In 2008, Martin O’Neill, the Irish soccer manager, was invited to Áras an Uachtarán by Mary McAleese to give a lecture on the meaning of being Irish.

THE world of Gaelic games is in mourning following the death at 59 of Eamonn Coleman, who has gone down in history as the man who guided Derry to their only All-Ireland football success in 1993, against Cork.