Already they fall through letterboxes and pile up on desks; see them fill out brown paper bags and bulk out briefcases; here they are in the million hordes (thanks, David Bowie).

The Worst in Living Memory?

SOME events are a gift to a columnist, others are a curse. Somebody with a large blank space to fill every week doesn’t drop to his knees in thanks when Kilkenny win another All-Ireland hurling title, but the Rugby World Cup is a gift that keeps on giving.

The rapidly approaching Rugby World Cup is causing media outlets everywhere to break out in supplements and previews — I can only hope you made the effort to collect last Friday’s newspaper, which had the pick of those supplements accompanying it.

The sanction was opposed on technical issues, with the substantive matter left to one side. 

Over the weekend Jimmy Barry-Murphy made the headlines, stepping down as Cork senior hurling manager. It was his second time in the limelight in less than a week, as he was made a member of the GAA Hall of Fame a few days ago.

Next Friday there’s a lunch being held in Cork to commemorate the 25th anniversary of one of the greatest feats in the history of Irish sport, the All-Ireland senior double of 1990 won by the men in red and white.

Before we talk about Tiernan McCann, and we need to talk about him because no other topic in the GAA seems to be worth ventilating, an observation.

Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final between Kilkenny and Waterford followed a template we’ve become familiar with this season: A great deal of anticipation followed closely by a vague sense of disappointment.

Developments across the water caught my eye last week, specifically some news filtering out of Newcastle and Glasgow.