Latest
This year
2024
kicked around
Gaelic football needs constructive criticism, not the scorn of those who revel in its flaws
Why does this enduringly popular game lend itself to such never-ending dissatisfaction?
Laughing in the Hills
'That book is incredibly compressed . . . I wanted there to be no waste'
Writer and Dublin resident Bill Barich on what made Laughing in the Hills, the story of a mid-range Californian racetrack, such an enduring classic.
last man standing
'You’re talking about the blink of an eye here' - Why it is rare to save a penalty in hurling
southern discomfort
Magic of the Munster championship comes with an inherent flaw
Cork or Clare could be finished after seven days, while Wexford or Dublin will make it to the All-Ireland series.
GAA
This is a golden age of hurling - but the league final shows how we're failing the sport as a spectacle
Clare vs Kilkenny was a must-watch, with a dramatic finale, but the game’s presentation didn’t match its importance.
Comment
There is no excusing Kyle Hayes' crime, yet his name will still be cheered
Limerick supporters backed Hayes in Croke Park, and many will likely do so again as the year progresses.
Making waves
'People like that local touch' - The growth of GAA county podcasts
Feeding the appetite for GAA conversation, keeping emigrants connected to home, insider knowledge on parking – local podcasters are serving many functions.
long read
Crash of the ash: How dieback could break the hurley-making industry
An airborne disease has ravaged the species, leaving growers decimated and hurley-makers scrambling for a long-term supply of ash.
Last year
2023
Freebest of 2023
The 42's Best of 2023: The legend of Dublin's North Star, Stephen Cluxton
Stephen Cluxton’s aversion to publicity and acclaim has only seen his legend grow, writes Arthur James O’Dea.
column
Arthur O'Dea: Inter-county hurling is at an unimaginable level, but its stars are still anonymous
generational talent
TJ Reid's approach to hurling is so beautifully simplistic, and that’s what makes him great
style wars
Arthur O'Dea: Football's dominant counties should be challenged by innovators and disrupters
Analysis straight talking
The commonality and subtle differences between John Kiely and Giannis Antetokounmpo
Analysis heuston we have a problem
Train in vain: Can the Leinster championship ever get back on track?
Analysis Arthur James O'Dea
Gaelic football needs innovators and realists who seek to upend traditional powers
