Olympics Daily

Sinead and Gavin take a look at a new policy that seeks to enhance the country's international reputation through sport - while the government argues that a football game against Israel should not be politicised.Gav went along to the launch of the International Sports Diplomacy Framework on Tuesday to see what it was about, and to get answers on why the government seems to be speaking out of both sides of its mouth.Also up for discussion is how this policy extends Ireland's ambition to host big events, such as the Ryder Cup and NFL games, while modest local facilities in the shadow of Croke Park are under threat. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sinead and Gavin discuss in-depth the pressing issue of this week, and one that will likely make headlines all year.The FAI have been placed in the unenviable position of having to navigate a path out of the crisis which began when Ireland were drawn to play Israel in the Nations League.Some 93% of the FAI's General Assembly have previously voted to suspend Israel from international football, yet the FAI are committed to fulfilling the fixtures.Will the games go ahead? Where will they take place? What are the potential sanctions if Ireland boycott the fixtures?Can Ireland call Uefa's bluff? What is the worst they can do to Ireland, for making a moral stand against a country that has breached its own rules? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sinead O'Carroll dials in from northern Italy to tell Niall Kelly about all of the sporting and political action in Milano Cortina.Several US athletes, including Amber Glenn and Hunter Hess, have spoken up against the Trump administration this week, which has led to an inevitable backlash from the US President and his Maga base. Sinead relays the atmosphere in Italy and assesses a week where Trump has been further angered at sporting occasions, his displeasure with the Bad Bunny half-time apparent to all with an internet connection. How does this bode for the rest of the Winter Olympics, and the World Cup in the summer?Also, Irish competitors have been flying the flag with honour in Italy. But is there one winter sport in which Ireland could go from zero to powerhouse status? If so, what could it be? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sinead is off to northern Italy for the Winter Olympics this week. Today she tells Gav about her lifelong fascination with figure skating: how it started, how it developed and what she expects to see over the coming days in Milano Cortina.Also, Sinead runs the rule over Ireland's four Winter Olympians and rates their chances.We delve into the reduced representation of 13 Russian athletes, who compete as neutrals. Is the ban fair to apolitical sportspeople from Russia - or would the presence of the Russian flag validate the Putin regime? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

French rugby player Thibaud Flament last week announced that he would not be available to play Ireland in the Six Nations owing to his and his wife's fertility treatment. On this week's show, Sinéad and Gavin discuss Flament's story in the context of how the media covers matters of pregnancy, fertility and parenthood in elite sport.They illustrate how things have moved on from the days a man would be expected to miss the birth of his child but ask if the conversation has evolved far enough, explaining how we still speak differently of fatherhood as opposed to motherhood and how this reinforces wider tropes.Get in touch - sinead@thejournal.ie and gavincooney@the42.ie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cyclists have become a nightmare in Dublin, according to one headline-making judge last week.And Judge James O'Donohoe is far from alone in Ireland in feeling comfortable criticising cyclists, despite the fact that 14 were killed in our roads last year, and 45 in the past five years.This week Gav and Sinead discuss why so many people have such a negative view of cyclists, and cycling itself. Why are the misdemeanors of cyclists talked up while those of drivers in powerful vehicles are overlooked? Why was there a furore over the runaway costs of a bike shed at Leinster House, when the far more expensive car parking facilities are rarely discussed?Is cycling seen in Ireland as an anachronism - more redolent of our rustic, poorer past and not in keeping with our modern view of ourselves? Or has cycling become part of the online battleground, with the seemingly neutral activity labelled as woke by some culture warriors?How is the Irish attitude to cycling so different from other northern Europeans, in the Netherlands and Denmark for Scandinavia for example? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why is the purported biggest club in British football in such a perpetual state of chaos? Gavin and Sinead delve into the reasons United have failed to adapt to a post Alex Ferguson world, and come to the conclusion that the club needs a powerful figure to oversee the empire, even if that figure is not always reasonable.We are living in a time of corporate committees running football clubs, with managers and head coaches relegated to the status of a replaceable cog in a wheel.Yet Gavin argues that this approach is unsuitable to the world of football, where the most successful Premier League clubs in recent seasons still have one dominant, talented figure in charge: Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool and now Arsenal under Mikel Arteta.United, he argues, are afraid of talent, and need to stop investing huge responsibility in head coaches, while not giving them the requisite authority to do their job - which is to lead and do what it takes for the club to thrive at the elite and of the game. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In these uncertain times, getting even less certain by the hour, Sinead and Gavin take a look ahead to the summer's World Cup in America and discuss how it will play out.Most fundamentally, will it take place against a backdrop of military activity? US co-hosts Mexico and Canada have already felt the chill of Donald Trump's threatening rhetoric, which can, as recent events show, turn to action.Even if we are in times of peace by June, the World Cup could be beset by several issues. We discuss travel bans to fans of four competing nations and how these undermine the spirit of the competition.Will Trump follow through on his threat to move games out of certain cities? Will ICE agents arrest fans gathering to watch games? And how will Trump seek to make the most of the global attention that will be available to him during the World Cup? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Midway through the World Cup cycle, Sinead and Gav assess the health of the Ireland rugby team with an eye on the perennial question: Can we win a World Cup quarter final?Optimism levels in rugby country are more subdued than usual following a lacklustre Autumn series, while the provinces, especially Leinster, are not inspiring confidence.The pair discuss what needs to happen between now and October 2027 for Ireland to break through their glass ceiling.Can Ireland blood enough exciting players to freshen up the team? Can Andy Farrell settle on his best 10? Are the lineout and scrum fixable? Is the unwritten rule that Ireland's internationals have to play club rugby here a help or a hindrance in the modern game? Is Irish rugby suffering a Lions hangover, or is this World Cup cycle one too many for some key players? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mo Salah's outburst after being left on the bench during Liverpool's draw with Leeds on Saturday means the legendary forward has probably kicked his last ball for the Reds.But is Salah right to suggest he has been thrown under the bus by the club he has served so well for eight years? Is it natural that he feels singled out when his drop in form has been replicated across Arne Slot's expensively assembled squad?Or has the Egyptian gone too far in his comments, and failed to grasp the coldly transactional nature of professional football?Gav and Sinead get to grips with the biggest Premier League football story of the season, and in the process grapple with themes of loyalty, status, ego, envy and the challenge of succession planning in a game fraught with unforeseen and crazy events - some of which led to April's free-scoring title-winning king of Anfield being deemed past it by September. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fans across the world are eagerly anticipating the finale of the Formula 1 season this weekend, but how much of that is down to the sport, and how much is due to the dramatisation of everything that is F1 on the Netflix series Drive to Survive?This week Sinead and Gav marvel at how F1 has cracked America with the help of Netflix, and wonder what Irish sports and teams could benefit from a more open attitude towards documentary series makers.They discuss which behind-the-scenes shows have been a success, and which have left the viewers feeling short-changed as subjects, such as David Beckham and Wayne Rooney, control their own narrative.And, in the spirit of open access, Sinead and Gav consider how much they'd like it if a camera crew were given full access to The Journal and The 42 tomorrow. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After Scotland's remarkable qualification for next year's World Cup, captain Andy Robertson gave an emotional insight into his grief following the tragic death of his Liverpool team-mate, Diogo Jota.On this week's podcast, Sinéad and Gavin discuss Robertson's interview, and why it led to a wider media discussion about the continuing impact of Jota's death on everyone at Liverpool.With Liverpool enduring a terrible run of results on the pitch, they explore how to discuss the players' on-field underperformance in the context of this grief. Is Jota's death and his family's grief at risk of being trivialised by being used by pundits and journalists to explain poor results on a football pitch? Or are we doing a disservice to the players involved by not acknowledging it?And why do we not give space to our elite sportspeople to be human beings? Is this unfair on our behalf, or is it part of the contract between supporter and the well-paid football professional: that they are not allowed any room for escapism in what is our favourite form of escapism?Get in touch - sinead@thejournal.ie and gavincooney@the42.ie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It is another gloriously happy day, as Sinéad and Gavin continue to bask with the rest of you in the beautiful afterglow of Ireland's victory in Hungary. Gavin is back from Budapest and gives Sinéad the lowdown on how the whole, mad drama played out in the stadium. But truly it doesn't matter where you watch Troy Parrott's winning goal - what matters is that you are united with millions of Irish people in such total happiness.Sinéad and Gavin dig into why Ireland's wins mean so much to so many people. Is this merely proof that we are Football Country, rather than Rugby Country? Or is there something deeper at play?How has the national football team become such a vital part of our national identity? Why is it so important that a whole generation of players and fans experienced this moment?Basically - why are we so ludicrously happy?Get in touch - gavincooney@the42.ie and sinead@thejournal.ie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How many times has Sinéad asked Gav is it possible? Could we?... is there any way? She should have been asking Troy Parrott.Ireland's stunning 3-2 win over Hungary is all anyone wants to talk about today. Unfortunately, Gav and Sinéad record on Tuesdays and Gav, naturally, is a wanted man elsewhere today. But we wanted to give our loyal listeners an extra treat - free access to The 42's Football Family podcast. We will be back tomorrow to talk more football, and the impact of a week like we've just had. But until then, enjoy the insights from The 42's David Sneyd and Shane Keegan, alongside our own Gav. If you like what you hear, and honestly, how could you not? You can subscribe to The 42 on a trial basis for just 1 euro a month at the moment. What a no brainer. We're in for a busy year! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the League of Ireland season over, clubs' attention now turns to recruiting new players for next year, during which they will quickly run into the realities of Ireland's housing crisis.On this week's show, Sinéad and Gavin explain how the crisis affects professional sport in Ireland, how it has come to define certain sports and competitions, and how these impacts articulate the wider issues felt by a whole generation of Irish people. They then look at the reasons underpinning the crisis: do we simply not have enough houses? Or are there wider problems with the investment funds buying up the few houses that are put on the Irish market? They then point to the incipient triumph of Ireland's hosting of the Ryder Cup and ask whether politicians really believe this is a housing crisis, and whether they are committed as they claim to be when it comes to addressing it.Get in touch - gavincooney@the42.ie and sinead@thejournal.ie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Irish language and hurling should be accessible and a source of joy to many. Has this always been the case? Is it even the case now? Or are they ring-fenced? Taught in specific environments - school and GAA clubs that happen to offer hurling, which are not so plentiful in much of the country?But what could happen if the language and game of hurling were not restricted to these environments? How could they begin to thrive if attempts to make them more widely available were backed rather than thwarted?These are some of the questions tackled by Ciarán Murphy of the Second Captains in his new book, Old Parish, where he takes up hurling in his early 40s.Today, he chats with Sinead about the humbling effects of competitive hurling, and the life-affirming adventure of returning to his father's club in the Waterford Gaeltacht to live, write and hurl. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gav and Sinead discuss the events of last week, when there were yet more job losses in Irish sports journalism.This will affect sports fans in a number of ways, from there being fewer experienced people to hold organisations and individuals to account, to less depth and quality in the coverage of sport.Why are some media organisations laying off their most seasoned journalists? Why is there less money in the fourth estate nowadays? How did the internet change the game and why did so many newspapers and websites fall foul of social media algorithm changes?The pair ponder what's next for the industry and Sinead explains why the future for media firms could be a return to more traditional journalistic practices. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why is it so hard to integrate the GAA, Camogie Association and LGFA? Why should it cost the mooted half a billion euro to do so, and why have the leadership of the GAA been so silent on the matter to date, with the vacuum being filled by naysayers?Sinead and Gav address these and more issues around Integration, and consider how much of the €500 million project cost is down to the ‘centre of excellence culture' which implores county boards to invest more and more money on land and facilities for players earmarked as elite.Also, the FAI have been criticised strongly for not attending Oireachtas Committees. Why not the same volume of headlines for the GAA, Camogie Association and LGFA who have so far not engaged with elected representatives in public despite an invitation to attend Leinster House this month? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Irish Olympic swimmer Shane Ryan last week announced his retirement from competitive swimming before this week dropping a bombshell: he has signed up to compete at the Enhanced Games, a version of the Olympic Games at which competitors are allowed to take performance-enhancing drugs.On this week's show, Sinéad and Gavin explain just what the Enhanced Games are, and who its backers are. On the face of it, its creators are modelling the Games as not just an alternative but a successor to the Olympic Games, having made many compelling criticisms of the Olympic Games in its current guise. But why do they believe the alternative to the Games' deeply-flawed anti-doping regimen is to simply allow athletes to dope? And why would sports fans tune in to simply watch world records being broken, rather than watch true competition?Sinéad and Gavin explain why the Enhanced Games are not imagined as a sporting competition, but rather demonstrations of science, drawing a link to the libertarian and transhumanist beliefs of the Games' founders, one of whom says that ageing “is a disease that we should be able to treat, cure, and eventually solve.”Rather than merely highlight the Olympic Games' many, many flaws, the Enhanced Games instead represents something else - it's where Silicon Valley, libertarian tech bros get their hands on sport.Get in touch - sinead@thejournal.ie and gavincooney@the42.ie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's podcast, Sinead and Gavin talk to Bláthnaid Raleigh.In July 2019, Bláthnaid was raped by Jonathan Moran at a house party in Galway. Back in their hometown of Mullingar, Bláthnaid would spend the next five years living with the effects; her attacker, unable to be identified for legal reasons, continued his life working, socialising and playing rugby, before he was jailed in July 2024.Today, Bláthnaid talks about the attack, and its devastating impact on her life and family. She also discusses sport, and how it heightened her sense of isolation following the assault. She talks about how becoming immersed in new sports in recent years has helped her to piece her life back together. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sinead and Gav sift through the wreckage of Jim Gavin's presidential campaign and ponder why so many people thought the former Dublin manager was a suitable candidate.Does this episode now force a reset in how we look at venerated GAA figures? Does success in football put you in any kind of stead to become President of Ireland, or to withstand the brutalities of the campaign?What next now for Gavin, a man that has seen his team dominate Gaelic football, who has reshaped the rules to breathe new life into the sport, but now faces a most public humiliation? How can he atone for the actions that ended his already beleaguered campaign?What will he do next? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gav dials in from New York City, following the most remarkable, the most epic and the most fractious Ryder Cup of all.He tells Sinead about the personal and vitriolic abuse that was directed at Europe's players, Rory McIlroy in particular.He describes the febrile atmosphere and tries to make sense of how we've arrived at a stage where this passes as acceptable behaviour for some of the attendees at Bethpage Black.Gav details how Shane Lowry summoned extraordinary courage to guarantee Europe retained the Cup, while Sinead wonders how seismic the Adare Manor episode of the competition will now be in 2027. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gav dials in from Bethpage Black, where the Trump-attended 45th Ryder Cup tees off this week.He tells Sinead why this edition of the inter-continental grudge match will be more politically freighted than usual, but that thoughts of a raucous, blue collar New York crowd have likely been curtailed by the extraordinary ticket prices.The pair discuss Europe's Corinthian refusal to be paid to represent the blue and gold, versus the US player's clear preference for greenbacks. The contrast has been mischievously exploited by the travelling press pack, who are only going to stoke the fire more as the competition nears.Meanwhile, Gav fills us in on his atypical Airbnb experience so far, where he finds himself tip-toeing around a couch-slumbering, turbo-peddling host in suburban NYC. If the price seems too good to be true, then it probably is folks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Pittsburgh Steelers will face the Minnesota Vikings at Croke Park on 28 September, marking the first regular-season NFL game to be played in Ireland. On this week's show, Sinéad and Gavin ask why there has been so little public debate as to whether hosting America's Game in Dublin is a good idea. They discuss what the NFL is, and explain its close ties to the US military. As America continues to support Israel's genocide in Gaza, why are we willing to pay State money to host this game? Or is the hosting of this game just another part of Ireland's pragmatic and lucrative embrace of America?They also discuss the awarding of the 2026 Irish Open to President Trump's course in Doonbeg. Are we doing this to favour or placate the American president? And if we need to do this, what does this actually say about our sovereignty? Are we actually free at all?Get in touch - sinead@thejournal.ie and gavincooney@the42.ie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gavin joins Sinéad from Yerevan ahead of this evening's must-win World Cup qualifier vs Armenia. If the Boys in Green claim three points, can a generation of Irish fans who missed out on Italia 90 and Saipan dare to dream of seeing their nation on the biggest stage?Sinéad and Gav discuss their mixed emotions following Ireland's 2-2 draw vs Hungary last weekend and draw comparisons between Heimir Hallgrímsson and previous Irish managers Jack Charlton and Vera Pauw.The duo analyse Ireland's lack of a sport psychologist due to the FAI's financial struggles, and the negative impact this can have on elite athletes competing at the highest level. Reports of imminent redundancies within the association are also addressed.Finally, Gav reflects on Rory McIlroy's stunning dramatic Irish open win, and how he missed all of the drama while en route to Armenia. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dana, Adi Roche, Sean Gallagher, David Norris, Gavin Duffy - all people who thought they had a good enough public standing to seek election to Áras an Uachtaráin. And all likely regretted putting their name forward following bruising campaigns replete with intense scrutiny and accusations, some of which were irrelevant, or untrue, or both.Into that breach now steps Jim Gavin, with an already stellar reputation burnished by his decisive role in saving Gaelic football. But can his aura survive contact with Ireland's political system and news media?The days of keeping the public at arm's length while he tends to the success of a generational football team are over. Now he must engage with the Irish people and their press.The awkward questions are about to start and they'll come fast and frequent until polling day. Is one of Ireland's most famously prepared and meticulous people ready for what's next? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's Galway Races week, so on this week's episode Sinéad and Gavin dive into the Irish State funding of horse racing. They present the figures which show horse racing earns multiples more of taxpayer's money than any other sport, ask if this is fair, and explain how this is justified by our politicians: that horse racing is not a sport, but an industry. They then interrogate that claim, and find that they are far from alone in being sceptical of it.Get in touch - sinead@thejournal.ie and gavincooney@the42.ie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode, Sinéad and Gavin look back on a shocking All-Ireland final collapse by Cork. Did they choke? And why is there such stigma attached to calling sportspeople chokers? They explain what it means to choke, and why it happens. They also discuss whether the importance of sports psychology and mental performance in sport is underrated, and whether Cork can ever recover from their Tipperary calamity.Get in touch - sinead@thejournal.ie and gavincooney@the42.ie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's show, Sinéad and Gavin look at the recent developments in the case of George Gibney, former swim coach and subject of the 2020 Second Captains/BBC podcast Where is George Gibney? As we await the 77-year-old's return to Ireland after decades on the run following allegations of sexual abuse, Sinead brings us up-to-date on what happened in the Florida court last week where Gibney appeared in prison-issue clothing and consented to extradition.Gav asks why The Journal thought it was important enough to send a reporter to an 11-minute hearing, and we talk about how this is also a story of journalism and the potential impact of doing it the right way.Get in touch - gavincooney@the42.ie and sinead@thejournal.ie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gavan Casey dials in from New York City to reflect on Taylor's majority decision win over Serrano in their Madison Square Garden main event. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's a bonus episode of The 42FM, with Gavan Casey joining Gavin Cooney live from NYC ahead of Katie Taylor's third battle with Amanda Serrano. This time they are the headline act at Madison Square Garden, without the accompanying circus of Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson. We explain why Taylor and Serrano have now been utterly vindicated in their decision to lend their credibility to the Tyson/Paul circus, and then Gavan previews the fight. What does this event stay about both boxers' standing, and how will affect their legacy? Could defeat blemish Taylor's career at all? Plus, fighting in the month she turned 39, could this be Katie's final professional bout, and the final act of an extraordinary career?The fight is live on Netflix, with Taylor/Serrano due to get underway in the early hours of Saturday morning, at approx. 3.30am.Get in touch - gavincooney@the42.ie, and sinead@thejournal.ie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's show, Sinéad and Gavin look back at the extraordinary fall from grace of DJ Carey. They contextualise his greatness as a sportsperson and explain how he defrauded people of money by claiming he needed treatment for a cancer he did not have. Did the public's celebration of Carey as a hurler lead him down this path? And now will his standing in the eyes of that public ever be rebuilt?They also check in on last week's story regarding Conor McGregor's appeal against his being found liable for sexual assault, explain the unusual withdrawal of fresh evidence, and what happens next.Get in touch - gavincooney@the42.ie and sinead@thejournal.ie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's podcast, Sinead and Gavin toast the extraordinary work of Jim Gavin and his Football Rules Committee, which has successfully saved Gaelic football. They discuss how the FRC pulled off the job, and where it stands among other ingenious rule changes in other sports. They then make the point that if Gaelic football can be saved, then anything is possible: what lessons can the government learn from the FRC in tackling the housing crisis, or regulating Big Tech?And, if the GAA can fix Gaelic football in less than a year, why can't they accelerate the process of integration?Get in touch - sinead@thejournal.ie and gavincooney@the42.ie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An estimated one in five Irish households access live sport using a dodgy box - on this week's show, Sinéad and Gavin explain the crackdown on their use, and the potential punishments for any user caught with a dodgy box. They discuss the appetite among Gardaí for this crackdown, and how some broadcasters are seeking to take things into their own hands.They also debate the moral question - why do so many people feel it is not wrong to use a dodgy box? Has it become unreasonably expensive to pay for sport legitimately? And can dodgy boxes ever really be fully stamped out?Get in touch - sinead@thejournal.ie and gavincooney@the42.ie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Beckham has completed a career ambition with the bestowing of a knighthood by King Charles.On this week's podcast, Gavin and Sinéad discuss why Beckham wanted a knighthood so badly, and detail his 20-year campaign for the honour. They look back at his career, assess his legacy, and consider the controversies. Do we underrate him as a player? Why did the English media establishment get Beckham so wrong for so long? Would sport and celebrity culture so enmeshed today had it not been for the trailblazing figure of Beckham? And what next for Beckham and his family? Have they become an ersatz royal family for the benefit of America?Get in touch - gavincooney@the42.ie and sinead@thejournal.ie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sinead spent the weekend at Croke Park, watching her beloved Kildare hurlers complete a stunning rise to win the Joe McDonagh Cup, and earn promotion to compete among Leinster's elite in the Liam McCarthy Cup next year. On this week's pod, we discuss how Kildare completed their rise, and then discuss the GAA's biggest single failing of their history: the failure to grow hurling across the country. We discuss why hurling is a minority sport, look at its biggest single impediment - Gaelic football - and explain what the GAA have got wrong, and what they are now trying to do to make it right. Get in touch - email gavincooney@the42.ie and sinead@thejournal.ie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode, Sinéad and Gavin look ahead to the biggest events of the summer, previewing storylines and the likely winners and losers. What the hell is Fifa's Club World Cup, and why is Gianni Infantino a collectible in the official sticker album? Can Rhasidat Adeleke or anyone else on Team Ireland win a global medal at the world athletics championships? Why do we all get so inexplicably caught up in the British and Irish Lions? Can Ireland actually win a quarter-final, this time, at the women's Rugby World Cup? And what kind of absurdity will break out at the Ryder Cup?Get in touch: email gavincooney@the42.ie and sinead@thejournal.ie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Imagine first experiencing the thrill of scoring a goal or kicking a point at the age of 51. That's the unlikely and thrilling turn life took this year for Laura Byrne, The Journal's Opinions Editor. This week Laura tells Sinead O'Carroll about her upbringing on the side of a GAA field in 1980s Wicklow. Football was hugely important in family life, but it just wasn't something girls played in her experience. As a result, an antipathy to Gaelic games developed - until Laura had kids of her own and they began to play hurling and football. Then, in recent times, Laura was talked into giving the 'Mothers and Others' programme a go at her local club. After years of being on the outside looking in, Laura is now an enthusiastic participant, chasing the thrill of the next score, while remembering not to apologise to opponents for tackling them. Her sporting story is poignant and uplifting and underscores the truth that it is never too late to lace up the boots and savour the joy of being part of a team.Get in touch: sinead@thejournal.ie and gavincooney@the42.ie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's pod, Gavin and Sinéad discuss Gary Lineker's early exit from the BBC, after he shared a social media post that included an anti-semitic trope. They discuss how Lineker found his political voice, and why his challenging of the BBC's impartiality rules made him a controversial figure. They explain what those impartiality rules are, and how they are not appropriate for the coverage of the Israel-Hamas war. They then also look at how sports bodies are using this language of impartiality to justify not ostracising Israel from international sport, as they did with Russia. Get in touch: sinead@thejournal.ie and gavincooney@the42.ie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gav dials in from Quail Hollow where Rory McIlroy begins his new quest - to become the first golfer of all time to win a calendar Grand Slam.He and Sinead consider the long odds against such a feat yet ponder whether a freewheeling and easy McIlroy can at least take the next step at the golf course with which he has a cherished relationship.Also, the pair discuss Shane Lowry's chances after a heartbreaking weekend at the Truist Championship.And what legacy are the Irish pair providing back home, where playing numbers - already high - have taken an upswing on the back of their exploits? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

18 All-Ireland medals and 11 All-Stars across camogie and LGFA - few people are as qualified to speak on the skort controversy as Rena Buckley.The Cork woman tells Sinead O'Carroll that players' wishes should be respected, but there are more pressing issues facing camogie - such as the failure to promote the sport to a wider audience and the slow pace of integration.Rena sets out how the big sports story of this week is a lightning rod for the more general sense of frustration felt by camogie players, from county to club level. She sets out what needs to change for the sport to truly thrive.Get in touch - gavincooney@the42.ie and sinead@thejournal.ieThis week's episode of The42 FM is brought to you by An Post Money. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The GAA enacted a revolution a couple of years ago in introducing the split season, bringing forward the All-Ireland finals to July to allow for a defined season for the benefit of the club player. But as Meath's shock win over Dublin was lost to many on a busy Sunday of GAA and other sport, Gavin and Sinéad ask if the GAA have made a mistake in so dramatically changing the season's schedule.They look into the reasons for the split season's introduction, and debate whether the GAA have over-corrected in addressing legitimate issues. Plus, why does criticism of the split season somehow make you less of a True Gael, and whatever happened to the GAA's founding principle: paranoia. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The IRFU last week announced a change to the central contract system that has underpinned Irish rugby's success in the professional era, with provinces now expected to foot 40% of the salary bill of players on central contracts, with the IRFU saying the money saved will go towards investing in the three provinces outside of Leinster.On this week's podcast, Sinéad and Gavin discuss the IRFU's policy change, and whether its an admission the central contract system has failed. To what extent have the IRFU placed a thumb on the scale to further help Leinster, or is Leinster's dominance an inevitable result of Irish rugby finding the best way to success? Are Leinster's advantages unfair to the rest of Irish rugby, or should the other provinces pull up their socks? Have Joe Schmidt and Andy Farrell been wrong to pick so many Leinster players for the Irish team?What kind of problems will arise across Irish rugby if the inequalities are not addressed? And does this policy change go far enough - or is something more radical needed?Get in touch - gavincooney@the42.ie and sinead@thejournal.ieThis week's episode of The42 FM is brought to you by An Post Money Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rory McIlroy has entered an exclusive club: the subject of back-to-back episodes of The 42FM. Oh, and he's also become the first Irish golfer to win the Masters and the first European golfer to win the career Grand Slam. Having spoke last week of McIlroy's years-long quest to win the Masters, Sinéad and Gavin this week reflect on how we he went and did it. They relieve their experiences of one of the most astonishing and tense nights in the history of Irish sport, and discuss how, exactly, so many people became invested in McIlroy's story.How did a golfer manage to bring the whole country together to live the drama? Why has McIlroy been so open with his emotions on his journey to the Masters, and should we expect that of all sportspeople? Was his wildly inconsistent performance simply an exhibition of human genius? And what does McIlroy's victory say about sport and, in turn, about life?Get in touch - gavincooney@the42.ie and sinead@thejournal.ieThis week's episode of The42 FM is brought to you by An Post Money. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's podcast, Sinéad and Gavin dive into the epic quest that has become of Rory McIlroy's efforts to win the Masters. Why does winning the Masters mean so much to McIlroy, and why has he struggled so often at the tournament? And how have all of his heartbreaks and near-misses changed how the Irish public think about McIlroy? Why is he more popular now than when he was winning, and the dominant golfer in the game?Get in touch - sinead@thejournal.ie and gavincooney@the42.ieThis week's episode of The42 FM is brought to you by An Post Money. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of five kids in Ireland drop out of sport when transitioning from primary school to secondary school, and the average age at which a child drops out of sport is 11. On this week's podcast, Sinéad and Gavin discuss the consequences of this drop-out, and what can be done to stop it.Research and anecdotal evidence suggest the single biggest reason behind kids' waning interest in sport is its competitiveness from too early an age. What role do coaches and parents play in creating this overly-competitive environment, and do the media create problems by celebrating winners and champions, thereby promoting highly unrealistic career paths for kids?Is streaming according to ability the right or wrong thing to do? Also, what is sport without competition? At what age point does sport need to stress the importance of competition and winning/losing over providing equal opportunities for everyone to play?Sinéad and Gavin also discuss their different experiences: Sinéad continues to play sport while Gavin dropped out years ago. How have these decisions shaped them, and what are their regrets?Get in touch - sinead@thejournal.ie and gavincooney@the42.ieThis week's episode of The42 FM is brought to you by An Post Money. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Conor McGregor caused a national jolt by turning up at the White House on St Patrick's Day, and McGregor has since doubled down on his intentions to run for President later this year. On this week's show, Sinéad and Gavin discuss the prospect of McGregor running for president. Sinéad explains the criteria around running for president, and how McGregor may plot a route to the ballot paper. They also discuss the role of Elon Musk: why is he so interested in McGregor, and Ireland? Is Musk in fact now one of the most powerful people in the history of the world?They also ask why the Trump White House are so closely associated with MMA figures like McGregor, and why the Trump administration is changing what we understand of ‘sportswashing.' Trump has already bagged the mega events like the World Cup and Olympics, but is showing little interest so far in their organisation, and using them as vehicles for soft power. Instead he has become more closely aligned with combat sports, as through them he exerts a more obviously hard power.Get in touch with the show - email sinead@thejournal.ie and gavincooney@the42.ieThis week's episode of The 42FM is brought to you by An Post Money. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode, Sinéad and Gavin discuss gambling in sport, and Ireland's drawn-out means of tackling it. First they illustrate the extent to which the gambling industry has captured sport, to the point that it's now some fans' primary means of experiencing the sport. They explain how and why this has happened, and delve into some of its frightening consequences.More than a decade after it was first proposed, the State this month enacted its new legislation aimed at regulating the gambling industry. Sinéad and Gavin take a look at what the law now says and what will change, analyse what aspects were watered down by industry lobbying, and forecast how the new laws may change certain sports. They also delve into the long delay in passing the legislation, explain why there are going to be still more delays before the general public see substantive changes in gambling advertising and visibility, and then ask if we are far too late in addressing the problem.Get in touch - sinead@thejournal.ie and gavincooney@the42.ieThis week's episode of The42 FM is brought to you by An Post Money. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's podcast, and off the back of Sarah Healy, Mark English and Kate O'Connor's medals at the European Indoor Championships, Sinéad and Gavin choose not to spend too long basking in the Ireland's latest athletics success. They are joined by former 50km walk world champion and RTÉ pundit Rob Heffernan to look beneath the surface of the medals and ask: are these medals because of the Irish system, or in spite of it?Rob explains what Irish athletics is doing well at an elite level, and what it must do better.Having founded an athletics club in Cork, Rob is also well-placed to explain the challenges and opportunities at a grassroots level. He explains why the State needs to do more to improve PE hours in school, why investment in facilities is necessary, and why better talent ID is needed for Ireland to capitalise on its potential at a moment major medals has thrust the sport into the national spotlight.Get in touch - email sinead@thejournal.ie and gavincooney@the42.ieThis week's episode of The42 FM is brought to you by An Post Money. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gavin last week met our new sports ministers for the first time, who told him that the government's promised funding for professional football academies is ‘not imminent.'The comment caused despair in football circles, and the necessity for his money is the centre of this week's episode. Sinéad and Gavin delve into the minister's comments and wonder why they are so slow to follow through on their promises, before Gavin give the reality on the ground as to why the funding is already too late.While there have been headline successes like Mason Melia's record transfer from St Pat's to Tottenham, the reality is the academy system is not close to replacing elite player development opportunities that have been lost to Irish kids since Brexit. Gavin has to stats to prove this, and they show that the question you should be asking yourself about our national teams is not ‘How have we become so bad?', but ‘How are we still so good?'Sinéad probes the broader questions: Is it really appropriate for taxpayer money to fund the development of a small number of elite athletes? And can the FAI be trusted with this money anyway?Plus, there's some listener feedback on last week's topic of whether the sports media should play a role in helping the national team, and does Irish rugby get softer media coverage than other sports?Get in touch - email sinead@thejournal.ie and gavincooney@the42.ieThis week's episode of The42 FM is brought to you by An Post Money. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The manner of the exit of Colin Healy from his role as assistant manager with the Irish women's national team has provoked intense criticism of the Football Association of Ireland, and the story refuses to go away. On this week's episode of The 42FM, Gavin and Sinéad explain the background to Healy's exit, why it has proved contentious, and the questions it raises around the competence of the people running Irish football, specifically the FAI's chief football officer, Marc Canham.They also zoom out on the wider state of the game in Ireland, look at some of the fundamental problems holding the game back in Ireland, and analyse Canham's 'pathways plan' intended to fix many of these issues. Will the FAI's handling of high-profile issues like Healy's exit ultimately damage their plan to overhaul the sport in Ireland, and if so, does Irish football ever have any hope of fulfilling its potential?Gavin and Sinéad also discuss the media narrative around Ireland's Six Nations game against Wales. Are we actually an arrogant people? And is it really the Irish media's job to stay on-message to the benefit of the Irish team?Get in touch - email sinead@thejournal.ie and gavincooney@the42.ieThis week's episode of The 42FM is brought to you by An Post Money. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.