The 42FM

• Rory McIlroy’s Masters glory: Why does it mean so much?

  Rory McIlroy has entered an exclusive club: the subject of back-to-back episodes of The 42FM. Oh, and he’s also become the first Irish golfer to win the Masters and the first European golfer to win the career Grand Slam. Having spoke last week of McIlroy’s years-long quest to win the Masters, Sinéad and Gavin this week reflect on how we he went and did it. They relieve their experiences of one of the most astonishing and tense nights in the history of Irish sport, and discuss how, exactly, so many people became invested in McIlroy’s story.How did a golfer manage to bring the whole country together to live the drama? Why has McIlroy been so open with his emotions on his journey to the Masters, and should we expect that of all sportspeople? Was his wildly inconsistent performance simply an exhibition of human genius? And what does McIlroy’s victory say about sport and, in turn, about life?Get in touch - [email protected] and [email protected] week’s episode of The42 FM is brought to you by An Post Money. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  --------  

  39:24
• Why do we care so much about Rory McIlroy now?

  On this week’s podcast, Sinéad and Gavin dive into the epic quest that has become of Rory McIlroy’s efforts to win the Masters. Why does winning the Masters mean so much to McIlroy, and why has he struggled so often at the tournament? And how have all of his heartbreaks and near-misses changed how the Irish public think about McIlroy? Why is he more popular now than when he was winning, and the dominant golfer in the game?Get in touch - [email protected] and [email protected] week’s episode of The42 FM is brought to you by An Post Money. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  --------  

  45:57
• Is kids' sport too competitive?

  One of five kids in Ireland drop out of sport when transitioning from primary school to secondary school, and the average age at which a child drops out of sport is 11. On this week's podcast, Sinéad and Gavin discuss the consequences of this drop-out, and what can be done to stop it.Research and anecdotal evidence suggest the single biggest reason behind kids' waning interest in sport is its competitiveness from too early an age. What role do coaches and parents play in creating this overly-competitive environment, and do the media create problems by celebrating winners and champions, thereby promoting highly unrealistic career paths for kids?Is streaming according to ability the right or wrong thing to do? Also, what is sport without competition? At what age point does sport need to stress the importance of competition and winning/losing over providing equal opportunities for everyone to play?Sinéad and Gavin also discuss their different experiences: Sinéad continues to play sport while Gavin dropped out years ago. How have these decisions shaped them, and what are their regrets?Get in touch - [email protected] and [email protected] week’s episode of The42 FM is brought to you by An Post Money. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  --------  

  42:53
• From UFC to the Áras: Conor McGregor’s fight to stay famous

  Conor McGregor caused a national jolt by turning up at the White House on St Patrick’s Day, and McGregor has since doubled down on his intentions to run for President later this year. On this week’s show, Sinéad and Gavin discuss the prospect of McGregor running for president. Sinéad explains the criteria around running for president, and how McGregor may plot a route to the ballot paper. They also discuss the role of Elon Musk: why is he so interested in McGregor, and Ireland? Is Musk in fact now one of the most powerful people in the history of the world?They also ask why the Trump White House are so closely associated with MMA figures like McGregor, and why the Trump administration is changing what we understand of ‘sportswashing.’ Trump has already bagged the mega events like the World Cup and Olympics, but is showing little interest so far in their organisation, and using them as vehicles for soft power. Instead he has become more closely aligned with combat sports, as through them he exerts a more obviously hard power.Get in touch with the show - email [email protected] and [email protected] week’s episode of The 42FM is brought to you by An Post Money. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  --------  

  44:57
• How the gambling industry captured sport

  On this week’s episode, Sinéad and Gavin discuss gambling in sport, and Ireland’s drawn-out means of tackling it. First they illustrate the extent to which the gambling industry has captured sport, to the point that it’s now some fans’ primary means of experiencing the sport. They explain how and why this has happened, and delve into some of its frightening consequences.More than a decade after it was first proposed, the State this month enacted its new legislation aimed at regulating the gambling industry. Sinéad and Gavin take a look at what the law now says and what will change, analyse what aspects were watered down by industry lobbying, and forecast how the new laws may change certain sports. They also delve into the long delay in passing the legislation, explain why there are going to be still more delays before the general public see substantive changes in gambling advertising and visibility, and then ask if we are far too late in addressing the problem.Get in touch - [email protected] and [email protected] week’s episode of The42 FM is brought to you by An Post Money. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  --------  

  49:38

More News podcasts

Trending News podcasts

About The 42FM

The 42FM: Podcasts in Family