Time Ireland

2023 - 3 - 26

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Image courtesy of "The Irish Times"

IT Sunday: Two economic worlds: Ireland is in a state of fragile ... (The Irish Times)

“Although wealthy, Ireland feels completely different from most other wealthy countries,” writes McWilliams. “In our commuting life, the daily grind from home ...

[here](https://www.irishtimes.com/health/your-family/2023/03/20/my-12-year-old-daughter-has-been-ghosted-by-her-friends/). There are plenty more articles exclusively available for Irish Times subscribers [here](https://www.irishtimes.com/subscriber-only/). The final match in Dublin gave record-breaking captain Johnny Sexton his perfect Six Nations sign off; it’s worth reliving the moment via Gerry Thornley’s match report [here](https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/2023/03/18/ireland-secure-historic-fourth-grand-slam-to-give-johnny-sexton-the-perfect-six-nations-sign-off/), and you can find John O’Sullivans’s Ireland squad player ratings [here](https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/2023/03/20/ireland-grand-slam-squad-ratings-the-32-players-who-delivered-the-perfect-six-nations-campaign/). Written by Jen Hogan, you can find it here: [What exactly should our children be allowed to do?](https://www.irishtimes.com/health/your-family/2023/03/23/parenting-tweens-what-exactly-should-our-children-be-allowed-to-do/) [interview with Malachy Clerkin](https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/racing/2023/03/25/bryan-cooper-on-his-fear-of-falling-why-the-celebrated-jockey-is-retiring-at-age-30/?), celebrated jockey Bryan Cooper speaks about his fear of falling and making the decision to retire at the age of 30: “The injuries have taken their toll, they’ve caught up with me and I can’t go on doing it. But I don’t want it to take away from the career I had. [in her First Dáil contribution as leader of the Social Democrats](https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2023/03/03/holly-cairns-they-say-rural-ireland-is-so-conservative-its-not-true-and-its-kind-of-insulting/) – said “I’m a member of the first ever generation who will be worse off than my parents”. The restaurant was Terre, and the verdict was a positive one: “Exquisite food and a unique experience.” Dinner for two with two glasses of champagne and a bottle of wine came to €491. “My 12-year-old daughter used to happily belong to a friendship group of five other girls. Twenty years on from the invasion of Iraq, Fintan O’Toole is reflecting on what he labels one of the founding disasters of 21st century politics. This remark, McRedmond says, was an astute one, given how [gloomy dispositions are in vogue](https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2023/03/23/holly-cairns-says-our-generation-is-worse-off-than-parents-but-what-about-the-huge-benefits-from-modernity/): “Woe betide anyone who suggests that we might lighten up. If the economy appears to be straining at the leash, that is because it is.”

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Image courtesy of "Extra.ie"

Johnny Sexton tops list of Ireland's Top 10 all-time greats (Extra.ie)

And it's true that there is no direct way of gauging the impact of Johnny Sexton versus that of Jack Kyle. And in the case of the latter, the absence of.

He is adored by supporters in Ireland and beyond, with his international support based on what he did for the Lions. That the tour even happened should be a source of ongoing regret, given the wretched apartheid regime was in its pomp at the time. That reliability helped Eddie O'Sullivan build the first formidable national team of the professional era, and along with O'Connell and O'Driscoll, he epitomised the high standards that have now become the norm. And after his sensational form of the past two years, he is now untouchable in any list of Ireland's greatest . His playing record remains incredible, not least a flabbergasting 17 Lions Tests earned over five tours. 6 RONAN O'GARA (2000-2013; Caps: 128; Points: 1,083) AS with O'Connell, his career ended not with bouquets but a more familiar sporting disappointment. The glorious moments wallpaper the memories of sports fans of a certain age. The Irish team were celebrating their Grand Slam in the Millennium Stadium, when Brian O'Driscoll made contact with Jack Kyle (right). His end, when it came, was in keeping with an often brutal sport. And it's true that there is no direct way of gauging the impact of Johnny Sexton versus that of Jack Kyle. Unlike O'Driscoll, Sexton does not have peers of a similar age and status to help him lead his country. And in the case of the latter, the absence of footage of his sporting heyday obliges the adjudicator to lean on the accounts of his prowess.

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