Sport

It has now been over three months since David Beckham shocked the world of football by announcing his decision to move from Madrid to the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer. In doing so he has accepted the richest contract in the history of the sport. The general reaction has been skeptical at best, most commentators accusing the former England captain of effectively accepting early retirement and a pile of cash to showboat in an inferior league whilst enjoying the Hollywood lifestyle. One can only assume that Posh didn't raise too many complaints.

The attendance at Croke Park for the Ireland v England game was a tribute to the GAA and its stadium.  

A record breaking Irish audience tuned into RTÉ Television's coverage of Ireland's historic RBS Six Nations victory over England at Croke Park on Saturday. An average of 1,052,000* viewers and 70% people who were watching television on Saturday tuned in to RTÉ Two from kick-off at 5.40pm to the final whistle. The audience peaked at 1,207,000* viewers during the 77th minute of the match. RTÉ Two's coverage of Ireland v England is the most watched programme on Irish television so far this year. *Source: AGB Nielsen Media Research

The K Club is not so much a golf course as a surreal fiefdom inhabited by Ireland's richest and most powerful citizens, and ruled by septuagenarian millionaire Michael Smurfit. His subjects call him God. By Justine McCarthy

Although mocked by pundits and opposition players for his flamboyant appearance, Ciaran McDonald has emerged as one of the saviours of the Mayo football team. By Ciarán Murphy

Nina Carberry is considered one of Ireland's most promising horse racers due to her physical strength, her racing brain and her soft touch with the fillies. She races in this week's Galway Races. Profile by John Byrne

Sixty minutes into the game Biarritz were just a point behind. They had dominated the previous 15 minutes in possession ...

With characteristic understatement and spontaneity – donning a black armband and reciting a lament! – George Hook started RTÉ's rugby broadcast from Thomond Park last Saturday by mourning the station's loss of Heineken Cup live rugby coverage from next season to Sky Sports.

Carcasonne was the nearest airport to Castres, where Munster played the local team in a freezing gale on the late evening of Friday 13 January (kick off at 8.30pm local time and the match not over until close to 10.30pm). Several of the Munster contingent stayed in Carcasonne over the weekend, travelling over the Cevennes mountains to and from Castres.

Here's how the story goes: Roy Keane is walking through a hotel lobby the evening before a major away fixture for Manchester United in the Champions League. His manager Alex Ferguson is having a drink with two of his new closest friends. He calls Keane across to meet his fellow countrymen JP McManus and John Magnier.