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Episode 2700: Silva Moments, Ireland’s Live Rubber, When Ireland Played The Basque Country

Fri 28th Jul 2023
Eoin, Ken, Murph and Beñat Gutiérrez

With the news this week of David Silva’s retirement, Ken takes the time to wade through all of the Spanish magician’s highlights.

©INPHO/Donall Farmer

Bilbao, August 1979 – Franco has been dead almost four years, but the transition to democracy is not going smoothly, especially in the Basque Country as violence between ETA and the Spanish State, with civilians caught in the middle, intensifies. Enter this scene a group of League of Ireland footballers, including a 17-year-old Ronnie Whelan of Home Farm.

With Athletic Club taking on Manchester United in Lansdowne Road on August 6th we spoke to Radio Popular journalist Beñat Gutiérrez about an almost forgotten game involving a League of Ireland XI against a Basque Country selection, playing its first game since 1937 (post Franco). We also discuss Basque politics and Basque identity and how they impact Spain today.

Ireland are out of the Women’s World Cup but they still have a huge game against Nigeria on Monday, and given their opponents beat hosts Australia, there is a lot riding on this one. We ask permutations man for help.

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