Olympics Daily

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.

The amateur filling an 82,000-capacity stadium before returning to the day job on Monday morning is one of the sources of pride among GAA folk.But how long will players be content to train as professionals and generate tens of millions in gate receipts and commercial revenue and go unpaid - while all around them are earning money? Perhaps not long if you go by what Limerick hurler Tom Morrissey wrote in the Irish Times at the weekend.Everybody on All-Ireland final days, he says, from management teams to media to food vendors and security staff are professional. But the main actors are doing it for nothing but the honour of representing their county and a modest grant payment.Morrissey cites a recent GPA-commissioned report which claims intercounty players generate €591 million annually for the economy and support more than 4,000 jobs but are out-of-pocket by an average of €4,500 each year.The players union says this issue must be addressed urgently - which effectively means that the taxpayer has to make up the shortfall through grants and tax breaks. Is this fair to the exchequer, or should the GAA use their revenue to compensate players? But if that happens are we in a world of open professionalism, as opposed to the more covert kind which has existed for decades?Gav and Sinead get into the details of the debate and try to work out the best Irish solution for this most Irish of problems.Gav wonders if the GPA has gone full Flann O'Brien in their request for more money to preserve their amateur status. Just do away with the pretence of amateurism, which is long since dead, he says.Sinead fears a Pandora's Box if payments to players are regularised and argues that all-powerful county managers making unsustainable demands on amateur players need to be brought into line.Also, in the name of economic impact reports - of the which the GPA is the latest purveyor - Gav calculates the considerable value to the Irish economy of this podcast.Get in touch with the show: email gavincooney@the42.ie and sinead@thejournal.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.

Last week, Donald Trump signed an Executive Order banning transgender women from female sport, beneath the title, “Keeping Men Out of Women's Sport”, and on Monday of this week, World Athletics issued updated eligibility rules for the female category.On this week's podcast, Gavin and Sinéad explain what these rulings actually mean, and then explore the broader debate: is it fair to ban trans women from female sport?They tease out the reasoning behind World Athletics' new rules, and question some of its basis and forecast some potential, unintended consequences.They also ask: why does a complex, sensitive issue such as this get so much media coverage? They look at the political reasons the topic gets so much media coverage, why Trump was so moved to sign an executive order on the subject, why Graham Linehan and JK Rowling have become so combative on the issue, and ask whether sport is really the right prism through which to look at trans issues.Get in touch with the show: email gavincooney@the42.ie and sinead@thejournal.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.

This week's show kicks off with some Six Nations chat: is the Irish team too dominated by Leinster, and is Jack Crowley the fall guy? Sinéad and Gavin dive into the Prendergast/Crowley debate.The biggest story of football's January transfer window was Marcus Rashford's move to Aston Villa from Manchester United. How did this happen? How did United's local hero, to whom they handed a lucrative contract 18 months ago, become such a diminished figure?Sinéad and Gavin discuss Rashford's status and celebrity in England, his use of social media, and how he has been treated by the tabloid press. How has his off-field campaigning affected how he is viewed, and is his cautionary tale that there is no price of fame that doesn't price in tabloid criticism?They also discuss how the tabloid press is also used and manipulated by celebrities' representatives for the sake of fame and money.Can Rashford rebuild his career away from Manchester United, or is his a cautionary tale about the modern football industry, in which the price to pay for wealth and success is just too high?Get in touch - gavincooney@the42.ie, and sinead@thejournal.ie.This 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 gives Gavin the lowdown on last week's farcical Dáil scenes, and what is says about this government's hopes of lasting for a full term.They discuss how politics works when it comes to sport (10:35) - who makes the decisions, and why. Is sport underserved by not having its own, standalone department? And how important is it that a sports minister actually likes sport?They take a look at the new minister, Patrick O'Donovan (17:35), and then run through some highlights and lowlights from previous sports ministers (19:10) , from attending John Delaney's birthday party to praising Dominant Puspure.They also parse the Programme for Government (31:30): what is promised for sport over the next five years, and will the government actually deliver on their promises? And why happened to some of the manifesto promises that have since gone missing?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.

There was a big reaction to last week's episode off the back of Mack Hansen's punishment for criticising officials, specifically on the nature of media training, which Gavin and Sinéad described as being akin to a “personality transplant.”Among those getting in touch to raise their objections to the episode was Marcus O Buachalla, who is Head of Communications at Leinster Rugby.Marcus accepted our invitation onto the podcast to debate the issue and give his insights from a different perspective.He tells us how and why Leinster are changing their players' approach to the media, and what he believes the media should do better to ensure better access.We debate why content is often bland: why are athletes wary of the media? Are athletes under orders not to reveal too much in interviews? And how much of this is the media's fault?Get in touch - sinead@thejournal.ie and gavincooney@the42.ieThis episode of The 42FM is brought to you by An Post Money. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 42 revealed last week that RTÉ have lost the rights to show League of Ireland matches to Virgin Media - despite an early-year press release in which RTÉ appeared to assume they would be showing the games in 2025.On this week's episode, Sinéad and Gavin dig into this story - why did RTE and the LOI prove to be such a loveless marriage? Were RTÉ neglecting their public service remit by not screening LOI games more often, or were they right not to do so from a commercial perspective?They explore the eternal paradox of RTÉ's public service and commercial remits, discuss more broadly the role sport plays at RTÉ, and interrogate the role sport should play at RTÉ.Why is there such little clarity on how much money RTÉ makes from their live sport coverage? Is it appropriate for RTÉ to have so many sports rights, and is it time they launched a sport-specific channel on which to show the many sports they have?They also discuss why RTÉ's coverage been made so much more bland than it used to be, and whether they have erred in diminishing the role of 'personality pundits?'Plus, why is everyone so unhappy with The Sunday Game, and are RTÉ right to sell their share of GAAGO?Get in touch - 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.

When Mack Hansen and the entire Connacht rugby squad were sentenced to media training, it was a deflating moment for sports media. But why should you care about the petty gripes of journalists? (6:17)Sinead O'Carroll and Gavin Cooney make the case that a more natural, authentic athlete makes for a better interviewee, which in turn enhances everybody's enjoyment of their favourite sports. (14:32)Sinead explains the big difference between media training and risk avoidance training. Far too many professional sports teams, she argues, behave in public like scandal-riven corporations trying to bore their way out of trouble. (16:12)Sinead espouses a more grown-up relationship between the media and sports people, while Gavin lists some of the perils of talking to the press. He details how he once conducted an interview which led to international headlines about an Irish rugby star suffering from a potato addiction. Gav tells more stories from the front line, where PR handlers seek to control access and shape the narrative.(24:50)Get in touch with us: sinead@thejournal.ie and gavincooney@the42.ie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who is Rory Gallagher? Why is he seen as such a good Gaelic football coach? Why is he not managing one of the top county sides in Ireland? And why did Naas GAA club reconsider a decision to appoint the Ulster man to the management team of their senior football squad?Gavin Cooney and Sinead O'Carroll break down this week's big GAA story.The pair also discuss how the club game has reached quasi-professional levels and ponder where it could go next. Are the media partly responsible for a culture where winners are glorified while others are ignored? How far are clubs and county teams now willing to go in pursuit of silverware? What should be the true measure of success for a GAA club? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gavin and Sinéad review the year by picking the moments from 2024 they believe they'll still be talking about in 20 years. There's naturally tales and reflections of Ireland's many Olympic glories, but also a look back on couple of heartbreaks. Gavin also talks about a month on German trains, with a little bit of Euro 2024 football thrown in. There's also why Rory McIlroy's ongoing major heartbreak is effectively redeeming the whole of professional golf, why Manchester City have never been so interesting, and how Jurgen Klopp's bombshell announcement was the final proof he got Everything Right.Thanks for supporting the podcast through 2024, we will be back with weekly episodes from the first Tuesday of January. Get in touch: sinead@thejournal.ie and gavincooney@the42.ie. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's episode is all about sports books, as Sinéad quizzes Gavin about the process of co-writing The Racket with Conor Niland, which won the William Hill Sports Book of the Year award for 2024. They delve into how the book came about and how the structure of the book was decided upon, along with discussing the process of writing it. Gavin and Sinéad also pick their favourite sports books and offer some left-field recommendations.You can get in touch with the show by emailing sinead@thejournal.ie and gavincooney@the42.ie. Happy Christmas! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's show, Gavin and Sinéad are joined by The 42's GAA correspondent Declan Bogue to get into the details of Revenue's audit of GAA county boards.Why are Revenue targeting the GAA, and what specifically are they looking at? Is this matter likely to extend to under-the-table payments to managers?How seriously is this being taken by the GAA at central level, and how worried are the various county boards? And what are the best and worst-case scenario outcomes - could the ramifications of this audit change the GAA forever?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, Gavin and Sinéad explore the controversy around the Premier League's Rainbow Laces campaign, a long-running visibility and inclusivity campaign in support of the LGBTQ+ community which two Premier League captains and the Manchester United team chose not to support fully last week.Is the campaign doing more harm than good? Why is the men's football so hostile to the LGBTQ+ community, where the women's game is much more inclusive? Is it unfair to focus on individual footballers, when the sport as a whole does not stand up for the values it claims to hold? Is this story indicative of a wider retreat and regression on LGTBQ+ issues? And, ultimately, can sport really be the inclusive force for progressive values we sometimes like to think it can be?Get in touch - sinead@thejournal.ie and gavincooney@the42.ie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is Gerry Hutch an exponent of sportswashing? Are Sinn Fein the FAI of politics, to Fianna Fáil's GAA? And why do all count centres look like Ireland circa 1992?Gav, a “humble sports correspondent”, puts these and other questions to Sinead, who had led The Journal's coverage of GE24, and must therefore be in a good place to offer some general election player ratings for the party leaders, and a lot more insight besides to a man who has noted an increased sportification of how politics is covered in the media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Friday, a jury found that Conor McGregor sexually assaulted Nikita Hand in a Dublin hotel in 2018.Gavin and Sinéad discuss the case on today's show, and some of the reasons why the jury may have come to their decision. They also discuss the likelihood of McGregor being granted an appeal, and salute the astonishing strength and bravery of Nikita Hand. They also chart McGregor's rise and fall: why did he become so popular in Ireland in the first place? And when did that popularity first begin to wane?Plus, why did McGregor gravitate to politics, and does this case truly end the possibility of him running for president?Get in touch - email sinead@thejournal.ie and gavincooney@the42.ie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gavin and Sinead discuss what happens when a totemic leader reaches the end.Should they be kept close to the team, or even be given a bespoke role like Johnny Sexton? Or is a clean break as in the case of Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp or Bill Shankly preferable?Could Sexton be inhibiting the next wave of Irish out-halves, in the same manner that Alex Ferguson's lingering presence at Old Trafford weighed heavily on successive managers?Or is it totally different for a player, and would Ireland be mad not to keep Sexon's rugby brain in house?The pair debate the merits and otherwise of a dominant, era-defining character having a say in the next era. And they wonder what a young Sexton would say if faced with a similar set of circumstances when it was time for him to make the Ireland 10 jersey his own. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Was Katie Taylor the just winner of last night's fight for the ages with Amanda Serrano?Was the majesty of Taylor-Serrano II diminished by its staging as part of a farcical event featuring Jake Paul and Mike Tyson?Was the fight so good as to deem such concerns irrelevant?Might Netflix now seek to stage Taylor-Serrano III as a headlining event, minus the novelty sideshow involving a YouTube personality and boxer who hit his peak 38 years ago?These questions and more are answered by Gavan Casey, our man in Dallas, who caught up with Gavin Cooney and Sinead O'Carroll this afternoon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why are Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano fighting on the undercard of the ‘freakshow' that is Mike Tyson versus Jake Paul?Gavin Cooney and Sinead O'Carroll are joined from Dallas by Gavan Casey, and the trio discuss the rise of novelty ‘boxing' events.They differ on whether Taylor is compromising her legacy by taking her place on such a card. Should the Bray fighter have turned her back on this spectacle, or would she be mad to have turned down the Netflix riches; a purse that dwarfs anything she has earned before in her stellar career?Hot Pepper by Alex-Productions | https://onsound.eu/Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WITH IRELAND KICKING off their November rugby internationals against New Zealand on Friday night, Gav and Sinéad debate the extent to which Ireland can really be called Rugby Country. Is rugby really a national obsession?The popularity of the provinces and the Irish national team is beyond question, but how has that fanbase grown given so few people play the game? Given the fact the Irish team is dominated by players produced by private schools, can the team be said to represent the country at large? And if not, does that even matter?The pair sift through some of the reasons underpinning the sport's appeal -the violence, the success, the opportunities it affords for drinking - explain the amount of media coverage afforded to the sport, and ponder what, if anything, the sport's popularity says about class divisions in Irish society.Get in touch with us - sinead@thejournal.ie and gavincooney@the42.ie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AS THE LEAGUE of Ireland season draws towards its nerve-shredding final day, Gav and Sinead discuss the boom in popularity of domestic football.Why have crowds increased so significantly this decade? And can the rising numbers be leveraged into that most elusive and long-desired of things: a thriving football industry in Ireland.The pair talk about what needs to happen next to make that aspiration real, from improved stadiums with greater capacity, to television deals with major international networks and an academy structure which provides a conveyor belt of elite level talent which can further improve the standard of the league and lead to more hefty transfer fees from wealthy overseas clubs.With Shelbourne one win away from an unlikely title triumph, the impact of Damien Duff is examined. What is it about the League of Ireland that so energises one of Ireland's greatest ever players? He says he will never manage an Irish club other than Shelbourne, but could he step into the Ireland manager's chair in future, despite his past differences of opinion with the FAI? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There is an election on the horizon - even though the government won't tell us when it will be.Whenever the official election campaign swings into action, though, it's a near-certainty that no politician will be asked about sport. Today Gavin and Sinéad wonder why that is the case: can we really be said to care about sport in any real way if it is never raised as an election topic?Gavin and Sinéad explain why Ireland's parish pump politics has led to inequality in access to sports facilities in different parts of the country, and ask whether it is now changing for the better.Also, why don't we invest more money in sport? And has the news media's move to cover politics like sport caused more harm than good?Contact us: sinead@thejournal.ie and gavincooney@the42.ie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

GAA president Jarlath Burns last weekend floated the possibility that inter-county GAA managers could be put under regularised contracts, which brought back to the surface a persistent talking point in GAA: payments to managers.Despite the GAA's amateur status, successive presidents and directors-general of the Association have acknowledged that managers are paid at club and inter-county level. On today's show, Sinéad O'Carroll and Gavin Cooney reveal how much managers are making at club and inter-county level, and ask what it means for the GAA from a reputation and taxation point of view.Is the best remedy to regularise the payments, and if so, would that destroy the amateurism heart of the GAA? Or is that amateurism already dead?Contact us: sinead@thejournal.ie and gavincooney@the42.ie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sinead O'Carroll and Gavin Cooney discuss whether Israel could face sporting sanctions.The pair examine why Israel has been judged differently than Russia by sporting bodies so far. They question where the moral and diplomatic lines sit - and detail how sport can be used for noble and nefarious purposes in an increasingly war-riven world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gavin and Sinéad are back for the second episode of The 42FM and they aren't alone!This week, Murray Kinsella drops into the studio to discuss the journey that Irish women's rugby has taken to get to the point where they have managed to beat New Zealand.Sinéad, Gavin and Murray analyse the structures of women's rugby in Ireland, discuss the commercial and moral reasons behind the increased focus on the women's game, and debate what is needed to push the sport on to the next level.Every Tuesday, The 42FM zooms out on the biggest sports story of the week, bringing the wider context and issues into play. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we launch a new podcast, The 42FM with Gavin Cooney and Sinéad O'Carroll.Building on the success of Olympics Daily with Cooney & O'Carroll, The 42FM will zoom out on the biggest sports story of the week, bringing the wider context and issues into play.Here, Sinéad and Gavin analyse and debate whether it is right that Limerick's decorated wing-back Kyle Hayes was nominated as Hurler of the Year - in a year where he faced charges which could have led to him being jailed.Is it reasonable to expect GAA players to be role models?Should GAA leaders act as character witnesses in court?Has John Kiely adequately addressed questions around this case and the culture of this Limerick team?Who has spoken up for the victim of the crime, in the way John Kiely has spoken up for Kyle Hayes? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cooney & O'Carroll are back!Off the back of their incredible success with Olympics Daily, Gavin Cooney and Sinéad O'Carroll are back with brand-new podcast The 42FM, an epic handshake between The Journal and The 42!Every Tuesday, they will zoom out on the biggest sports story of the week to explore the wider context and issues at play - it's sports meets news, current affairs, society and pop culture.If you have any suggestions for future episodes, contact gavincooney@the42.ie or sinead@thejournal.ie. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here it is then, the final episode of of Olympics Daily: Paris 2024.Gavin and Sinead gather at the mics for one last time, mainly because the longer they talk the longer they can convince themselves that the Games haven't actually ended. They chat through their favourite memories from the Games, and what we learned about our greatest sportspeople.They also reflect on today's homecoming event for Team Ireland, as 20,000 fans flocked to O'Connell Street on a Monday afternoon to pay homage to their new heroes.They also discuss funding: what can be done to build on Paris 2024? The government have promised extra money for LA 2028, but can they do more? And where should any additional investment go?And finally - thanks to you for listening to this podcast during the Olympic Games - you made a great experience even better. We don't have another Olympic Games to chat about for while, but if you have any thoughts on what you'd like to hear in this podcast feed going forward, then please let us know. We are eager to hear any and all suggestions: sinead@thejournal.ie and gavincooney@the42.ie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

And it must come to an end. Gav and Sinéad report from Ireland's final two events at Paris 2024 - an incredible fifth Olympics for Fionnuala McCormack and a sensory blitzkrieg from the velodrome.They also run through their favourite moments of the past 16 days, from Irish gold medals to sport-changing performances. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So close! The brilliant 4x400m women's relay team finished fourth in the Olympic final after running a national record. The quartet were devastated talking to journalists afterwards, and Sinéad and Gav give their view of that room.Earlier, Sinéad went weightlifting to watch a member of the Refugee Olympic Team while Gav dealt with the online fallout of his questioning of Bahraini athlete Salwa Eid Naser on Friday night. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The country watched on as Rhasidat Adeleke came fourth in a world final for the second time. Sinéad and Gav were in Stade de France to witness the 21-year-old's disappointment as she fell short of her podium dream. They discuss her future - from tomorrow night's relay final to future Olympic and world title chances.Earlier, Sinéad delighted in the 4x400m relay qualification while Gav enjoyed the madness of Daniel Wiffen's Seine exploits. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gavin bagged a media ticket to watch the USA's star-spangled basketball team and reports back from their stunning comeback win against Serbia, which earned them a spot in Saturday's gold medal match against France. Sinead, meanwhile, was at the Stade de France to watch Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone turn the 400m hurdles final into history's fastest procession.They also discuss Noah Lyles' revelation that he ran the 200m final with Covid, and ponder whether these Games may suffer a greater Covid impact thank Tokyo, and whether the idea of the athletes' village will remain as integral to future Games.Gavin also reports from his morning at the men's speed climbing final, and then we hunker down for the big one: a lane-by-lane preview of tomorrow's women's 400m final, featuring one Rhasidat Adeleke. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rhasidat Adeleke has made history by qualifying for an Olympic sprint final, but she admitted afterwards it was a “messy race” that leaves a lot of things to fix for Friday's final. Gavin reports from a curious night at the Stade de France and asks what her performance augurs for the final.Sinead spent a day at Taekwondo with Jack Woolley, and reports on an agonising near-miss after an agonising wait. Gavin also has happier news from the morning's track events, though is mortified by making a hames of a joke around an Irish athlete.Plus: the perils of trying to make weight for the Olympics, and an unfortunate injury Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kellie Harrington has done it: she has become the first Irish Olympian to successfully defend their title since, well, Friday. Let's say she's only the second to do it since 1932. Gav and Sinead were both in Roland-Garros to see the crowning moment of her farewell, and report on what it felt like in the moment and what it means to Kellie, who said that, “this one's for me.”That was a happy sequel to a disappointing morning for Team Ireland: Sinead was out at a showjumping final that didn't yield medals, while Gavin rolled back the years to an unhappy morning on the track for a host of Irish athletes.We also discuss the stunning men's 1500m final, and the alleged lights show before the women's 200m decider. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gav and Sinead were both there to witness Rhasidat Adeleke's comfortable victory in her first run at the Olympic Games. What does the time and result mean for her medal hopes? Is it time to get very excited?Meanwhile, there is live reaction to the breaking news of Ciara Mageean's devastating, injury-enforced withdrawal from the Olympic Games. From Ireland's point of view, it's news to grey an Olympic Games even as vivid as this.Sinead previews tomorrow's showjumping final, which may deliver yet another medal, as Gavin is excited to learn of another Longford Olympian.They also answer some of your questions, so keep them coming to sinead@thejournal.ie or gavincooney@the42.ie. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sinead reports back from the final act of Ireland's miracle Olympic week: a bronze medal for Daniel Wiffen in the 1500m freestyle. But was he a little disappointed with it? And even if he was, does it really matter? Have you not seen how many medals we've won?Gavin meanwhile enjoyed/endured/loved/hated another day yoked to Rory McIlroy, as he first raised hope of an Olympic medal before losing it in one dramatic moment. Scottie Scheffler won the gold medal on a dramatic day that secured golf's place in the Olympic Games.Plus, Sinead reports back with some very encouraging news from Rhys McClenaghan's future Olympic ambitions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.