A group of 12 TDs and senators who make up the Oireachtas football team went inside the walls of Mountjoy Prison for a game of football against the inmates.

Organised by Aodhán Ó Ríordáin and The Bohemian Foundation, the prisoners who took part are all from the prison’s progression unit. This is where the men who are actively engaging with rehabilitation, education, and social services are housed.

The pandemic impacted the ability of Thomas Hynes and the Foundation to do their work but this match was one of the first steps in the programmes recommencing.

The match was played fairly and in high spirits and ultimately the prisoners won 9-5, but only after a comeback that saw the Oireachtas team draw level at 5-5 before wilting on the Mountjoy tarmac.

Labour TD and Bohs supporter, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, said that there was a huge appetite among politicians from every political party to take part in the game once the idea was floated.

“It was something that I felt quite strongly about doing, we have a football team here in the Oireachtas and I’ve been determined to use it as an outreach,” Deputy Ó Ríordáin said.

“The link with Thomas Hynes and The Bohemian Foundation was perfect to organise the game, and the Mountjoy governors were hugely welcoming and enthusiastic” he added.

Bringing the outside world into the prison is an important part of how Mountjoy and The Foundation try to help the inmates. This helps to destigmatise the conversation that surrounds prisoners and the perception that some people may hold of them.

Deputy Governor of Mountjoy Prison, Donnacha Walsh, said that the match was a great event for the prison and that it helps remind the inmates that they are not forgotten.

“We always try to break down the barriers between custody and the community because we believe that it gives the guys here the best chance possible at keeping on the right track once they are released from prison,” he said

“It shows them that there are opportunities for them to continue the positive progress they make here,” he added.

Sinn Féin TD and Shamrock Rovers fan, Chris Andrews, said that the match offered great insight into the workings of the prison and the Irish Prison Service.

“It’s a huge credit to Bohemians and The Foundation for carrying this out,” Deputy Andrews said.

He added that it was important for politicians to go see and meet with the people that they are making decisions about.

“The governor indicated that he had been in touch with judges and that they had never been into Mountjoy to see what it’s like and be aware of what they were committing to people,” he said.

“So it’s important that we, as politicians, are aware of what we’re doing and the consequences of out actions and the laws that we pass, and events like this give us that insight,” he explained.

Labour Senator, Marie Sherlock, also took part in the match and she explained that this match cannot be a one-off event, it needs to be the starting point on how politicians engage with prisoners and with the Government on penal reform.

“I have huge admiration for Thomas Hynes and The Bohemian Foundation for their leadership on this issue. When a community club like Bohs says they are helping prisoners it sends out a strong message to everyone else,” Senator Sherlock said.

She thinks that community organisations do a lot of positive work in prisons around the country and that Government should engage with them to see what approaches work.

Chris Andrews thinks that the shift by Irish football clubs, led by Bohemians, to focusing on how they can help out in their own communities has been a catalyst for the growing popularity of the League of Ireland.

“Irish football is changing in front of our eyes and Bohemians have set the bar in terms of community engagement.

“It’s fantastic to see other clubs like my own, Shamrock Rovers, and the likes of St Pat’s, Sligo Rovers, Drogheda United, and many others following that lead and becoming very involved in their communities,” he said.

Having bonded in Berlin, Bohemians’ new boys hope they can lift the team up the table.

Striker Ethon Varian is the latest July arrival to Dalymount Park and signed in time to travel with the squad for Saturday’s friendly away to Union Berlin.

Varian (Stoke City) is the fifth signing of this transfer window following the additions of Ryan Burke (Mansfield Town), Josh Kerr (Airdrieonians), Declan McDaid (Dundee) and John O’Sullivan (Accrington Stanley).

There have been some departures too with Dawson Devoy (MK Dons), James Finnerty (Galway United, loan) and Stephen Mallon (Cliftonville) moving on.

And the loan deals of Ryan Cassidy (Watford), JJ McKiernan (Watford) and Sam Packham (Brighton) expired, while Grant Horton (Cheltenham) was recalled.

Kerr, from the start, and Burke, McDaid and O’Sullivan as second-half substitutes, made their first-team debuts in last Thursday’s 3-1 win away to UCD, and all five new recruits got game-time in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat away to Bundesliga outfit Union Berlin.

Forward Varian started at Stadion An der Alten Försterei, and will be hoping he has an opportunity to make a difference at Head In The Game Park this evening for what is a new-look Bohs squad.

The Ireland U21 international said: “I’m delighted to have signed for Bohs. The lads have been very welcoming.

“It was a great experience playing against Union Berlin and it was great to see such a brilliant travelling support behind us.

“But our focus now is on Drogheda United. We are looking forward to it and we want to get the job done and get three points.”

The Corkman, 20, is looking to push on with Bohs this season having enjoyed a season-long loan spell with Raith Rovers from Stoke last season.

He added: “I’m really looking forward to it. I had a good experience last year going out on loan for the year and getting a lot of games in a first-team environment at Raith Rovers from Stoke City.

“Now I’m hoping to bring some experience to this team and I’m looking to kick on.

“The facilities at DCU are great and the standards at training have been very good.

“There is good competition here and when there is good competition it should improve every player as footballers and as individuals.”

TEAM NEWS

James Talbot (shoulder) remains out, while Ali Coote (illness) is a doubt.

Striker Ethon Varian comes into contention for a competitive fixture for the first time having played in a Saturday’s 2-1 friendly defeat away to Union Berlin following his arrival from Stoke City.

Dawson Devoy (MK Dons) and Grant Horton (recalled from loan by Cheltenham) have left the club.

Bohemians can confirm that midfielder Dawson Devoy has joined English League One side MK Dons for an undisclosed fee.

The Ireland U21 international played his schoolboy football with Home Farm and St Kevin’s Boys before progressing through the Bohs-SKB League of Ireland teams and starring for the Bohemians U19s in the UEFA Youth League.

He developed at a rapid rate, and he was handed his league debut by first-team manager Keith Long three years ago this week in July 2019 as a second half substitute against UCD.

Coupled with playing with the U19s, he was afforded more first-team opportunities in the 2019 and 2020 seasons but really made his breakthrough in 2021 when he became a mainstay in midfield.

His contribution last season saw him play in all six games of Bohs’ memorable run in the Europa Conference League, which saw him win the July SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers Ireland Player of the Month Award and subsequently the 2021 PFAI Young Player of the Year.

The 20-year-old’s final kick in a Bohs jersey this season saw him wrap up a 3-1 victory against UCD with a late penalty last Thursday in what was his eighth league goal this season.

Everyone at Dalymount Park wishes Dawson the very best of luck with his move to MK Dons where he will join up with Warren O’Hora, another player who came through the youth system at Bohemians before starring for our first team under Keith Long.

Bohemians are delighted to confirm the signing of forward Ethon Varian.

The Corkman, 20, joins from Stoke City having spent last season on loan with Raith Rovers.

Welcoming the Ireland U21 international to Dalymount Park, manager Keith Long said: “I am delighted to bring Ethon to the club.

“He is a player whose progress we have been monitoring at Stoke City and over the course of last season while he was on loan with Raith Rovers in the Scottish Championship.

“Ethon is a player with a brilliant work ethic, who will bring a different dimension to our forward line.”

Varian, who is travelling with the squad to Germany today ahead of tomorrow’s friendly against Union Berlin, is the fifth July signing following the additions of Josh Kerr, Ryan Burke, Declan McDaid and John O’Sullivan.

Bohemians manager Keith Long believes his summer signings can change the dynamic of his team and help push them up the table.

Bohs travel to Belfield this evening to take on UCD at the UCD Bowl and for the first time new signings Josh Kerr, Ryan Burke, John O’Sullivan and Declan McDaid come into the reckoning.

Long said: “We have good players at the club but we need to be better.

“Ryan, Josh, John and Declan come into contention for the first time tonight and we are really looking forward to the dynamic the new boys bring to the squad.

“We knew we had to improve in terms of our strength and depth and I feel that they will add to the team.

“We are disappointed with where we are in the table and we have to start winning games to improve our position. It’s as simple as that.

“A little bit of experience coming in will help us, so we hope that it will give us a bit of a bounce. Ultimately we have to try and improve their fitness levels because they have had an off-season.

“We have got to give them time to try and get ready and up to speed to try and impact us because we are crying out for it.”
Long was frustrated with Bohs’ 3-2 defeat to Derry City on Friday, particularly the manner in which the Candystripes scored their second less than two minutes after the Gypsies had levelled the game.

He added: “Every goal we conceded was an error. That has been the story of our season so far. The goals that we are conceding are just far too soft. They are individual errors.

“We got back into the game and Ali Coote gets a cracking goal but we concede in the next phase of play because we didn’t defend the back post.

“That has happened three times this year where we have conceded directly after scoring. Then we give a needless free-kick away in a wide area and again, it’s poor defending.

“Those that have come to watch us week on week have seen that far too often this year and we need to improve.”

TEAM NEWS

Four new signings – Ryan Burke, Josh Kerr, John O’Sullivan and Declan McDaid – come into contention for the first time.

Liam Burt, who was named on the bench last Friday but became ill, is available once more.

James Talbot (shoulder) and Grant Horton (knee) remain out.

Bohemians manager Keith Long has seen enough from his team since the start of the second half of the season to believe they can climb up the table.

His side have won a Dublin derby 1-0 and lost a Dublin derby 1-0 since the short mid-season break.

First, they beat Shelbourne at Dalymount Park a fortnight ago but lost to Shamrock Rovers by the same scoreline at Tallaght Stadium last week.

Long said: “Last week we were disappointed not to come away with something from Tallaght.

“Our performance deserved more but a slow start to the second half cost us and we left frustrated having conceded a goal from a set play in what was an otherwise positive team display.

“Derby games are normally won by the odd goal and games are very often defined by small margins. Teams will punish those moments and we must learn from Friday in order to grind out results in tight games.”

Bohemians come into tomorrow’s game against Derry City in a positive mindset, however.

Long said: “The team are very much together, focused on improving and are fighting for one another.

“You have seen evidence of that in our displays since our return from the short break and if we can continue that level of performance, we can climb the table.

“Derry come into tonight after a good win away in UCD last week. They are a quality team with some great players presenting us with so many challenges throughout their team.

“These are challenges that we are looking forward to though and we hope we can continue to improve with a good team display.”

Long is counting on another vocal support, and tribute to the backing his team have had in recent games.

He said: “The support in Dalymount last time out versus Shelbourne was exceptional.

“Down to 10 men for most of the second half, the players really benefited from the support in the Jodi – that helped us win the game.

“It was the same in Tallaght where the fans got right behind the lads and we will need that support again against Derry City.”

That support will be all the more important as Long will have to do without his three new arrivals – Ryan Burke, Josh Kerr and John O’Sullivan – despite the transfer window opening tomorrow.

Long added: “Unfortunately, we are unable to call upon any of our recent signings due to an association rule that only allows players to be registered 24 hours after the transfer window opens.

“It is unfortunate that July 1st lands on a Friday and it is deeply frustrating not to have the lads available for selection despite having all the necessary paperwork ready in advance of the window.”

TEAM NEWS

Ciarán Kelly (suspension) and Tyreke Wilson (bug) return.

James Talbot (shoulder) and Grant Horton (knee) remain out.

New signings Ryan Burke, Josh Kerr and John O’Sullivan are not yet eligible to play.

The Bohemian FC Youths are now taking bookings for two upcoming Summer Soccer Camps.

The first is a five-day camp from Monday July 4th to Friday July 8th.

The second is a four-day camp from Tuesday August 2nd to Friday August 5th.

The camps are open to boys and girls with a date of birth from 2010 to 2015.

They take place from 10am to 2pm with a half-hour lunch break.

Location: Broombridge DIT Sports Ground

Activities include warm-ups, circuit drills, mini-games and tournament competitions.

Coaches will run through drills, techniques and practical ways to improve ball skills.

Book 5-day July 4th-8th camp here:https://openplay.ie/embed-activity/10872

• 1 child: €70
• 2 children €120
• 3 children €160

Book 4-day August 2nd-5th camp here:https://openplay.ie/embed-activity/10873

• 1 child €60
• 2 children €110
• 3 children €150

Discounts apply to children within the same family.

Queries? junior.bohemians@gmail.com

We are pleased to confirm that the club are in a position to run subsidised supporter buses to next month’s FAI Cup tie away to Finn Harps on Friday July 29th at a price of just €10.

The buses will be ticketed – tickets can be bought from Dalymount Park after this Friday night’s game at home to Derry City.

The meet-up time for the buses is 2pm on matchday with a departure time of 2.30pm sharp from St Peter’s Church in Phibsborough.

Given this is already a subsidised service, there will be strictly no refunds on any cancelled booking.

However, if at any stage you are unable to travel, we ask that you please inform us at bus@bohemians.ie as we want as many fans as possible to make the journey to get behind the team, and don’t want any places on our buses going to waste.

It is intended that buses will return directly after the game and should get back to Dublin c1.30am but please be aware that there are no replays at this stage of the cup, and there is therefore a possibility of extra time etc.

Queries? bus@bohemians.ie

Conor Levingston says Bohemians are relishing the opportunity to have a crack at rivals Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght tomorrow.

Bohs started the second half of the season with three points in a Dublin derby against Shelbourne last week as Dawson Devoy’s long-range effort was enough to secure victory for Keith Long’s side, who played the last 40 minutes with just ten men.

But the temperature will ratchet up a notch when Bohs travel to take on league leaders in Dublin 24.

Levingston said: “These are massive games. We all know that. They’re huge and mean so much to everyone involved.

“For us though it’s about working on our play and what we are going to do.

“We have a big job ahead but one we are looking forward to.

“It is a massive opportunity for us to go and put in a good performance in front of a packed house in Tallaght. We are looking forward to giving it a good crack.”
Bohs were two weeks without football prior to last Friday’s win over Shels.

Levingston admits the squad took that time to regroup and to start afresh.

He said: “We all went away for a few days and had a chance to rest and recover.

“It had been a tough start to the season and it was beneficial to have some time off.

“We came back and worked really hard then when we came back in.”

That hard work paid off with a hard-fought win over Damien Duff’s Shels, despite going a man down on 55 minutes when Ciarán Kelly saw red.

Levingston said: “Conceding late goals was something that has been hanging over us but the lads dug deep.

“Going down to 10 men is never easy but we were able to grind it out which is what we had to do.

“When you dig in and work hard, you can get your bit of luck.

“They hit the bar at the end and maybe that’s the little bit of luck we hadn’t been getting in previous games.”

Manager Long agreed. He said: “It was a hard-fought win, and in a Dublin derby, and it was a great way to come back to play in that derby too.

“It was important to get the second half of the season off to a winning start at home.

“Shelbourne had a great chance when Shane Farrell flashed in a great cross from the right-hand side and Gavin Hodgins was probably a bit unlucky.

“But we deserved that bit of luck towards the end that we haven’t gotten in previous games.”

Long was also delighted with the performance of goalkeeper Tadhg Ryan who kept a clean sheet on his debut in the absence of James Talbot, who suffered a shoulder injury in training while on international duty with Ireland.

Long said: “He has been very patient but he has obviously been behind an exceptional keeper, so he’s had to wait patiently in the wings and has been very professional since he came to the club.

“He has trained extremely hard and is a very clever, down to earth fella.

“Nothing really fazes Tadhg, so we weren’t really concerned for him to come into a game of that nature with a bit of pressure on us.

“He did very well to keep a clean sheet and it’s a reward for his patience and perseverance but also his professionalism because the boys will tell you he trains at a really high standard and I’m glad for him.”

Long will be hoping for a similar solid performance at the back to provide a platform for his attacking players to flourish.

He added: “If we click, that front four are as good as any in the league. But we have to click a little bit more often than we have been doing and that has been the missing piece.

“We have to be consistent. It’s very difficult when you’re going to Tallaght, to the league leaders. But we are looking forward to it now.”

TEAM NEWS

Bohemians are without Ciarán Kelly following his red card against Shelbourne but Tyreke Wilson returns from suspension.

James Talbot (shoulder) and Grant Horton (knee) remain out.

Please note that tonight’s game is being shown on the big screen in the Members’ Bar at Dalymount Park for those who cannot make the trip to Tallaght.

At Bohemians, we believe football is for everyone.

Our aim is to make Dalymount Park a safe and inclusive place where everyone is welcome, regardless of race, nationality, sexuality, age or religious beliefs.

As part of a series of initiatives during Pride Month, Bohemians and supporters group GayBohs, are delighted that this Saturday we will become the first League of Ireland club to participate in the Pride Parade.

Supporters, players and the wider Bohs family are all invited to join the Bohemians contingent on the parade.

Our participation in Pride is important.

Football has been around for 150 years and has consistently been one of the most inhospitable cultures for members of the LGBTQ+ community.

It has long passed time that we collectively tackled that head-on.

Close to home, Jake Daniels recently became the first professional footballer in Britain to come out in 32 years.

That length of time ought to be a wake-up call that everyone involved in our sport has a role to play to change a culture that, although improving, remains a negative experience for many.

That culture does not just affect players.

We must reflect and ask ourselves how comments and remarks made on the terraces over the years might have negatively affected supporters around us who were struggling to come to terms with their sexuality.

We have to wonder how many players and supporters have turned away from football because they felt it to be an isolating environment.

Or worse – denied who they are to the detriment of their own wellbeing.

That is why we believe it is important the clubs play an active part in trying to change that atmosphere.

Bohemians are doing what we can in that regard, and hope to do more:

• We played a small role at the time of the marriage referendum in an attempt to ease what was a mentally debilitating and intrusive debate for so many in the LGBTQ+ community
• We display the Pride flag at all games
• We have the first LGBTQ+ fan group in the country: GayBohs
• A limited edition Pride t-shirt is now on sale with a percentage of profits going to ShoutOut
• We have unveiled a Bohemians Pride mural at Doyle’s Corner in Phibsborough
• We have organised educational workshops in partnership with ShoutOut with our youth coaches
• We are supporting Stonewall’s visibility campaign through the month of June
• We are launching a voluntary Equality Officer role to promote tolerance at our club

We have been encouraged by the overwhelming positive response of our supporters to our involvement in Pride so far, and we hope as many of you as possible can join us on Saturday.

Football is for all. Bohemian Football Club is for all.

HOW TO TAKE PART

Our float will be departing from the GREEN ZONE – North Frederick Street (Top end).

Please contact pride@bohemians.ie if you intend on joining so that we can arrange to get the required wristband to you. Meeting time is 11am.

Otherwise, please join us from 12pm from the Spire on O’Connell St or from any point along the route onwards.

After the march, we will meet at the Square Ball pub, 45 Hogan Place, off Merrion Square, for post-march drinks.

For any queries, please contact pride@bohemians.ie.