Indo Sport podcast: Bits and Bobs The GAA's culture of violence Death of Sevens rugby
Joe is joined by Conor and Conan on a Thursday Bits & Bobs to discuss GAA violence, the end of the Irish men's Sevens team and Ruben Amorim's blunt honesty.
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Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
Cleary-Farrell on the double as Mullins dominates action
Punchestown report Willie Mullins dominated the weekend action in Punchestown, registering doubles on both Saturday and Sunday, with 7lb claimer Sean Cleary-Farrell delivering on the double yesterday for Closutton, on board Spanish Harlem and Keep Up. Without a win in his fourteen 14 previous starts for Mullins but fourth in the valuable Bet365 Gold Cup last time, Spanish Harlem broke through in the Jim Ryan Memorial Novice Chase, staying on dourly on the run-in to get the better of No Time To Wait and justify 8/15 favouritism. 'The track and trip suited him and he used his jumping experience,' said David Casey, representing Mullins. 'Sean gave him a good ride and he kept galloping. Nicer ground and extended trip suit him and I'd say we'll keep going with him.' Sean Cleary-Farrell completed his first double and provided the second leg of the Mullins treble on hurdling debutante Keep Up, a facile winner of the Lily & Wild Mares Maiden Hurdle, the 4/5 shot beating market rival Fillusin by five lengths. 'Sean gave her a good ride — she was a bit in his hands, fresh after her break, but she jumped well and stayed galloping,' said Casey. 'I hope she'll go on to win her 'novice' now — she could be one for Galway.' Joli Travail and Anna McGuinness win for trainer Willie Mullins. Picture: Healy Racing Anna McGuinness, another emerging 7lb claimer, rode her second winner in the famous colours of JP McManus and provided the final leg of the Closutton treble when Joli Travail (2/1) made virtually all, to take the John Dowling Memorial Maiden Hurdle at the expense of William Butler. 'He's had a couple of issues, but that was a good performance,' stated a delighted Casey. 'He learned a lot in Killarney and the longer trip definitely helped him. We'll try to find a 'novice' for him but, long-term, he looks like a chaser.' And he added, 'Anna is a good rider. She was recommended to use by James Lambe about a year ago and is with us full-time.' Brosna Queen, trained locally by Sonny Carey, proved best in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Pro-Am Flat Race, digging deep for Patrick Mullins to see off Atomic Queen and Kabylia. 'She's a good mare, with loads of ability,' said Carey. 'She'll have a break and might come back for the 'Mucklemeg' (listed event at Gowran Park) or a trip to Cheltenham in November.' The Noel Meade-trained Mick Collins (Eoin Walsh) rallied bravely on the run-in to confirm Bellewstown flat form with odds-on favourite Luker's Tipple in the Bermingham Cameras Maiden Hurdle. Tightest finish of the day came in the Madison Flooring Handicap Hurdle, when Gavin Cromwell's versatile grey Londonofficecallin (Kieren Buckley) pipped favourite Stay Gold by a nose before surviving a Stewards Enquiry. And the quirky, Ted Walsh-trained Hardwired, under a determined Gavin Brouder, proved his liking for Punchestown when foiling Antrim Coast by a half-length in the K-Mech Mechanical Handicap Chase., the nine-year-old third success at the County Kildare / poh
Irish Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
"It's something we've come away from as a nation" - Ireland's Dara O'Shea
Dara O'Shea reckons Ireland have found what they were looking for - and if it's good enough for PSG, it's good enough for the Boys in Green. It's not reinventing the wheel either, more so a return to solid, old fashioned values that the Ipswich Town defender feels were missing. Results will dictate whether Heimir Hallgrimsson gets to extend his contract as Ireland manager, because his current deal expires at the end of the World Cup campaign. That means the FAI could be embarking on yet another managerial hunt in November, if Ireland finish third or bottom of a group containing Portugal, Hungary and Armenia. A second-placed finish would extend Hallgrimsson's stay into a playoff semi-final in March, and a final if they win that. And top spot means Ireland will qualify automatically for the 2026 showpiece in America, Canada and Mexico - but that's a tall order. It is notable how bullish Hallgrimsson has been in his belief that Ireland can qualify. He's not shying away from it and, in turn, nor are his players. Hallgrimsson has already said that he got Iceland to the 2018 World Cup with players he feels are not as good as the ones currently at his disposal. Stephen Kenny wasn't shy about making big statements about his Ireland team going into qualifying campaigns, but most of those were over almost as soon as they began. Hallgrimsson has restored a degree of pragmatism to the whole approach, and O'Shea is one of his most trusted lieutenants. And the significance of going unbeaten in the three games this year is not lost on the defender, going into tomorrow's friendly in Luxembourg. O'Shea said: 'We understand the way the manager wants us to play and how he wants us to be as a nation. That's the identity of us as Irish people too. 'Against Senegal, our reaction in the middle of the park, we lost the ball, we got around it. There were some big tackles, some big blocks. That's something that we've kind of come away from as a nation, which we should never - that's our identity, we're hard working people. 'With every successful team, the fundamental is hard work. You watch PSG in the Champions League final, they've got all the talent in the world but they worked hard as well and that's what got them there. We've that embedded in us as Irish people, so we've got to show that on the pitch and not take the moments for granted.' On Friday, Ireland were on track for a third win on the spin only to concede to Senegal eight minutes from time and settle for a 1-1 draw. But after putting Bulgaria to the sword twice in March, it means Ireland remain unbeaten in 2025 and O'Shea insists that's not to be sniffed at. 'There's obviously a mentality aspect of football and winning games and keeping that momentum going is massive,' he said. 'It's something we haven't really had as a nation for a while now. It's something this group hasn't had at all really. 'So it's important that we keep building and don't take the games for granted because before we know it we'll be in the World Cup campaign and right in the thick of it. 'You only get one chance to qualify, so it's important that we make the most of every moment we can. The manager believes in us as a group and he believes in himself. That's massive when you can feel the manager believes in you as a group.' On the club front, O'Shea is reeling after Ipswich were relegated but he is already the subject of fresh Premier League interest for next season. A clubmate of Ireland internationals Chiedozie Ogbene, Sammie Szmodics and Jack Taylor, O'Shea had a strong individual season and performed well in a losing side. Wolves, Leeds and his former club Burnley are all reportedly keen on making a move this summer. But O'Shea said: 'I'm fully committed to Ipswich at the moment. I've got another four years there and I want to get the club back into the Premier League. 'I'm ambitious as a player and obviously I want to be playing in the Premier League but I know it's not as easy as that. Whatever happens in football it happens for a reason. You have a journey and you've got to stick to that sometimes.' O'Shea added: 'I feel like I'm well capable of playing in the Premier League and I've got to get myself back there now. I spoke to the gaffer at Ipswich and that's the task he's set me - to carry on those standards of a Premier League player and still owe it to myself to be like that. 'It's really hard when you come off the back of relegation but I'm happy with how I played. I've grown into a leader and I play better when I have that responsibility.'
Sunday World
an hour ago
- Sunday World
Country star Michael English on how Louis Walsh's mother played key role in music career
The top entertainer was the favourite Irish singer of Maureen Walsh, who died this week at the age of 94 Louis Walsh looks on as the remains of his mother Maureen are taken from church Country music star Michael English told yesterday how Louis Walsh's mother played a key role in one of the biggest highlights of his career. The top entertainer was the favourite Irish singer of Maureen Walsh, who died this week at the age of 94 and whose funeral took place in Kiltimagh, Co Mayo. And Michael English gave his final performance for Maureen when he was chosen to sing at her funeral service on Thursday, where the attendance included Westlife stars Shane Filan, Kian Egan and Nicky Byrne, plus Eurovision winner Dana. Michael says: 'It was a huge honour to sing at it with the Kiltimagh Parish Choir. I was looking down the church and seeing the Westlife lads and seeing Dana and all these other singers, so it was a great privilege to get the opportunity to do it for Maureen. Kian Egan and wife Jodi Albert with Louis Walsh 'Maureen and her daughters Sarah and Evelyn and other members of the Walsh family used to come to my shows in the early days. 'And the first time I met Maureen she told me I was her favourite singer. It was around 2008 and I was a bit younger at the time and a bit chuffed that Louis Walsh's mother was into what I did. Family and friends of Maureen Walsh attend her funeral Today's News in 90 Seconds - 08 June 2025 'Maureen was just a lovely country woman who reminded me of my own mother. We struck up a little bond and she said, 'I'm going to get Louis to ring you now and see if he can help you in any way.' 'I thought no more of it, but sure enough Louis did ring me and we arranged to meet up. We had a good chat and I found Louis to be very similar to the rest of his family. I thought he was going to be completely different, but we got on like a house on fire.' Shane Filanwas among the mourners Louis went on to land a major record deal for English with Sony Music – and Michael ended up recording with British producer Nigel Wright, whose work includes the score for The Phantom of the Opera. 'It was a huge experience for me at such a young age and also a huge thrill to be working with Nigel because I'd been a massive fan of The Phantom of the Opera and have seen it about 15 times,' Michael says. 'Nigel arranged for me to go backstage one time to see the workings of it and the illusions that were created by magician Paul Daniels. Dana was among the mourners 'So as well as getting the opportunity to record two great albums I was living the dream – and it was Maureen who had made all that happen for me. 'I would go on to concentrate on the country music scene, but Louis had been great to me while we worked together.' Maureen had been living with Alzheimer's for 12 years before she died. 'I went to see her a few times in the nursing home,' Michael says. 'I was so fond of her and she was a very much loved person in the area, not just because her son was on The X Factor but because of who she was. Louis Walsh looks on as the remains of his mother Maureen are taken from church 'Her house was open to everybody. I was in the house a hundred times and it reminded me of my house, when people would come into my mother she'd say 'will you have a cup of tea?' and she'd take every different kind of biscuit out of the press. 'Louis's mother was like that. She ran an open house and a very welcoming house,' Michael adds.
