Every sportswriter is a trader in nostalgia. It comes with the territory: Instant memories. Even if you file a match report on the whistle it’s already fading into the past — “matches previously played” was Christopher Hitchens’ phrase.

The Lord Mayor and Dublin City Council are paying tribute to Jim Gavin for his contribution to public life and service to his county and country both on and off the pitch.

On April 15, 1989, in homes and in pubs all across Ireland, people sat down to watch Liverpool play Nottingham Forest in the semi-final of the FA Cup.

John Giles was excused Premier League punditry duty tonight to be granted the freedom of the city of Leeds.

Frank! Incensed! Mirth!

Liam Brady is "looking forward to a good row with the lads", after it was confirmed that the famous RTÉ football panel will be back in the harness next week — on Premier Sports.

Sometimes when someone comes out with a Big Reveal or a Hot Issue in a Big Interview promoting their New Book like Richie Sadlier did on The Late Late Show last Friday, there’s a chance that’s all the book could be reduced to.

It became a recurrent theme, on John Delaney visits to 2,000 clubs during his 14 years as FAI chief executive, to conclude by reciting the salutary advice of his mother Joan about always bringing something for his hosts.

Relations between the FAI and Brian Kerr have been strained further after the former Ireland manager angrily rejected an offer to become a “media watchdog” for the association.

John Giles has said John Delaney should resign from the FAI.

The appearance of senior FAI officials before an Oireachtas committee this week has been described as a "new low" for Irish football.

Spring is in the air. The cold hand of the previous year’s winter, which resulted in heavy snow and fixture cancellations as late as March was conspicuous by its absence but as April begins no one is taking the warm weather for granted just yet.

We have been here before in this country, says Larry Ryan.

Theo Foley smiled from the pages of other people’s books, had cameos in other people’s stories.

Former RTE pundit Eamon Dunphy has blamed Ireland’s management team and John Delaney for failing to secure Declan Rice as an Irish player.

Alex Ferguson has revealed how he was “smitten” with Liam Miller’s midfield intelligence the first time he saw the Cork man play.

If you remember, it was Muhammad Ali started it, not Mick McCarthy or Ian Evans or even Tom Humphries’ interview.

John Giles would not only welcome Declan Rice back into the fold but would put him straight into the Irish team.

A great power was given to Roy Keane. A power that can be dispensed in a look. By just making the face.

Japan’s meeting with Russia at the 2002 World Cup produced one of Eamon Dunphy’s most famous RTÉ moments.

It has been said that Pat Spillane is the Eamon Dunphy of RTÉ’s GAA coverage. It has also been said that George Hook was the Dunphy of RTÉ’s rugby coverage.

Eamon Dunphy is leaving RTÉ after 40 years working with the broadcaster.

There was a time when a woman’s place on TV coverage of the World Cup was restricted to leering crowd shots of female fans.

The lads from Sky, who landed on a mercy mission Thursday, reminded me why I’ll never go to a World Cup, writes Larry Ryan

The lads done well… Liam Brady is the latest ex-Irish international to show that talking a good game can be very lucrative after hanging up the boots.

“People were raving afterwards about Tommy Craig. He has great skill and he is strong… When you are watching a game it looks like he’s making a great contribution. But that is on the premise that what he is doing on the ball is what it’s about at that level. And it is not. Maybe it should be. It would be nice if it were.

John Giles discussed Ireland’s World Cup rescue mission with John Fallon

Larry Ryan pays tribute to Jimmy Magee and remembers his best moments...

Giles, a lovely gentle film by Loosehorse, retraced the route through a football life of our greatest football man, writes Larry Ryan.

Different era, same trauma. For Séamus Coleman 2017 read Jimmy Holmes 1979.

Ray Brady, former Ireland international, has passed away at the age of 79.

Ronald Koeman has accused Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill of mishandling James McCarthy after the Everton midfielder played all but nine minutes of last week’s victories over Georgia and Moldova.

One of Ireland’s most decorated footballers passed away yesterday in Rome, aged 60, after a short illness.

Robbie Keane announced yesterday that Wednesday's game against Oman was to be his last.

"Is the battle of the managers as exciting as the battle of the players on the pitch?" Graeme Souness glared the lad down, shaking his head.

As John Giles completed 30 years on the RTE football panel last night, Eamon Dunphy paid an eloquent and emotional tribute to his friend and colleague’s career in football.

Larry Ryan on what we’ll miss most from Gilesy…   

Tomorrow night’s final will be a sad occasion for those of us out in Montrose as John Giles makes his last appearance on the RTÉ panel. Ours is a team which has been playing together for a long, long, time and I’m certainly sad that it’s breaking up now. I know Eamon feels the same way and I know that John does too.