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Porterhouse booze for blessed Brian

• Matt Slater - Â鶹Éç Sport golf writer
• 18 Sep 06, 11:57 PM

DUBLIN - Did you notice that? "Dublin", as opposed to "London"....it's the blog equivalent of the wedding standard, "my wife and I...."

Yep, we've made it. I won't go over the same ground as Iain in his earlier post but yes, the traffic is going to be an issue this week (that 900 euros by helicopter to Straffan is going to look more and more reasonable - is that a crescendo of reasonable-ness? - as the week goes on).

But that's it for traffic talk. I promise not to mention it again. Unless we're late for something. And then it wasn't our fault.

First impressions from Ryder Cup central? Loads.

One, it didn't take long. We'd only been out of passport control for three minutes and we spotted the enemy for the first time. Big Brian Barnes of Sky colour analysis fame and Ryder Cup legend.

We can report that the Scot, who beat Jack Nicklaus twice in one day in 1975, is built like a bouncer, wears socks under his sandals and was reading one of 's "Sharpe" books. He also looked a thoroughly decent chap and, if he is reading this blog, we would dearly like to blow the suds off a few pints of "plain" with him in The Porterhouse (and yes, there are plenty of other good pubs in Temple Bar) this week.

Second, the Ryder Cup really is the third biggest sporting event....in Ireland.....this week. That is the word from the man in the pub. Sunday's final was the biggest sporting occasion of the week, next weekend's Old Firm clash is second and the golf is third.

People in Kerry - the Manchester United of Gaelic Football - might miss the Ryder Cup altogether as they have only just started their traditional fortnight of liquid celebrations. He was just one bloke, though. And he admitted to not liking golf.

Third, blokes in pubs aside, the good people of Ireland seem to be incredibly proud to be staging the Ryder Cup....they've even put astroturf on the side of their buses.

The Cubans have Che Guevara, the Chinese used to have Chairman Mao, here, for this week at least, the Irish have .

The cheerful Dubliner will haunt my dreams these evening. His face is everywhere.

The subject of the Ryder Cup was also the third topic of debate on Ireland's version of Question Time, . The stick in the mud that suggested it was all about greed and bad jumpers was given short shrift by the audience.

And one final thought before Rob and I retire (style). There are, apparently, two types of golf shot in Ireland...and you'll have to bear with my attempts to spell them. First, there's the "Der-f**k-it", and then there's the "Dat-will-do".

Let's hope for plenty of the former for and his boys and lots of the latter for Woosie's warriors.