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IT IS CUSTOMARY when Ireland enjoys a great sporting achievement for public figures like the president, the Taoiseach and the Minister for Sport to pay tribute to the sportspeople’s remarkable feats.
There were two such opportunities this weekend as, following Paul and Gary O’Donovan’s stunning victory in the men’s lightweight double sculls yesterday, Ireland’s Sanita Puspure won gold in an utterly dominant display today in the women’s single sculls final at the World Championships in Bulgaria.
Puspure finished with a time of 7:20:12 to be crowned world champion following an outstanding display from start to finish in Plovdiv, marking a brilliant comeback from a fourth place finish in Sarasota 12 months ago.
The Latvia-born sculler has represented Ireland for almost a decade, with today’s final presenting her best chance at a first ever World Championship medal following years of top displays as a flag bearer in green.
And, as usual, the tributes started to come in.
A press statement issued by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, however, got things a little wrong.
The subject line reads: “Ministers congratulate Dominant on her assured dominance which led to long deserved gold.”
As subject lines go, that’s sure to grab attention as her name is incorrect. But it doesn’t stop there.
A quote attributed to Shane Ross says: “But today we saw a performance of great tenacity and assurance as Dominant Puspure dominated her rivals in a brilliant single sculls final. Puspure has long deserved this gold. The celebrations in Cork will be mighty tonight and rightly so!”
How did this happen? Speculation has already begun on social media that it was actually a headline from RTÉ that may have caused the error.
Its story online reporting on Sanita’s win comes with the headline: Dominant Puspure powers to world rowing gold for Ireland.
In a lengthier email sent shortly afterwards by the Department, it contains further congratulations from Ross and Minister of State Brendan Griffin with Puspure’s name spelled correctly this time.
A spokesperson for Minister Ross told TheJournal.ie that he was only shown the correct version that was sent out later.
He had no knowledge of the one that was sent containing the error, the spokesperson said, adding that it was sent due to an admin error.
With reporting from Aaron Gallagher
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An absolute tool . And were paying his wages. What does that make us . What a great little country
@stephen darling: ah leave him alone, he was thinking of a dominatrix.
@stephen darling:
As much as I don’t like Ross this was clearly one of his staffers, ross probably never saw the statement.
Muppets!!
That Ross lad is just a scream. He’s definitely doing it on purpose at this stage. We’re all mugs falling for it every time.
@Shane Fleming: Can’t wait for tomorrow’s Gift Grub on Today FM….this is comedy gold
@Shane Fleming: you mean he is doing it on puspure!
What can’t a person from a sports background and a love for all sports be minister for sport. Instead of the photo opportunists that have been ministers for sport through out each government.
@Seán Dillon: we had a minister for health who was a doctor not so long ago and I don’t think he fared too well so would that necessarily make any difference?
@Joe Kennedy: What is all this crap about?
Have you nothing to say about our new World Chapion? God we are a country full of moaners!
@Michael Walsh: assume that was directed at Sean Mick?!
@Michael Walsh: and I assume you’re aware of the irony of moaning about a country of moaners?!!
Did nobody in Ross’s department ask if “dominant” was really her first name???? There is a new software called google…
Ross is unfit for office a total clown
Did we expect any more from In Ept Ross?
Oh my God what a Thick we must be the laughing stock of Europe
How embarrassing for us to have such a Minister. More foot in mouth from Ross . How does he fit it along with The Potato ?
@Randal McNally:
As much as I don’t like Ross this was clearly one of his staffers, ross probably never saw the statement.
Another diamond from the Minister for Posh Hockey and Stepaside Garda Station.
Good auld Shame Ross, he’s a gas yolk.
Can we dock their pay?
Yes the minister is certainly not fit for puspure..tee hee
He needs to step aside.
Just as Tipperary gets it in the neck for electing people that aren’t nationally popular, which part of South Dublin elected this toff Ross and don’t they now deserve to be called names that mention West Brit, Pale and other such things.
Minister of Sport Shane Ross, what a laugh.
Gob sh…
I wish Shane Ross would go away.
Firstname Stepaside secondname Garda station
Its who you know not what you know.
I had a dominant puspure on my arse once. Had to get it lanced by the doctor
@Paul Devlin: a present from Sanita?
Pisspour as usual from Jonathan Ross
Is there anything this Ross Buffoon can get right, it’s as if his communications team everything that comes out of his mouth will be incorrect anyway so what the heck, just say anything
Incompetence !
Great to see wheel turn on Ross after his cheap shot at Healy Rea. He is one Muppet. A waste of space
He’ll be gone after the next election, sit tight lads
So quick to weigh in behind her success he can’t even be bothered to check the basics,
Always so quick to try and get publicity to raise his profile
Totally useless, rudderless and without comment when there’s a hint of a crisis,
The Olympic ticket scandal, bus strikes etc,
He’ll certainly get attention for this gaf,
Above all else it smacks of total insincereity …
Give Ross a break please, he has a lot on his mind these days, didn’t he sort out that bit of nastiness in North Korea a while ago???
And he has other stuff to concern him, the Middle East problem, global warming, etc.
@brian: I am giving up on reading comments by Irish people. Hardly a comment congratulating our new World Champion just stupid comments about a typing error. Grow up!
@Michael Walsh: Michael, there are plenty of positive comments congratulating her on the article of her winning. this is an article detailing the ineptness of our minister for sport.
A buffoon of the highest order. When he goes after next election he will be replaced by another gormless idiot with no idea
Maybe we could pay to resurface his brain
this is what passes for a politician in Ireland. The Minister for Incomptetence does it again.. a nice pension for a permanent eejit.the guy is an absolute charlatan
@Barry Rattigan: what do you expect when he has Halligan for a best mate!
Lucky his spellcheck wasn’t working… Could have ended up as Dominatrix!!! Imagine the hulabaloo then.
Shane Ross, the gift that just keeps giving , what an absolute flute .
What an absolute tosspot this shame toss is.
Wait till Mario Rosenstock gets a hold of this one!!! Can’t script this shit
@Barry Dempsey: At least Ross pays his taxes.
Imagine it said ‘Dominant Puspure powered past her rivals’?
Much ado about nothing. Poor english possibly, with the personal adjective repeated as a verb. But that’s it.
@sean o’dhubhghaill: careful now! Such reasonableness is not often tolerated on here.
Maybe he wishes she would dominate him and he got ahead of himself.
Happens to the best of us……
Inept knobhead, that ross couldnt boil an egg without help
At least we know Sir Shane is alive. Well done to the athletes who won gold medals. Seems to be the only time Sir Shane makes a statement. Their sport will be financially supported says Sir Shane. Christ help us if we win a twiddle. winks competition . Ps how’s the garda station going. . What a fool of a man .
Has Shame Ross not other things he is meant to be sorting out for years and months now ?
Vat rates on Hotels
Rickshaws operating illegally and Drug dealing stick with the issues
Why do all Sinn Fein party members wear such crap clothes?
Should have rang Dave…..
Almost as good as 10-Man United winning yesterday.
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