Sport & Tourism: Tennis

With Operation Garth Brooks  reportedly having a dramatic impact on Ireland's potential to attract large concerts and musical events  in the coming years its seems like an optimum time to look at sport in Ireland and consider its potential or lack of to host successful events in the future which will ultimately attract tourists and revenue to the country.

Munster Cricket A Must For Cricket Ireland

Mils Muliaina's confirmed transfer to Connacht Rugby the IRFU's development province combined with the disappointment of the Irish cricket teams second one day international against Sri Lanka being rained off further confirmed my belief that a fourth Interprovincial cricket team based in Munster needs to be made a priority if the sports potential in Ireland is to be properly maximised.

Humility Is Not The Question

Sipping on my espresso this morning (Or slurping tea if I was to live up to Stephen Jones Munster supporter caricature) I stumbled upon a minor internet storm. Mr Jones in a predictable enough move had wrote a piece suggesting Munster Rugby might ultimately benefit more from their defeat in the State Velodrome than the victory that never came.

Impetus For European Expansion Still Lacking

One of the arguments proffered by the PRL, the umbrella organisation of the English premiership rugby clubs is that the ERC have failed to properly spread rugby throughout Europe. While it is difficult to disagree with this suggestion it is worth noting that nothing from the PRL's governance suggestion, The Six Nations Committee to their proposals for financial distribution indicate that rugby nations outside of the big six in Europe would be any more sure of how to progress towards the top European Club Competition or indeed how to maximise the revenue they can make from European competition in the land of the Rugby Champions Cup.

Cricket Ireland : What About Some Cricket

As if looking to grow the popularity of cricket in Ireland (and shift €149 season tickets) wasn't a difficult enough task already, the Irish cricket team have been left in the position of having no firm home fixtures for the Summer of 2014.

Mandatory Challenger's Must be Given Games

One outcome from this weeks ICC's Annual Conference appears to be limiting the number of participants in the One Day and Twenty 20 to 10 team's with the 8 highest ranked teams in the world qualifying automatically for both competitions and the remaining 2 places being earned through qualification competitions.

My Lions 37

With Lions coach Warren Gatland close to finalising his Lions touring party, April 20th the current date I felt the time was right to put my own head on the line by attempting to second guess the affable kiwi.

A Time For Change?

There are many uncertain results from Sunday's 12-8 loss to Scotland during which Ireland enjoyed (A poor choice of words maybe) 71% of possession and 77% of territory.

2013 may prove year of Evolution for Cricket Ireland

Since 2007 and Ireland's qualification for the super eight section of the world cup the Irish cricket team has lived on a slow upward curve which has generally included 2 or 3 games a season against the games full member nations.

Sonny Bill's Millions

Growing up something of a sports nut involved switching the sport I played most every 6 months with the result that I reached the dizzy heights of average in some sports while dismally failing to in others.

Celtic and the Promised Land

Victor Wanyama head's the opening goal for Celtic against Barcelona

Back in 2005 the year before my leaving certificate I had quite a time comsuming obsession, basically qualifying Irish clubs like Bohemian's or Cork City FC to the Champions League Group Stages on to the knock out stages and ultimately towards winning the tournament via the famous Football Manager portal.

Irish Rugby's Latest Foreign Legion

Rugby supporters this writer included have often privately sneered at the lack of impact football at grass roots level has on the fortunes of the Irish national football team.

A Solution for European Club Rugby

English and French clubs displeasure with the current qualification format for the Heineken Cup is perfectly understandable that's my honest point of view.

Golf: What does a Ryder Cup win really mean for European golf

Martin Kaymer's nerveless putt to retain the Ryder Cup may have quietened forty odd thousand rowdy American golf fans as well as lifting the spirits of his European teammates and inspirational captain Jose Maria Olazabal but another Ryder cup victory for Europe looks unlikely to improve the lot of professional golf in Europe.

Rankins International Retirement

Boyd Rankin bowling at the recent T20 qualifiers in March

Imagine if Shane Long in order to secure a new contract with West Brom was required to retire from international football or Tommy Bowe when considering a new contract offer with the Ospreys was encouraged to concentrate solely on club rugby going forward.