story of Mayo and yesterday is Community, is Communion and definitely is Communication. What did Michelangelo say: “I’m still learning.” Well I hope so. We can learn as Church from yesterday, from Mayo and from Andy Burnham.
Seamus Ahearne osa
28th July 2026.