Why are alcoholics idolised in this country?

OP, I see the point your trying to make. It doesnt apply to Paul Mcgrath though. There was a certain mystique and star quality to G Best due to his heavy drinking and womanising, but first and foremost it was his football that made people pay attention to him.

They are idolised for other achievements. I don't think McGrath was ever supported for the things he did while drunk, which were crazy to be honest. Shane MacGowan isn't famous and loved by so many for his drinking, it's because he is a very talented songwriter, same goes for Clapton.

We idolise them because of their talents in other areas beyond drinking.

Unfortunately, it's those talents that often end up driving them towards alcohol as a coping mechanism.

Why are alcoholics idolised in this country? They're not. They're idolised for what they do. eg. Paul McGrath was idolised for being a great footballer, who happened to also be an alco.

It's like saying Lance Armstrong was idolised for having cancer. No he was idolised for being a great cyclist who happened to have Cancer.

Paul was one of the finest footballers this country ever produced, that's why people look up to him, not because of his personal problems/alcoholism.

I don't think you'll find any George Best fan who thinks:

"Good man yourself George, destroyed your liver with booze, got a transplant, couldn't stop yourself from doing it again and put yourself in an early grave"

Again, his ability as a footballer was what made him something special not his ability as a drinker. I'd prefer if he never drank, achieved twice as much in his career and was still with us today. Paul is still here, and I hope he continues to be for a long time to come.

I know the angle you're coming at this from, the whole George Best, Ollie Reed, Shane McGowan - legendary hellraiser thing. The vast majority of fans of these people wouldn't want to live with them, nor would they want to live with a family member who behaved in a similar fashion. That suggests it isn't the alcoholism that is the main attraction.

Maybe "idolize" is the wrong word, but I do think that talent gets excessive drinkers a "free pass". I'm reminded of playwright Brendan Behan, who got laughs by describing himself as a "drinker with a writing problem". He died at 41, of drink-related problems, while drinking. :rolleyes:

Sure isn't Ireland disneyland for alcoholics

Reading a bit more about Behan: it wasn't just Ireland where he his drinking were accepted. In 1956 he appeared on a TV talk show in the UK, drunk, and not only did that go down well with the audience, he made a new friend in another guest, American comedian Jackie Gleason.

Even before then, the "drunken Irishman" was seen as a harmless stereotype: I recently watched the film Bringing Up Baby (1938), which included respected actor Barry Fitzgerald as an Irish gardener who was hiding flasks of whiskey in the stables. :rolleyes: