Eamon Dunphy's podcast 'The Stand' taking break for 'foreseeable future'

Eamon Dunphy sitting beside Ruby Walsh in 2018. Picture: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy

Eamon Dunphy is taking a break from his podcast The Stand for what he says is the "foreseeable future".

In a statement from Dunphy and his wife Jane Gogan, it was said they have commitments to other projects which require their attention.

The former RTÉ soccer pundit left the national broadcaster in 2018 to focus on The Stand, which had launched two years earlier. Its last episode, number 2073, an interview with UCD professor Diarmaid Ferriter about whether Fianna Fail and Fine Gael should merge, was released on December 19th.

The podcast had initially featured a mix of politics and sport but in recent times began to focus on the former. 

"The Stand is taking a break for the foreseeable future," read the statement.

"We both have long standing commitments to other projects that we must attend to now. Before we go, we would like to thank all those who have helped The Stand to deliver quality news and current affairs content over the past eight years.

"We have had some really outstanding contributors who have guided all of us through a remarkably turbulent period in international affairs: Brexit, Covid, the Wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, and of course the emergence of Donald Trump to form another administration in the United States! Also the rise of right-wing populism across Europe.

"To do what The Stand set out to do we needed the very best contributors that are out there. In this respect we were extremely fortunate. Whether for sport or politics, international and domestic, we endeavored to get the best and mostly did. We’d like to thank all those who contributed across the years.

"A huge thanks also to our excellent engineers Dan McAuley and Dek Hynes who have been great professionals and allies throughout lockdown and the recent years. It’s also important for us to acknowledge the talent and professionalism of former engineers Brenden Jenkinson and Ian Maleney. Also Rosie Gogan-Keogh who played an essential part in the start up, and Greg Spring and the Hen’s Teeth design team.

"The Stand will remain on the Acast platform. Acast has been a pleasure to partner with on this project and we are indebted to them for this.

"It’s been difficult to make the decision to stop now as we’ve hugely enjoyed working together but now is the time.

"Finally, a very special thank you to all who have listened to The Stand. Those who have emailed their support or indeed their criticism have made our efforts worthwhile. We are sincerely grateful to every one of our listeners. Thank you most of all."