Declan O'Sullivan

@Shannon_RFC @neil_treacy Kudos to Shannon for this sporting and honourable decision. Truly in the spirit of rugby!

Shannon RFC accepts the decision made by the NCC today and is delighted to hear that UCC captain Sam O’Sullivan is recovering well - the most important outcome of all. We extend our best wishes to UCC for next season and hope to meet them again over the coming seasons.

@AnMailleach Shades of the Gang of 4 moving against CJH

This seems a more significant intervention for the government than MHR’s withdrawal. This might actually impact the direction of the government.

@DCBMEP Not true. Irish people just have to show a passport not go through the checks. There are no delays in any European airport! I do think the e-gates are inefficient!

It’s worth reminding people who try and blame Brexit for such hold ups that UK was not in Schengen area as an EU member; as we have our own Common Travel Area with Republic of Ireland. So there would have been such checks even if Remain had won.

@ryanair is this in my future?

@NUCLRGOLF B obvs

🏌️⛳️ For the rest of your life you’re only able to watch ONE… Which one are you choosing… A or B?

@Caolan_Scully James Lowe?

Dan Sheehan, Bundee Aki, Jamison Gibson-Park and Josh van der Flier all sign contract extensions with their provinces and the IRFU

@DublinAirport Kind of annoyed that I went onto that account to see what this post is about.

@TwoMadExplorers 1. We have our own airport fire brigade 2. If we’d a blocked drain, we’d call in a drainage engineer or plumber (we have those too), not “the fire brigade” 3. You’re claim is utter nonsense 4. Read #3 again

“A firefighter told me they’re constantly called to the airport to unblock drains… full of passports and IDs.” He claims there are thousands of documents being pulled out.

@KarlBrophy @Rugby_Scoop You don’t need to have your dinner in the middle of the day

They've actually gone and done it again. A second successive season where Ireland won't have a single 16h40 kick-off that facilitates lunch beforehand and drinks after. Unbelievable.

@LarryPDonnelly @KeithDugganIT Good day for the @IrishTimes . Excellent pieces on Heimir Hallgrimsson and @rugbyjaffa Mark Robson by Gavin Cummiskey and @MalachyClerkin respectively!

A terrific read here from @KeithDugganIT. On the road with Keith Duggan: America is always rushing towards tomorrow while gaping back at its epic past irishtimes.com/life-style/peo…

The new American dream, for some of its citizens, is to no longer live there. In nearly all of the European Union’s 27 member states, the number of Americans arriving to live and work is at a record and rising. Even Albania is now flooded with American migrants. A Gallup poll last year found 40% of American women, ages 15-44, would like to permanently move overseas, if possible. By comparison, in 2023, the same pollster found that a slightly smaller proportion of sub-Saharan Africans—37%—wished to do the same. Strikingly, the new American migrant is more likely than ever to bring children in tow, laying down roots. “You don’t face the prospect of your 5-year-old going into a kindergarten and doing an active shooter drill. The wages are higher in the U.S. but the quality of life is higher in Europe.” Thought-provoking piece in @wsj by @drewhinshaw and @JoeWSJ wsj.com/us-news/americ…

Fame at last

@jimhamilton4 @RTEsport Donal Lenihan will retire eventually!

@LeinsterAdvisor @RTEsport Thanks dude. My sister was born in Ireland does that count?

Loved commentating on Wales vs France today for @RTEsport such a cool tournament.

@IrishTimesSport Read the article - don’t see the quote!

Gerry Thornley: We could be witnessing the start of Irish rugby’s decline dlvr.it/TQsZ6V

@offtheball Wouldn’t it be lovely if this led to a reconciliation with Brian Kerr.

🗣️ "Humanity is far more important than a headline" 🗣️ "He was very very very very unhappy" Roy Curtis opens up about the downsides of being a #journalist, reflecting on his falling out with former professional footballer, Steve Staunton, amongst others. The Sunday Paper Review on OTB with @CentraIRL | #Centra #KickOffwithaColdOne

@KarlBrophy @ek_rugby Were Irish players not supposed to be excellent fielders of balls from playing GAA?

@ek_rugby Yes, can’t argue with it going but it has nullified Ireland’s style of play. We don’t have the explosive athletes other unions have so tended to need phases. Rebalancing the ruck could come with better policing of shoulders above hips for poachers maybe.

Here's the Super Rugby 2026 law trials. The general theme of these changes is to speed up the game, keep players on the pitch and reduce the number of scrums. Think these changes will make games faster, but not so sure they will prepare Aus and NZ players well for Test rugby.

@edwards_callum I think that if England and France are going toe to toe at the end of the 6N, there will be plenty of excitement in the main markets!

Rugby feels like it’s dying. Six Nations hype is flat, URC & Premiership are shadows of their former selves, nobody takes Champions Cup seriously. A dull Lions tour, no Rugby Championship, and a weak Nations Championship instead of summer tests,hard to see who this excites.

Four Old Men. Two Wheelchairs. One Beach. Alan Alda’s 90th Birthday January 28, 2026. Alan Alda turned 90. His family planned a safe celebration at home. Cake. Balloons. Grandkids. Alan said no. “I don’t want a party,” he said. His daughter frowned. “Dad… you’re turning ninety. This is a big deal.” “I know,” Alan said. “But I don’t want to celebrate here.” “Then where?” Alan didn’t hesitate. “I want to go to the beach.” The room went still. “The beach?” “Dad, you’re in a wheelchair.” “You can barely stand.” Alan smiled. That smile. The Hawkeye Pierce smile — the one that always meant something stubborn was coming. “So?” By that afternoon, he had already decided who was coming. “The four of us,” he said. “The last four.” Gary Burghoff. Jamie Farr. Mike Farrell. And himself. The final survivors of the 4077th. “No cameras. No interviews. No speeches,” Alan said. “Just us.” The phone calls began. Gary answered first. “Happy birthday, old man! Ninety!” “Thanks. I need you to drive.” “Drive where?” “To the beach.” A pause. “Alan… you’re in a wheelchair.” “So are facts. They don’t stop me either.” Gary laughed. That Radar laugh Alan had known for over fifty years. “Fine. But I’m not pushing you through sand.” “I’ll crawl if I have to.” “You’re insane.” “I’m Hawkeye. Same thing.” Jamie Farr was next. “The beach?” Jamie said. “I’m ninety-one and in a wheelchair.” “Then we’ll have two wheelchairs at the beach.” “Like a parade?” “Like a victory lap.” Jamie laughed until his voice cracked. “You haven’t changed since 1972.” “And you’re still Klinger.” “Fine. I’m in.” Mike Farrell sighed the moment he answered. “Let me guess,” he said. “You want me to push your wheelchair.” “Yes.” “I’m eighty-six. I use a cane.” “BJ Hunnicutt once saved a man with dental floss,” Alan said. “You’ll manage.” Long pause. “…Fine.” January 28. 6:00 a.m. Gary arrived in a rented van. Two wheelchair spaces. He was wearing a Hawaiian shirt. At Alan’s house, his daughter hovered. “Dad, are you sure?” “I’ve never been more sure of anything.” “What if something happens?” “Something is always about to happen at ninety,” Alan said. “Might as well happen at the beach.” Jamie was waiting outside his house. Wheelchair. Sunglasses. Hawaiian shirt. “You coordinated outfits?” Gary asked. “It’s tradition,” Jamie said. “The 4077th always matched.” Mike showed up next. Also in a Hawaiian shirt. Four old men. One van. Heading west. On the drive, memories filled the air. Harry driving too fast. Larry bringing his own wine. Radar making everyone cry. Klinger never sleeping. When the MASH* theme song came on, no one spoke. After it ended, Alan said quietly, “That song used to annoy me.” “Now?” “Now it just reminds me how lucky we were.” At Malibu, reality hit. Wheelchairs don’t work on sand. Jamie grumbled. Mike rubbed his back. Alan stared at the ocean. Gary disappeared. Fifteen minutes later, he returned with two lifeguards and two beach wheelchairs. One lifeguard whispered, “My grandmother watched MASH* every night.” It took time. Transfers were slow. Hands trembled. Bones protested. But they made it. To the water. Alan closed his eyes. The sound of waves. Salt in the air. Sun on his face. “I forgot what this felt like,” he said. They talked about the ones who weren’t there. McLean. Wayne. Larry. Harry. Bill. David. Loretta. Jamie finally broke the silence. “Let’s race.” Two wheelchairs. Two pushers. One rock. They raced. They tied. People on the beach stared. A teenager asked, “What are those old guys doing?” His mother said, “Living.” As the sun set, Alan spoke. “This might be the last time.” No one argued. “That’s why it matters,” he said. “Because we know.” He made a wish. “One more year.” “One more adventure.” “Korea. Together.” They promised.

@itsjohncrotty Looks like the finished 4 sided version!

There is something really special about the 4th largest stadium in Europe being the home ground for a native sport that’s been played since the Iron Age Hurling is likely the oldest continuously played field sport in the world ☘️🇮🇪 m.youtube.com/watch?v=t-yc7z…

@AkaPaulHoward @IrishTimes Good man Willie O’Gorman! @IrishFunds

Truly exceptional content from the @IrishTimes