Columns - Irish Examiner

Brendan O'Brien

Player safety being compromised

There’s a moment in the second episode of the superb American football documentary Last Chance U when Brittany Wagner, an athletic academic advisor — yep, it’s a thing — with East Mississippi Community College, exhales dramatically during a tight game with rival college Co-Lin and reckons that she may have just stopped breathing for a full minute.

Fri, 25 Nov, 2016

Even the Conor McGregor hype gets drowned out in New York

Conor McGregor could hardly have done more to make New York sit up and take notice, writes Brendan O’Brien

Fri, 18 Nov, 2016

Donald Trump, the golfer: ‘You never go out on a golf course and beat the president’

The United States, and the world as a whole, has entered unchartered and uncertain territory with the ascension to the White House of Donald Trump but the election result earlier this week did at least throw up some familiar territory, writes Brendan O’Brien

Fri, 11 Nov, 2016

Irish win against All-Blacks would be latest drama at Soldier Field

It sure seems like a good time for miracles in Chicago.

Fri, 04 Nov, 2016

Galway big losers in Leinster’s culture of self-interest

It’s five years since Dublin GAA unleashed their ‘Blue Wave’ strategic plan on us, writes Brendan O’Brien. 

Fri, 28 Oct, 2016

Emulate the Dubs, don’t envy them

Every county in Ireland needs more services and facilities and the social glue applied by boots-on-the-ground workers like the GAA’s GPOs, writes Brendan O’Brien

Fri, 21 Oct, 2016

Go on Martin, give Daryl Horgan a call

What exactly do you say when you’re sitting next to Martin O’Neill at a match, asks Brendan O’Brien

Fri, 14 Oct, 2016

Ryder Cup losers escape Arsenal’s selfie glare

“I’d rather be a poor winner than any kind of loser.” - George S Kaufman, American playwright

Fri, 07 Oct, 2016

Derek McGrath’s open approach truly a breath of fresh air

Some say it’s been a smear campaign, others dismiss that as the ravings of conspiracy theorists.

Fri, 30 Sep, 2016

Olympic and Paralympic heroes always breaking down barriers

Thomas Barr decided to strike while the iron was hot and run a Diamond League meet. Natalya Coyle spent a fortnight working for RTÉ as a pundit on the Paralympics. Colin Lynch is targeting a world record mile attempt on the bike and Paul Pollock set off on a leisurely road trip around Ireland.

Fri, 23 Sep, 2016