“And does it mean anything more than that we have a very good team and an even better manager? Probably not, although I’d like to make the point – not for the first time – that there’s nothing wrong with Britain. It’s just the politicians who keep letting us down.”

Statistics show that one in 10 baby boys born in 1980, were named John Paul after the historic visit.

Sam Bennett picked up another podium finish in the Giro d’Italia, yesterday, the Irish sprinter taking third as Matej Mohoric won stage 10 from Penne to Gualdo Tadino.

Sam Bennett claimed his best result of the Giro d’Italia so far after finishing third on yesterday’s fifth stage of the race into Messina from Pedara.

Sam Bennett starts the third Grand Tour of his career tomorrow, when he leads the Bora-Hansgrohe team at the Giro d’Italia, which gets underway in Alghero, Sardinia.

Prehistoric’ was one of the kinder words used by critics of Jack Charlton’s brand of football when he was manager of Ireland but in the foreword he has penned for a newly published biography by Colin Young, the man himself makes the claim that, au contraire – or, more likely, ‘bugger that’ – his Ireland team actually laid the foundations for the game as we know it today.

Good morning. Here’s everything you need to know before you start your day.

The Republic of Ireland travels to France this week with a squad of 23 players who will be looking to make history and take Ireland out of the group stage for the first time in the Euros.

Nicolas Roche moved up three places to 16th on general classification at the Giro d’Italia yesterday after finishing in the same time as stage winner Andre Greipel (Lotto Soudal).

Ireland’s Nicolas Roche got right in the mix on the fourth day of the Giro d’Italia yesterday, challenging for stage glory on the 200-kilometre stage from Catanzaro to Praia a Mare.

The Irish have two hot shots at glory on Main Avenue for this year’s Chelsea Flower Show, writes Peter Dowdall.         

Talking publishing, writing, selling and reading in our sports book round-up.

Pope Francis is, or rather was, well known as a football man and, in particular, as a committed supporter of the San Lorenzo club in his native Argentina, so it rather came as a shock when he recently confessed that he had never seen his fellow countryman Lionel Messi in action.

Twenty-five years ago today at Italia ‘90, Brazil were beating Scotland 1-0 and Costa Rica were beating Sweden 2-1 but, putting the kibosh on what was the most keenly anticipated contest of the day back in Ireland, Jack Charlton was simply refusing to even take the pitch against Eamon Dunphy.

Last year, when I met Bill O’Herlihy for the first and only time just days before his last broadcast anchoring the RTÉ football panel, he made one of those characteristic self-depreciating comments as we were finishing up.

A late puncture proved costly for Team Sky’s Richie Porte as Nicola Boem (Bardiani-CSF) won stage 10 of the Giro d’Italia on Tuesday.

Michael Matthews won stage three of the Giro d’Italia which saw Italian rider Domenico Pozzovivo suffer a frightening crash to bring back memories of the accident which killed Belgian rider Wouter Weylandt in the 2011 edition.

So now we know that there’ll be some proper viva in the Aviva come the summer of 2020, when Dublin will, for the first time in its history, play host to international tournament football at the highest level.

It’s time again to dust off the joke book and dig up those old enmities.

Nairo Quintana plans to target the 2015 Tour de France after celebrating victory in the Giro d’Italia yesterday.

Philip Deignan notched his best result since moving to Team Sky last year — and the best result from an Irish perspective at this year’s Giro d’Italia when he notched a brilliant third on yesterday’s 18th stage of the race from Belluno to Panarotta.

Stefano Pirazzi cried tears of joy after winning his first Grand Tour stage in his home race yesterday, but behind him arguments still raged after Tuesday’s controversial Giro d’Italia stage put Nairo Quintana in the pink jersey of race leader.

CYCLING: Nacer Bouhanni of France continued his dominance of the Giro d’Italia sprint finishes by winning his third stage of the race in Salsomaggiore Terme yesterday.

Dan Martin’s race programme for the remainder of the season is unclear following his collar bone break on the opening stage of the Giro d’Italia in Belfast last Friday night.

The Cork man at the centre of an international cycling media storm has apologised to anyone he offended following his now infamous selfie with Sunday’s stage winner of the Giro d’Italia in Dublin, Marcel Kittel.

German powerhouse Marcel Kittel proved for the second day in succession he is currently the best sprinter in the world when he stormed to victory on stage three of the Giro d’Italia in front of over 50,000 fans in Dublin’s city centre yesterday.

Hundreds of thousands of people lined highways and byways in Ireland to bid arrivederci to the Giro D’Italia.

Giro D’Italia: Dan Martin had surgery on his broken collarbone in Dublin yesterday following his race-ending crash on Friday’s opening stage in Belfast.

The race is only one stage old but already it’s a case of what might have been for Ireland’s big hope in the Giro d’Italia as Dan Martin crashed out of the race after just 15 minutes in last night’s opener in Belfast.

Irish cycling legend Stephen Roche "would put his money" on nephew Dan Martin to win a stage of the Giro d’Italia, which starts in Belfast with a team time-trial on Friday.

Quirke with Gabriel Byrne debuts on RTÉ One, while Moone Boy makes a welcome return to Sky 1.

Iconic freedom fighter visits Dublin shortly after release, reminds self to mention Jackie's Army. A lovely piece of history.

Sir Anthony Hopkins found himself with a share of a Classic Brit Award tonight after one of his compositions featured on the album of the year.

SMART EATING: Kevin Dundon says the secret of good eating is to eat in season and to eat in moderation.

In a grubby little corner on the edge of Bray, down by the harbour, sits the town’s boxing gym.

A TOUCH OF ITALIA WITH ADDED SUMMER VALUE

We got a little taster this week of what it will be like if it all goes horribly wrong at the Euros, with the pundits lining up to pour withering scorn on the Trap Project after Ireland’s drab 1-1 draw with the Czech Republic.

SATURDAY

SATURDAY

Lee Westwood gave the crowd a wave of acknowledgment and they responded in inevitable fashion.

NOTWITHSTANDING the one about the risen Lord, it is perhaps the greatest story ever told.

OUR football correspondent LIAM MACKEY is back in top form and full of energy. He casts his eye over your comments and gives his own critical analysis of the goings on throughout the world of football.