The conditionality of the donations — that the funds be distributed evenly to GAA, Camogie and Ladies Football clubs within each county — should be bittersweet music for county board executive officers.

The Beeb turned its focus to a story close to home this week.

To these guys, MMA was a quasi-religion, a new church unburdened by legacy and bureaucratic bullshit. The upstart Irishman was their warrior poet. 

The then Ireland boss insisted we should aim higher, and expect better for ourselves. 

Growing up, there were two photos in the kitchen. One, the Sacred Heart, was partially obscured by books and newspapers and other necessary day-to-day paraphernalia. The other photo was much more prominent.

How does a man of such years and experience have the energy to keep going?

The Cork native is a revelation on TV and podcasts.

El Ghazi an out-of-work professional footballer who last week had his contract terminated by Bundesliga side Mainz 05 over social media posts related to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The Rugby World Cup, which began a lifetime ago in the summer sun in Saint-Denis, ended in the winter rain in Paris, with the majestic Siya Kolisi being handed the William Webb Ellis trophy by A Question of Sport's greatest captain, Bill Beaumont.

What we needed was someone throwing a pen across the studio desk.