Jodi Townend claimed her first Cheltenham Festival win courtesy of Bambino Fever in the Grade 1 Weatherbys Champion Bumper. The 4/1 winner gave champion handler Willie Mullins a 14th success in the race, with Irish-trained horses achieving a trifecta in the day’s final race. Lisgoold, Co Cork rider, Townend admitted to being “on cloud nine” following the win on only her third ride at the Cheltenham Festival, adding: “I can’t believe it – it will take a long time to sink in! I was in front plenty soon enough, she was on the way with me coming down the hill…
Gaelic Football Rule Changes for 2025: Everything You Need to Know The Standing Committee on Playing Rules has proposed several rule changes for the 2025 Gaelic football season. These updates, if approved, will impact kick-outs, advanced marks, player positioning, scoring, fouls, and discipline. Here’s a breakdown of the key changes and their potential impact on the game. 1. Kick-Out Mark – More Protection for Players A major change to the kick-out mark rule ensures better protection for players making a clean catch. A player who catches a kick-out mark may play on immediately without being challenged within four metres. If…
What We Learned This Week: 7 Talking Points from Ireland’s Rugby Week 1. Caelan Doris: A Referee Conundrum Ireland Must Solve Caelan Doris remains one of Ireland’s most respected and consistent performers. However, a strange pattern has emerged: certain referees seem to take issue with him. Whether it’s his timing at the breakdown, interpretation of laws, or just poor communication, Doris is drawing whistles too often. Ireland must address this before it costs them in a big game. A clearer approach with referees could turn this into a non-issue. 2. Andy Farrell’s Loyalty or Lack of Depth? Head coach Andy…
Irish Athletics Shines with Three European Medals in 30 Minutes at European Indoors Irish athletics fans were treated to an unforgettable night as three medals were secured in just 30 minutes at the European Indoor Championships 2025 in Apeldoorn, Netherlands. Sarah Healy, Kate O’Connor, and Mark English all made the podium in a golden burst of success that signals a new era for Ireland’s track and field stars ahead of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this September. Sarah Healy Strikes Gold in 1500m Final Rising middle-distance star Sarah Healy stormed to gold in the 1500 metres, delivering a composed…
Irish Rugby Transfers: 2025/26 Signings for Munster, Leinster, Ulster & Connacht (Updated Weekly) Last Updated: March 5, 2025 The 2025/26 season is on the horizon, and while player movement across Ireland’s four provinces has been minimal, a few key signings have been confirmed. Will we see more transfers in the coming weeks? Here’s a weekly updated list of confirmed signings for each province. Munster – Leading the Transfer Market Munster have been the most active province so far, confirming four signings: Michael Milne (Prop, 25) – from Leinster (IRL) Lee Barron (Hooker, 24) – from Leinster (IRL) JJ Hanrahan (Fly-half,…
Ireland’s Grand Slam Hopes Rest on Huge Test Against France With three wins from three, Ireland are two victories away from a second Grand Slam in three years, but their biggest challenge of the Six Nations awaits as France arrive at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday. Simon Easterby, standing in as head coach while Andy Farrell focuses on his British & Irish Lions duties, has kept Ireland on course, but the final two rounds will determine whether they are remembered as champions or left disappointed. A win over France would set up a final-day clash with Italy, where victory would…
