If you pitch up here with any regularity the name Mark Leibovich will be familiar to you.

I didn’t pay that much attention to the Ryder Cup, which I believe thrashed itself out in nicely creased slacks all across the weekend. Homework off and half-days from school await, writes Michael Moynihan

The news filtered through in dribs and drabs last week, but the bottom line was consistent in all versions of the story. Redmonds GAA club is to close down.

If I mention the race for the Áras, will you turn the page? You won’t? Many thanks.

A couple of points about Dublin and the GAA before we all forget about it until springtime.

Glad to be back: I was in northern Spain for a few days last week — the Basque Country specifically, and San Sebastian to be precise.

Not to overanalyse the All-Ireland final last Sunday week or anything . . . but . . . can we just talk about the very end of the game, when Joe Canning was doing his best to imitate the Grinch and steal Christmas from all of Limerick?

The colour starts south of the border.

Fresh from the Department of No Further Ado, the end of season hurling awards. Often copied but never equalled, the jury (Michael Moynihan, alone) has reported in.

I thought it was all over for trains and GAA supporters, and I thought I had the exact moment the romance had ended: when Cork decided to go by bus to Dublin.