Paul O’Connell went into the European Ryder Cup team room on Tuesday night with no intention of providing inspiration, merely to talk about what being a team player meant to him. 

At one point yesterday, it was probably harder to find messages on social media platforms that were not about Paul O’Connell, as tributes flooded in for the Ireland rugby captain who has now played his last game for his country.

Joe Schmidt last night promised Ireland would forge ahead without Paul O’Connell, but not before admitting his captain’s leadership would leave a massive hole as they prepare for Sunday’s World Cup quarter-final with Argentina.

Former Irish international Conor O’Shea fears that a huge injury toll will derail Ireland’s bid for World Cup glory.

Ireland captain Paul O’Connell marches into his fourth and final World Cup tomorrow in Cardiff. Ahead of the World Cup kick-off against Canada, the second-row legend sat down with rugby correspondent Simon Lewis to share memories of tournaments past — and offer insights into his mindset going into his final tour of duty in green.

Paul O’Connell was planning to contact Toulon last night to hear his new club’s take on reports that it had been caught up in a criminal investigation involving pharmacists who are alleged to have illegally supplied the club with substances such as antibiotics and growth hormones.

Paul O’Connell’s departure from Munster looks like being a long goodbye but vice-captain Denis Hurley admitted yesterday the loss of their iconic star will probably only sink in after the World Cup.

A nation will shed one giant tear come October when Paul O’Connell peels off an Ireland jersey for the last time, but the legendary lock is refusing to engage in the emotional build-up ahead of the Rugby World Cup that will bring the curtain down on his international career.

The injury that rules Tommy O’Donnell out of the World Cup

New Munster signing Mark Chisholm will arrive in the province today to undergo a medical with supporters hoping this is the start of a beautiful relationship.

Rob Kearney has rejected suggestions that Paul O’Connell’s switch from Munster to Toulon will kickstart a trend of senior Ireland internationals ending their careers in the financially flush Top 14.

Paul O’Connell has “changed beyond belief” in a late-career surge that has earned him his two-year move to French club Toulon, according to Reggie Corrigan.

Whatever mystery remained over the end of Paul O’Connell’s rugby career evaporated last night as the Munster icon and Ireland captain signed a one-year deal with three-time European champions Toulon.

Munster Rugby chief executive Garrett Fitzgerald expects Paul O’Connell to make a final decision on his next career step in the coming fortnight, having today announced that the Irish captain will be released from his IRFU Munster contract following the Rugby World Cup.

Rob Kearney says the Ireland squad are desperate to give Paul O’Connell a ‘fairytale’ send-off by winning the Rugby World Cup.

Munster 13 Glasgow Warriors 31: Thoughts that the blood on Gregor Townsend’s hands at Ravenhill on Saturday night was Anthony Foley’s proved unfounded as the Glasgow Warriors head coach looked forward to this Guinness Pro12 final victory providing a springboard to greater things for his club.

In the end, joy and elation for a long-serving second row stalwart, but not the one we had hoped for. 

A look inside Apple’s European headquarters in Cork; Nurses refuse to oversee private carers; and Benjy, the ’gay’ bull from Mayo is playing the field. These are some of the latest and most read news stories on irishexaminer.com this morning.

Paul O’Connell may be keeping quiet on his future but Anthony Foley knows it will not be with Munster and the head coach is making plans to bring in an overseas replacement for the departing Ireland captain.

The significance of Paul O’Connell’s final game for Munster this evening is lost on no-one who has shared his remarkable career in red.

Munster 21 Ospreys 18: Paul O’Connell has spent the last few months, in public at least, ruminating over the right way to retire from professional sport and has been at pains to point out that not every athlete is fortunate to bow out from their sport in the manner of their choosing.

One called him a legend, the other a colossus and both CJ Stander and Anthony Foley admitted how much Munster will miss Paul O’Connell when he plays his last game for the province in Saturday’s Guinness Pro12 final.

Paul O’Connell’s glorious Munster career will end in the next eight days — and he will play his final Thomond Park game tomorrow, sources have revealed to the Irish Examiner.

Staff at Cavan General had highlighted risks posed to patients; Hundreds of tributes have been pouring in for the late Derek Davis; and we ask, what makes a modern Irish family? These are some of the latest and most read news stories on irishexaminer.com this morning.

Paul O’Connell was lifting trophies again last night as the Ireland captain was voted the Hibernia College IRUPA Players’ Player of the Year 2015 by his fellow professionals.

Munster will be close to full strength for their trip north to Ulster on Saturday with Paul O’Connell set to start the crucial Guinness Pro12 clash after recovering from a shoulder injury.

Toulon are after winning the European Cup for the third year in a row and owner Mourad Boudjellal has a cheque book which could sign any player in the world, but inside the dressing room Paul O’Connell is the one they want. 

Enda Kenny’s decision to cut USC has been seen as a bid to reclaim votes, a hero garda is being celebrated after risking his life to save three children, Paul O’Connell plans to see out his IRFU contract and David Beckham hits 40. These are some of the latest and most read news stories on irishexaminer.com this morning.

Fianna Fail will focus on childcare policy ahead of the party’s Ard Fheis this week, Munster’s Anthony Foley has dismissed claims that Paul O’Connell has been linked to French side Toulon, and woman opens fire in a McDonald’s when staff failed to give her bacon in her burger.  These are some of the latest and most read news stories on irishexaminer.com this morning.

More than 10,000 volunteers of all ages clad in hi-vis gear swept through Limerick city and county yesterday leaving a trail of spick-and-span neighbourhoods in their wake.

Limerick rolls up its sleeve today as a 10,000-strong volunteer army sets out to tackle tons of rubbish strewn along streets and by-ways in the city and county.

Ireland and Munster rugby legend Paul O’Connell has rowed in behind a tech firm’s drive to improve the heart health of its global workforce.