Arena with Maurice Brosnan

Arena with Maurice Brosnan: Inside Irish AFL scouting and the prospect of an AFLW team

This week on Arena, we explore the growing influence of Irish players in the AFLW and ask whether the rise of Irish talent could one day lead to an Irish-based AFLW team.   From the league’s early years, when Irish women helped fill a relatively shallow talent pool, to today’s competition where they are among the standout performers in a fully professional environment, the Irish impact on the AFLW has been remarkable.   Talent ID and skills coach Mike Currane joins the podcast to discuss the future of Irish players Down Under, why they have adapted so successfully to the game and what their success means for the GAA and LGFA at home.   Arena, from the Irish Examiner, is a weekly feature-style reflection on Irish sport. Listen free on the Irish Examiner website or wherever you get your podcasts. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Arena with Maurice Brosnan: Has this been a good season for Irish rugby?

On this week’s episode, we are joined by Leinster Schools Head Coach, MSc Sports Performance Analysis lecturer, and The Currency columnist Brett Igoe to preview the final round of the United Rugby Championship regular season and assess the current state of Irish rugby. Maurice and Brett discuss Ireland’s depth chart, Leinster’s Champions Cup ambitions, Munster’s ongoing issues, the job Stuart Lancaster is doing at Connacht, and the next step for Ulster under Richie Murphy. Arena, a new podcast from the Irish Examiner, offers weekly deep dives into Irish sport. Listen for free on the Irish Examiner website or wherever you get your podcasts. Get in touch with Maurice at maurice.brosnan@examiner.ie Follow Brett on X @brettruganalyst. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Arena with Maurice Brosnan: RTÉ Head of Sport Declan McBennett on GAA TV rights, Champions League coverage and punditry

On this week’s episode, we’re joined by RTÉ Head of Sport Declan McBennett to discuss the recent announcement that the broadcaster will remain in the Irish market for Champions League coverage. He explains why free-to-air television remains vital for sport, how decisions are made around which events are broadcast, and the challenges of balancing audience demand with commercial realities. We also examine RTÉ’s coverage of Gaelic games, including a defence of its punditry and the role analysis plays in shaping the viewing experience. Finally, we look to the future of live sport: should the priority be the in-stadium experience or the needs of the television audience? Arena, a new podcast from the Irish Examiner, offers weekly deep dives into Irish sport. Listen for free on the Irish Examiner website or wherever you get your podcasts. Get in touch with Maurice at maurice.brosnan@examiner.ie [maurice.brosnan@examiner.ie] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Arena with Maurice Brosnan: Ryder Cup ticket prices and the modern fan’s dilemma

This week, we’re joined by Colin Sheridan to talk about the price of tickets for the Ryder Cup and other big sporting events currently. Ryder Cup tickets made exclusively available to Irish fans, priced at €499 each, sold out in under an hour last Friday [https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/munster/arid-41833319.html], while practice day (€89) and weekly tickets (€1,999) sold out in under four hours. Colin explores the evolving relationship between fans and elite sporting events. As prices continue to rise, what alternatives exist for supporters who are priced out? And what does this shift mean for a younger generation’s connection to live sport? Arena, a new podcast from the Irish Examiner, offers weekly deep dives into Irish sport. Listen for free on the Irish Examiner website or wherever you get your podcasts. Get in touch with Maurice on maurice.brosnan@examiner.ie. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Arena with Maurice Brosnan: Chasing gold - the truth about Irish athletics funding

This week, we’re talking funding for athletics. Gerard O’Donnell is a coach with Dublin sprint who knows what it is like as an athlete having won nine national titles in the short hurdles too. He joins us to talk about how the model currently works and where it could improve. This week, a record €28.5 million in funding was confirmed for Sport Ireland's High Performance Unit for this year. We ask which athletes would benefit most from that support? Arena, a new podcast from the Irish Examiner, offers weekly deep dives into Irish sport. Listen for free on the Irish Examiner website or wherever you get your podcasts. Get in touch with Maurice on maurice.brosnan@examiner.ie ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.