Malachy Clerkin
@malachyclerkin.bsky.social
Sportswriter for The Irish Times. Looking up, not down.
malachy.clerkin@irishtimes.com
malachy.clerkin@irishtimes.com
Reposted by Malachy Clerkin
Just a few hours until thew American Ryder Cup captain maybe, possibly picks himself to play in the Ryder Cup. A piece on how the Yanks got themselves into such a mad muddle over a middling golfer called Keegan Bradley.
www.irishtimes.com/sport/golf/2...
www.irishtimes.com/sport/golf/2...
www.irishtimes.com
August 27, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Just a few hours until thew American Ryder Cup captain maybe, possibly picks himself to play in the Ryder Cup. A piece on how the Yanks got themselves into such a mad muddle over a middling golfer called Keegan Bradley.
www.irishtimes.com/sport/golf/2...
www.irishtimes.com/sport/golf/2...
Just a few hours until thew American Ryder Cup captain maybe, possibly picks himself to play in the Ryder Cup. A piece on how the Yanks got themselves into such a mad muddle over a middling golfer called Keegan Bradley.
www.irishtimes.com/sport/golf/2...
www.irishtimes.com/sport/golf/2...
www.irishtimes.com
August 27, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Just a few hours until thew American Ryder Cup captain maybe, possibly picks himself to play in the Ryder Cup. A piece on how the Yanks got themselves into such a mad muddle over a middling golfer called Keegan Bradley.
www.irishtimes.com/sport/golf/2...
www.irishtimes.com/sport/golf/2...
Reposted by Malachy Clerkin
Sally Hayden: Israel’s targeting of journalists is an attack on truth and history
Sally Hayden: Israel’s targeting of journalists is an attack on truth and history
Journalists’ lives are not more important than those of other civilians, but when you attack journalists you stop the world from learning about what is happening
www.irishtimes.com
August 27, 2025 at 5:07 AM
Sally Hayden: Israel’s targeting of journalists is an attack on truth and history
Great to have Conor Murray writing in The Irish Times during the Lions tour. His first piece is about Jamison Gibson-Park.
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...
Conor Murray: With Jamison Gibson-Park pulling the strings, the Lions will look like Ireland in red jerseys
Our new columnist writes that the Leinster scrumhalf invariably makes right decision in possession
www.irishtimes.com
July 11, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Great to have Conor Murray writing in The Irish Times during the Lions tour. His first piece is about Jamison Gibson-Park.
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...
"Only during the hour itself will Taylor discover if her body still has the capacity to endure the punishments of 10 two-minute rounds which, in their hands, are likely to be defined by a furious rate of punches thrown and a wild unpredictability."
www.irishtimes.com/sport/boxing...
www.irishtimes.com/sport/boxing...
Tuning out the noise, Katie Taylor steels herself for last dance with Amanda Serrano
Taylor and Serrano return to New York’s Madison Square Garden for the next instalment in their enthralling rivalry
www.irishtimes.com
July 11, 2025 at 10:48 AM
"Only during the hour itself will Taylor discover if her body still has the capacity to endure the punishments of 10 two-minute rounds which, in their hands, are likely to be defined by a furious rate of punches thrown and a wild unpredictability."
www.irishtimes.com/sport/boxing...
www.irishtimes.com/sport/boxing...
Reposted by Malachy Clerkin
Today's front page - Tusla and the Govt clashed over a national crisis in special care, with a senior official accusing the State agency of taking “insufficient” action to help at-risk children
There were concerns one child was at risk of dying w/out a place
www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
There were concerns one child was at risk of dying w/out a place
www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
July 11, 2025 at 6:09 AM
Today's front page - Tusla and the Govt clashed over a national crisis in special care, with a senior official accusing the State agency of taking “insufficient” action to help at-risk children
There were concerns one child was at risk of dying w/out a place
www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
There were concerns one child was at risk of dying w/out a place
www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
The Mayo County Board can hire and fire who they like but there's a way to do it. This was the work of spivs. Kevin McStay deserved better.
www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic...
www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic...
Malachy Clerkin: Mayo’s decision to oust Kevin McStay was fair enough but the way they did it was foul
Understandable desire for change after three years without notable progression
www.irishtimes.com
June 26, 2025 at 12:27 PM
The Mayo County Board can hire and fire who they like but there's a way to do it. This was the work of spivs. Kevin McStay deserved better.
www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic...
www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic...
Mark Paul at the Kneecap trial.
The magistrate said the court had so far been unable to find an Irish interpreter. “If anyone knows of one….” he said. A woman in the public gallery could be heard laughing as she pointed at Ó hAnnaidh’s bandmates."
www.irishtimes.com/world/uk/202...
The magistrate said the court had so far been unable to find an Irish interpreter. “If anyone knows of one….” he said. A woman in the public gallery could be heard laughing as she pointed at Ó hAnnaidh’s bandmates."
www.irishtimes.com/world/uk/202...
Kneecap case: ‘A woman pointed to a sniggering Móglaí Bap as the magistrate asked if anyone knew an Irish interpreter’
Bedlam and singing outside London court as Kneecap’s Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh appears on charge over displaying Hizbullah flag
www.irishtimes.com
June 18, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Mark Paul at the Kneecap trial.
The magistrate said the court had so far been unable to find an Irish interpreter. “If anyone knows of one….” he said. A woman in the public gallery could be heard laughing as she pointed at Ó hAnnaidh’s bandmates."
www.irishtimes.com/world/uk/202...
The magistrate said the court had so far been unable to find an Irish interpreter. “If anyone knows of one….” he said. A woman in the public gallery could be heard laughing as she pointed at Ó hAnnaidh’s bandmates."
www.irishtimes.com/world/uk/202...
Reposted by Malachy Clerkin
Jarvis Cocker paused during Pulp’s 3Arena show last week to remember their first gig in Dublin — The Rock Garden, March 1993. A £10-a-night hotel, missing gear, and one unforgettable punchline.
Read the full tale of Pulp’s curious Irish beginnings here
theblackpoolsentinel.com/2025/06/16/p...
Read the full tale of Pulp’s curious Irish beginnings here
theblackpoolsentinel.com/2025/06/16/p...
June 16, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Jarvis Cocker paused during Pulp’s 3Arena show last week to remember their first gig in Dublin — The Rock Garden, March 1993. A £10-a-night hotel, missing gear, and one unforgettable punchline.
Read the full tale of Pulp’s curious Irish beginnings here
theblackpoolsentinel.com/2025/06/16/p...
Read the full tale of Pulp’s curious Irish beginnings here
theblackpoolsentinel.com/2025/06/16/p...
Reposted by Malachy Clerkin
Ticket available for Michael Lewis's sold-out #DalkeyBookFestival event, Sunday 6pm:
www.ticketswap.com/listing/mich...
www.ticketswap.com/listing/mich...
Michael Lewis, Master Storyteller, Dalkey Book Festival 2025 (Cuala GAA Hall, A96X795)
TicketSwap is the safest place to buy and sell tickets. A simple and fair-priced marketplace for fans to buy and sell tickets for events, concerts, festivals, etc.
www.ticketswap.com
June 14, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Ticket available for Michael Lewis's sold-out #DalkeyBookFestival event, Sunday 6pm:
www.ticketswap.com/listing/mich...
www.ticketswap.com/listing/mich...
Reposted by Malachy Clerkin
Choose any metric you like - crowd size, TV audience, the closeness of the games. Cork v Limerick has become the biggest game in Irish sport. Here's how it happened.
www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic...
www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic...
How Cork v Limerick became the biggest game in Irish sport
Four years ago it wasn’t much of a contest, but an injection of pure uncut Cork has helped make this a rivalry for the ages
www.irishtimes.com
May 18, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Choose any metric you like - crowd size, TV audience, the closeness of the games. Cork v Limerick has become the biggest game in Irish sport. Here's how it happened.
www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic...
www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic...
“I’ve run three times this season and each time I was like, ‘Oh my God, I feel different. I don’t feel as sharp. I don’t feel as quick. I feel sluggish.’ And my coach is like: ‘Ray, you’re not trying to break the world record right now. Focus on the goal.’
www.irishtimes.com/sport/athlet...
www.irishtimes.com/sport/athlet...
Rhasidat Adeleke on life in the spotlight: ‘How do people like Beyoncé handle this? This is crazy!’
Rhasidat Adeleke interview: Tallaght sprinter on navigating fame at 22, building her brand and the changes she has made ahead of September’s World Championships
www.irishtimes.com
May 18, 2025 at 11:02 AM
“I’ve run three times this season and each time I was like, ‘Oh my God, I feel different. I don’t feel as sharp. I don’t feel as quick. I feel sluggish.’ And my coach is like: ‘Ray, you’re not trying to break the world record right now. Focus on the goal.’
www.irishtimes.com/sport/athlet...
www.irishtimes.com/sport/athlet...
On Daffodil Day, here's a piece I wrote about my dad a few years back. If you see a daffodil seller today, throw them a few quid. If you don't, text DAFF to 50300 to donate €4 to the Irish Cancer Society. They're amazing, amazing people.
irishtimes.com/life-and-sty...
irishtimes.com/life-and-sty...
‘Dad was only 62 when he died. My friend’s partner was only 37. Everyone’s only is their own’
He finished his 40 years of work and a year later he was diagnosed with cancer
irishtimes.com
March 28, 2025 at 11:36 AM
On Daffodil Day, here's a piece I wrote about my dad a few years back. If you see a daffodil seller today, throw them a few quid. If you don't, text DAFF to 50300 to donate €4 to the Irish Cancer Society. They're amazing, amazing people.
irishtimes.com/life-and-sty...
irishtimes.com/life-and-sty...
Reposted by Malachy Clerkin
www.independent.ie/opinion/comm... Ellen Coyne: Conor McGregor is Ireland’s most diabolically embarrassing export – and Trump may have given him his next big break
Ellen Coyne: Conor McGregor is Ireland’s most diabolically embarrassing export – and Trump may have given him his next big break
Here’s Conor McGregor’s biggest problem. His desire to leave a noble legacy is so very intense, but the moral fibre he’s relying on is so very pallid. McGregor is the living paradox of someone who is ...
www.independent.ie
March 20, 2025 at 2:28 PM
www.independent.ie/opinion/comm... Ellen Coyne: Conor McGregor is Ireland’s most diabolically embarrassing export – and Trump may have given him his next big break
Reposted by Malachy Clerkin
My piece this weekend is an interview with Ruairí Keating, who was very honest about how difficult life has been since the death of his father. (Free to read)
'It's always there' - Ruairí Keating opens up on grief, and why he needed to return to Cork the42.ie/6613150
'It's always there' - Ruairí Keating opens up on grief, and why he needed to return to Cork the42.ie/6613150
'It's always there' - Ruairí Keating opens up on grief, and why he needed to return to Cork
Ruairí Keating speaks exclusively to The 42 about coming to terms with the tragic loss of his father.
the42.ie
February 8, 2025 at 9:24 AM
My piece this weekend is an interview with Ruairí Keating, who was very honest about how difficult life has been since the death of his father. (Free to read)
'It's always there' - Ruairí Keating opens up on grief, and why he needed to return to Cork the42.ie/6613150
'It's always there' - Ruairí Keating opens up on grief, and why he needed to return to Cork the42.ie/6613150
Whatever anyone thinks about Rory Gallagher, the GAA president should not be influencing Naas GAA’s coaching choices.
www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic...
www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic...
Malachy Clerkin: Whatever anyone thinks about Rory Gallagher, the GAA president should not be influencing Naas GAA’s coaching choices
Jarlath Burns has brought huge energy to the role since he took over last February, but his intervention at the Kildare club is an unprecedented overreach
www.irishtimes.com
January 8, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Whatever anyone thinks about Rory Gallagher, the GAA president should not be influencing Naas GAA’s coaching choices.
www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic...
www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic...
This is an extraordinary story by Dave Hannigan. The Last Sportswriter in Nazi Paris.
www.irishtimes.com/sport/2024/1...
www.irishtimes.com/sport/2024/1...
The Legend of Sparrow Robertson: The last sportswriter in Nazi Paris
Described as ‘illiteracy’s most famous product’, what Robertson lacked in skill he made up for in tenacity under the cloud of Nazi occupation
www.irishtimes.com
December 30, 2024 at 2:16 PM
This is an extraordinary story by Dave Hannigan. The Last Sportswriter in Nazi Paris.
www.irishtimes.com/sport/2024/1...
www.irishtimes.com/sport/2024/1...
The Sportswoman of the Year awards are this afternoon - always the best day. These awards have been going for 20 years now so I wrote a bit about the distance between there and here.
www.irishtimes.com/sport/2024/1...
www.irishtimes.com/sport/2024/1...
Irish women on top of the sporting world
Irish sportswomen are now the women other countries study to see what can be achieved
www.irishtimes.com
December 20, 2024 at 9:52 AM
The Sportswoman of the Year awards are this afternoon - always the best day. These awards have been going for 20 years now so I wrote a bit about the distance between there and here.
www.irishtimes.com/sport/2024/1...
www.irishtimes.com/sport/2024/1...
Reposted by Malachy Clerkin
www.independent.ie/opinion/comm... Ellen Coyne: There are people in the Republic who are not working hard enough to understand the points Kneecap are making
Ellen Coyne: There are people in the Republic who are not working hard enough to understand the points Kneecap are making
Some articles have become part of the permanent furniture of Irish media. The testimony of women of a certain age who enjoy sea swimming, for example, or episodic missives from people who have moved t...
www.independent.ie
December 19, 2024 at 10:27 AM
www.independent.ie/opinion/comm... Ellen Coyne: There are people in the Republic who are not working hard enough to understand the points Kneecap are making
Reposted by Malachy Clerkin
My book, ‘States of Play’, is out now.
It is really a modern history of football, and how it has been transformed by three main forces: geopolitics, especially autocratic states; a very western capitalism; the game’s own greed and failures of authority
geni.us/StatesOfPlay
It is really a modern history of football, and how it has been transformed by three main forces: geopolitics, especially autocratic states; a very western capitalism; the game’s own greed and failures of authority
geni.us/StatesOfPlay
States of Play: How Sportswashing Took Over Football
Pre-order your copy today:
geni.us
November 7, 2024 at 9:41 AM
My book, ‘States of Play’, is out now.
It is really a modern history of football, and how it has been transformed by three main forces: geopolitics, especially autocratic states; a very western capitalism; the game’s own greed and failures of authority
geni.us/StatesOfPlay
It is really a modern history of football, and how it has been transformed by three main forces: geopolitics, especially autocratic states; a very western capitalism; the game’s own greed and failures of authority
geni.us/StatesOfPlay
Wordle has beaten me twice this week. This must be how Pep feels every day.
December 13, 2024 at 10:45 AM
Wordle has beaten me twice this week. This must be how Pep feels every day.
Reposted by Malachy Clerkin
Okay, the end of the year is in sight, so maybe it’s a good time for us to tell you about our financials, here at Dublin Inquirer HQ at the Digital Hub on Thomas Street in Dublin 8. We ask for transparency from others, so some transparency from us is good too, right? 1/
December 11, 2024 at 1:09 PM
Okay, the end of the year is in sight, so maybe it’s a good time for us to tell you about our financials, here at Dublin Inquirer HQ at the Digital Hub on Thomas Street in Dublin 8. We ask for transparency from others, so some transparency from us is good too, right? 1/
Reposted by Malachy Clerkin
From just missing out on the Olympic rugby sevens squad to playing for Meath to winning an AFLW title, nobody had a year like Vikki Wall.
“If I knew the whole outcome of this whole year, I definitely would do it all over again.”
www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic...
“If I knew the whole outcome of this whole year, I definitely would do it all over again.”
www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic...
From missing out on the Olympics to winning an AFLW title, nobody had a year like Vikki Wall
The Meath footballer came close to making the cut in rugby Sevens just nine months after taking up the sport but used her disappointment to go back to Australia intent on ending 2024 on a high note
www.irishtimes.com
December 7, 2024 at 9:28 AM
From just missing out on the Olympic rugby sevens squad to playing for Meath to winning an AFLW title, nobody had a year like Vikki Wall.
“If I knew the whole outcome of this whole year, I definitely would do it all over again.”
www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic...
“If I knew the whole outcome of this whole year, I definitely would do it all over again.”
www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic...
Reposted by Malachy Clerkin
Looking for compensation when a player goes to the AFL is a terrible idea for the GAA. Today's column.
www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic...
www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic...
Malachy Clerkin: Looking for compensation when a player goes to the AFL is a terrible idea for the GAA
It’s understandable that a county like Kerry is annoyed at losing young players to Australia but once you start extracting a price for footballers, you turn them into tradeable commodities
www.irishtimes.com
December 7, 2024 at 9:29 AM
Looking for compensation when a player goes to the AFL is a terrible idea for the GAA. Today's column.
www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic...
www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic...