Because it is in an exercise in control. The people in power want to control the thoughts of others by bullying them. It is a method that has been used since history began. Think of things like the Spanish Inquisition and the mistreatment of Galilieo Gelilei by Rome and you get the idea. Think how I think, or you get a beating or worse. It's just that the West has grown out of it sooner (or so we would like to think) than some of the Muslim countries.

Everybody forgets Michael Collins, who refined modern guerilla tactics against the British in the Irish War of Independance. Absolute genius.

appartment? apartment.

120 million euros of wasted taxpayers money actually. I can see it from my appartment. What a meaningless lump. 5 years late and over budget. And they nearly destroyed half of O'Connell street because high wind meant the upper pieces were swinging wildly when they were mounted.

I cannot believe that hurling wasn't included - one of the national sports of Ireland and the fastest field sport in the world. What galls me more is that shinty was included - shinty is played on the ground and you are not allowed rise your stick. Hurling allows you to play the ball from the hand to the stick, in the air and you can score two separate ways. Both shinty and bandy are descendants of hurling. See here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurling

I'm not sure, but I think the correct spelling is 'gurn' - at least in Ireland. You see it quite often with people missing teeth or their entire upper jaw as in the case of this man (I'm a dentist). It's pretty impressive. Some people with this condition can also stick their tongue up to the lower part of the eye! Freaky.