Rhys Meyers Latest Victim of Anti-Cork Bias

20th Nov 2007

Rhys Meyer Latest Victim of Anti-Cork Bias
Finbarr Dragnet

Latest anti-Cork bias victim: Jonathan Rhys Meyers

Jonathan Ryhs Meyers was hauled in by the Dublin Airport Authority on Saturday evening in what is being interpreted in Cork as a major diplomatic snub and further evidence of a deeply rooted anti-Cork bias in the Irish government and civil service.

Rhys Meyers appeared on RTE to promote his new film August Rush before journeying to Dublin Airport…obviously to get out of the place as quickly as possible. Whilst in the departure lounge a high level decision was made to prevent the Corkonian boarding his flight and to escort him back to the check in areas.

Claiming the actor was baloobas, the Dubs then turfed Rhys Meyers out into the cold Dublin night and then contacted as many newspapers and radio stations as they could.

Witnesses to the incident say Meyers was most likely complaining about the anti-Cork bias in the Dublin media and he began a minor protest in the departure lounge in support of the Cork hurlers and footballers who are currently threatening strike action against the County Board. What form the protest took is currently unclear but initial reports suggest it did not involve taking his clothes off.

The Tudors star is ironically a competent hurler and is alleged to have close ties with a small group of East Cork members of the Gaelic Players Association. The presence of high ranking GAA officials at Dublin Airport on Saturday night is likely to have provoked Rhys Meyers into his protest.

Cork boys Cillian Murphy and Jonathan Rhys Meyers

This high profile diplomatic intervention of DAA officials and Dublin based security forces against a Corkonian is one of a growing list of complaints of unfair treatment of Cork men at the hands of Irish government officials.

Earlier this year three Cork hurlers including pacifist Seán Óg Ó hAilpín were suspended for a minor pre-match skirmish with Clare hurlers. The suspensions were viewed by Cork supporters and players as political "put-downs" and the sight of The Thurles Three - interestingly the main protagonists of the successful 2002 Players Strike - banished to the stands infuriated Cork GAA fans.

More injustice followed the All Ireland football final in September when coach Billy Morgan was suspended for 24 weeks following a claim that he used a naughty word to an official at the game. After widespread out cry at the harshness of his punishment Morgan's sentence was reduced to six weeks.

That the Dublin Airport Authority were involved in another similar incident on Saturday night is being seen as a indirect taunt to Cork's ambitions to have its airport debt cleared before it gains independence from the DAA.

Well known Cork show biz stars will now fear entering or leaving the Irish state through Dublin and reports that Cillian Murphy and Graham Norton are chartering the old Cork-Swansea ferry to come home for Christmas have yet to be confirmed.

The €100 million loan became a highly sensitive issue after cast iron promises by a Fianna Fáil minister (the Dublin led pro-Irish unity party) were suddenly dropped when construction of a new terminal was complete.

The removal of a well known Corkonian, fresh from dominating the Dublin television station is being seen as a "well timed dig" at Cork - a veritable taunt to the emerging Cork Airport Authority.