Ciarán Kennedy
@ciarankennedy.bsky.social
Sportswriter with The 42.
Ireland count cost of bruising experience as France lie in wait:
Ireland count cost of bruising experience as France lie in wait
Scott Bemand’s side struggled to live with New Zealand’s power and speed in Brighton.
www.the42.ie
September 7, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Ireland count cost of bruising experience as France lie in wait:
Ferocious New Zealand defence holds Ireland scoreless in Brighton:
Ferocious New Zealand defence holds Ireland scoreless in Brighton
Scott Bemand’s side had no answers as the Black Ferns ran in six tries.
www.the42.ie
September 7, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Ferocious New Zealand defence holds Ireland scoreless in Brighton:
Ellena Perry out for Ireland, so Niamh O'Dowd starts v New Zealand.
September 7, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Ellena Perry out for Ireland, so Niamh O'Dowd starts v New Zealand.
Ireland need to make Brighton rock if they are to stun New Zealand again:
Ireland need to make Brighton rock if they are to stun New Zealand again
Scott Bemand’s team are in action at 2.45pm at the Amex Stadium.
www.the42.ie
September 7, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Ireland need to make Brighton rock if they are to stun New Zealand again:
Even with quarter-final place safe, Ireland are right to go strong against New Zealand:
Even with quarter-final place safe, Ireland are right to go strong against New Zealand
Scott Bemand needs big players to step up if his team are to topple the Black Ferns.
www.the42.ie
September 6, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Even with quarter-final place safe, Ireland are right to go strong against New Zealand:
Ireland make 6 changes for New Zealand but Wafer misses out again:
Ireland make 6 changes for New Zealand but Wafer misses out again
The two sides go head-to-head in Brighton on Sunday.
www.the42.ie
September 5, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Ireland make 6 changes for New Zealand but Wafer misses out again:
Defence must be a concern as Ireland face into tougher World Cup tests:
Defence must be a concern as Ireland face into tougher World Cup tests
Scott Bemand’s side leaked five tries against Spain.
www.the42.ie
September 1, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Defence must be a concern as Ireland face into tougher World Cup tests:
7-try Ireland beat spirited Spain side to book place in World Cup quarter-finals:
7-try Ireland beat spirited Spain side to book place in World Cup quarter-finals
Dannah O’Brien, Amee Leigh Costigan, Eve Higgins, Anna McGann and Grace Moore supplied the Irish scores in Northampton.
the42.ie
August 31, 2025 at 1:30 PM
7-try Ireland beat spirited Spain side to book place in World Cup quarter-finals:
Much-changed Ireland out to book quarter-final place against Spain:
Much-changed Ireland out to book quarter-final place against Spain
Scott Bemand’s side are back in Franklin’s Gardens for their second World Cup pool game.
the42.ie
August 31, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Much-changed Ireland out to book quarter-final place against Spain:
Higgins shines as Ireland launch World Cup campaign with 6-try defeat of Japan:
Breen shines as Ireland launch World Cup campaign with 6-try defeat of Japan
Scott Bemand’s side started strong in Northampton to secure the bonus-point before half time.
www.the42.ie
August 24, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Higgins shines as Ireland launch World Cup campaign with 6-try defeat of Japan:
In Northampton today for the start of Ireland's World Cup journey. Piece on the progress under Scott Bemand since 2023 here.
Two-year journey with Bemand leads Ireland back to World Cup stage
Scott Bemand’s side kick-off their pool campaign against Japan today.
www.the42.ie
August 24, 2025 at 7:01 AM
In Northampton today for the start of Ireland's World Cup journey. Piece on the progress under Scott Bemand since 2023 here.
Ireland 'quite confident' Aoife Wafer will be fit for World Cup action:
Ireland 'quite confident' Aoife Wafer will be fit for World Cup action
The forward is recovering from a procedure on a knee injury.
www.the42.ie
July 30, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Ireland 'quite confident' Aoife Wafer will be fit for World Cup action:
This is an outstanding piece of work from Declan Bogue.
An isolated, distinct land that carries the football tight to its heart: Failte go Tír Chonaill
An isolated, distinct land that carries the football tight to its heart: Failte go Tír Chonaill
An isolated, distinct land that carries the football tight to its heart: Failte go Tír Chonaill
A people, a place, a culture, a way of life . . . Why Donegal can be hard to stop when they unite and focus.
www.the42.ie
July 26, 2025 at 2:40 PM
This is an outstanding piece of work from Declan Bogue.
An isolated, distinct land that carries the football tight to its heart: Failte go Tír Chonaill
An isolated, distinct land that carries the football tight to its heart: Failte go Tír Chonaill
COMMENT: Schmidt's Wallabies were transformed, but so was the Lions bench
Schmidt's Wallabies were transformed, but so was the Lions bench
Andy Farrell’s substitutes helped shift the momentum in Melbourne.
www.the42.ie
July 26, 2025 at 12:49 PM
COMMENT: Schmidt's Wallabies were transformed, but so was the Lions bench
Piece with Ireland head Scott Bemand ahead of the Women's RWC, on his days playing with Leicester and tapping into his squad's multi-sport background:
'A green shirt should be hard to get into. It shouldn’t be, ‘oops, I find myself as an Ireland player.'
'A green shirt should be hard to get into. It shouldn’t be, ‘oops, I find myself as an Ireland player.'
How days as a Leicester Tiger helped shape Ireland coach Scott Bemand
The former scrum-half has leaned on his own playing experiences in changing how his Ireland squad train.
www.the42.ie
July 25, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Piece with Ireland head Scott Bemand ahead of the Women's RWC, on his days playing with Leicester and tapping into his squad's multi-sport background:
'A green shirt should be hard to get into. It shouldn’t be, ‘oops, I find myself as an Ireland player.'
'A green shirt should be hard to get into. It shouldn’t be, ‘oops, I find myself as an Ireland player.'
COMMENT: Farrell stakes Test claim as spirited FNP put Lions to the collar:
Farrell stakes Test claim as spirited FNP put Lions to the collar
The Saracens player had a number of quality moments.
www.the42.ie
July 22, 2025 at 1:28 PM
COMMENT: Farrell stakes Test claim as spirited FNP put Lions to the collar:
Enjoyed this chat with Beibhinn Parsons. Covered her two leg breaks last year, memories of coming into the Ireland squad as a 16-year-old and her ambitions for the upcoming World Cup.
'People say treat the World Cup like any other game, but I want it to feel different'
Ireland wing Beibhinn Parsons is raring to go after recovering from two leg breaks in the space of a year.
www.the42.ie
July 20, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Enjoyed this chat with Beibhinn Parsons. Covered her two leg breaks last year, memories of coming into the Ireland squad as a 16-year-old and her ambitions for the upcoming World Cup.
Tadhg Furlong rolls back the years in Brisbane:
Tadhg Furlong rolls back the years in Brisbane
The Leinster and Ireland prop had some superb involvements but was perhaps lucky to avoid a card.
www.the42.ie
July 19, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Tadhg Furlong rolls back the years in Brisbane:
All-action Hansen ensures Farrell will have tough call to make on wing:
All-action Hansen ensures Farrell will have tough call to make on wing
The Connacht man has put the pressure on England’s Tommy Freeman.
www.the42.ie
July 12, 2025 at 12:39 PM
All-action Hansen ensures Farrell will have tough call to make on wing:
BREAKING: Jamie Osborne called up to Lions squad
Jamie Osborne called up to Lions squad
The Leinster man will become the 17th Ireland player on tour.
www.the42.ie
July 10, 2025 at 11:54 AM
BREAKING: Jamie Osborne called up to Lions squad
Aoife Wafer in race to be fit for Ireland's Rugby World Cup campaign:
Aoife Wafer in race to be fit for Ireland's Rugby World Cup campaign
The backrower has undergone a procedure on a knee injury.
www.the42.ie
July 10, 2025 at 6:30 AM
Aoife Wafer in race to be fit for Ireland's Rugby World Cup campaign:
Piece with Jamie Osborne: 'At times you're thinking maybe I should be a bit more specialised in a certain position'
'At times you're thinking maybe I should be a bit more specialised in a certain position'
Jamie Osborne makes his first start at centre for Ireland this weekend.
www.the42.ie
July 4, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Piece with Jamie Osborne: 'At times you're thinking maybe I should be a bit more specialised in a certain position'
Paul O'Connell on his team selection for Ireland's clash with Georgia: 'It’s not going to be perfect, I’m sure there will be plenty of nerves'
'It’s not going to be perfect, I’m sure there will be plenty of nerves'
Paul O’Connell has named six uncapped players in his squad for Saturday’s clash with Georgia.
www.the42.ie
July 3, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Paul O'Connell on his team selection for Ireland's clash with Georgia: 'It’s not going to be perfect, I’m sure there will be plenty of nerves'
Tadhg Beirne to captain Lions against Waratahs:
Tadhg Beirne to captain Lions against Waratahs
The Munster lock is one of six Ireland players in the starting team.
www.the42.ie
July 3, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Tadhg Beirne to captain Lions against Waratahs: