Border closures will not be effective in delaying the spread of Covid-19 according to an expert at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

As if a wedding isn’t dramatic enough in its own right, Lydia Downing and Johnny Brackett chose a Disney theme for their big day.

The O’Donovan rowers began it at the Rio Olympics four years ago. After that, it seemed anything the oarsmen and women of West Cork achieved, so, too, could the young rugby players of the region.

Wexford are to appeal the red card issued to Conor McDonald during their defeat of Dublin in the Allianz Hurling League last weekend but it is the officiating rather than any players who are in the spotlight this week.

Leo Cullen insists Johnny Sexton will prove his worth as Ireland captain, and has backed his out-half to come back stronger after last Sunday’s Six Nations defeat to England.

Newly re-elected, Kerry TDs Michael and Danny Healy-Rae put on a show ahead of the new Dáil's first sitting.

Jack Downey began to feel unwell at the festival on August 2 at around 4.30pm.

Further evidence of the influence of West Cork rugby in the Munster team has come with the inclusion of Rosscarbery flanker John Hodnett for his first Guinness Pro 14 start — against South African side Southern Kings — at Musgrave Park this evening, kick-off 7. 35.

So much for stormy weather. The clouds may have been gathering around Ireland as they prepared to face Grand Slam champions Wales in Dublin, and not just those being blown in by Storm Ciara. Yet when Johnny Sexton speaks, all becomes calm.

If ever there was an illustration of the power of the Healy-Raes in Kerry, it wasn’t just the convincing — and some might say inevitable — vote they received.

When Dave Kilcoyne and Jack McGrath were named in Ireland’s matchday 23 to face Italy 12 months ago, Cian Healy lost no sleep.

Fr Ray Kelly miraculously survived to dance another day on Dancing With The Stars tonight.

Ireland turn the page from one era to the next this week as the 2020 Guinness Six Nations gets underway with not just a new coaching team but also a fresh player leadership group.

The Leinster out-half was named Ireland captain by Andy Farrell for the upcoming Six Nations, replacing Rory Best, who retired after last year’s World Cup.

IRELAND’S implosion at the World Cup sent ripples in all sorts of directions.

The question he was posing to the 36 players he had brought with him to The Campus at Quinta do Lago was whether they would follow suit and not only embrace the new and challenging environment but thrive in it.

Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae has posted a song set to the tune of Come Out You Black And Tans to promote his bid to hold onto his seat in the Kingdom.

The coaching group have also named four development players who will train with the squad.

Johnny Sexton remains on track to be fit for Andy Farrell's Six Nations baptism next month – but he will not feature against Benetton this weekend.

It's time for the dreaded New Year’s Resolutions. And this year it’s a bonus round of New Decade Resolutions.

Stuart Lancaster says Johnny Sexton is “100% committed” to Leinster, as the head coach dismissed speculation linking the out-half with a move to Lyon.

The plant-hire company owned by independent Kerry TD, Danny Healy Rae last year recorded an 85% increase in post tax profits to €444,227.

Donegal chairman Mick McGrath senses expectation, commercialisation and legislation has left the GAA facing an identity crisis.

Nostalgia is bigger than it used to be. A great fear of what’s coming down the tracks has turned the world towards the good old days.

‘I’m probably the wrong man to ask, I like a little dive myself.”

On a recent trip to Northern Ireland, I was blown away by the explosion of artisan food and drink producers.

As a man more than familiar with the slings and arrows that can follow even the least outrageous fortunes of professional sport, Leo Cullen is a good place to start when assessing Joe Schmidt’s legacy.

That New Zealand have stated they will target Johnny Sexton is hardly a galloping shock. Johnny’s had that for a lot of his career, but it remains fundamentally important to Ireland’s chances today that he is on the pitch for 60-65 minutes.

Are we witnessing a changing of the guard in Ireland’s last line of defence?

Frustrated, inconsistent and more susceptible to upsets than their top-tier rivals.

This becomes a delicate balancing act now. There are some very smart people in the Irish backroom team with Joe Schmidt, but this is mostly about the Irish players and the World Cup. You can see the confidence is skin deep at the moment, it’s not in their bones.

Ireland’s rock-star puppet is on a nationwide tour. Bosco talks with Donal O’Keeffe about environmentalism, Brexit and Michael D

A moment, please, to think of the poor old referee today.

Just seven weeks short of a decade since he kicked the first of his 767 Test points on debut against Fiji, Johnny Sexton spoke about the honour of finally leading Ireland onto the field as team captain.

Not that Ireland haven’t enough to be getting on with, but there was little evidence in Scotland’s 34-0 defeat of Samoa in Kobe today that Gregor Townsend’s men are ready to rain on Japan’s World Cup parade come their decisive Pool A clash at the World Cup on Sunday October 13th.

Joe Schmidt backed a cool and calm Jack Carty to run the Ireland show in Johnny Sexton’s absence as part of the head coach’s plan to ruin Japan’s World Cup party at Stadium Ecopa tomorrow (8.15am Irish time).

Seeing Joe Schmidt is happy to do so, let’s start with Jack Carty. Even as recently as a week ago, if an Irish team to face the World Cup hosts had been named with Jack at 10, the general reaction might be best characterised by raised eyebrows.

Peter O’Mahony and Bundee Aki face a race against the clock to prove their fitness for Ireland’s meeting with World Cup hosts Japan this Saturday following failed Head Injury Assessments in the win over Scotland.

Scotland have promised to “smash” Johnny Sexton in today's Rugby World Cup pool showdown but have also put referee Wayne Barnes on notice of possible Irish illegality at ruck time.