Siobhán Doyle

Brainstorm

Dr Siobhán Doyle is a historian, author and researcher who works in the National Museum of Ireland. Her first book A History of the GAA in 100 Objects is published by Merrion Press.

Cullenstown handball alley by the beach in Co Wexford. Photo via Áine Ryan/Irish Handball Alley mapping project http://www.irishhandballalley.ie/

Here are 10 landmark GAA sites to visit in 2025

A bucket list of GAA destinations to explore, all offering unique social insight and powerful historical connections to Gaelic games

GAA • 23 May 25

Will we see any controversies on the Eurovision stage in Basel this week? Photo: EBU

8 Eurovision controversies you probably didn't know about

From allegations of bribery and drug use to political demonstrations, the Eurovision has never been just about the songs

Eurovision • 14 May 25

"At the advent of camogie in the early 1900s, women who played camogie were forced to put modesty over practicality." Photo: Camogie Association

The changing fashions of camogie kits over the years

Through 121 years of Camogie history, here's how kits have evolved and become stagnant

Camogie • 08 May 25

The Leinster Senior football final generated huge excitement on both sides and it was described as 'the chief topic of discussion'. Photo: Irish Newspaper Archives

When Meath were Leinster football champions for 30m in 1911

Thousands witnessed the first and last time Meath and Kilkenny would meet in a Leinster Senior football final - but the match almost didn't happen

Leinster Football Championship • 28 Apr 25

A group shot of competitors in the debut Irish series of The Superstars. The 1979 contest featured 10 Irish sportsmen, five sportswomen, five politicians and five personalities.

How Superstars became the most popular show on Irish TV

At its peak, the show pulled in a million viewers a week to watch athletes, sportspeople and celebrities compete against each other

Sport • 12 Mar 25

Wolfe Tones, Armagh, goalkeeper Rosie Lynch during a match against Attical, Down, at the 2022 Gaelic 4 Mothers & Others National Blitz at the Naomh Mearnóg & St Sylvester's GAA clubs in Dublin. Photo: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

What's behind the massive success of Gaelic 4 Mothers & Others?

The initiative has introduced (or re-introduced) thousands of women to Gaelic football in a fun, non-competitive and social environment

Mothers & Others • 17 Jan 25

They know all the words.... Irish supporters at the FIFA Women's World Cup match against Australia in Sydney. Photo: Stephen McCarthy, Sportsfile via Getty Images

Why do Irish sports fans sing 'The Fields of Athenry'?

From soccer to rugby, Pete St John's classic is the Irish fans' song of choice on terraces everywhere

Sport • 16 Dec 24

Detail from A Meeting (1918) by Harry Clarke. © National Museum of Ireland

How Harry Clarke became one of Ireland's best loved artists

The sheer volume of Clarke's work due to his impressive productivity has ensured he continues to be widely celebrated and admired

Harry Clarke • 05 Dec 24

Ireland's Bertie Messitt leads the way during the marathon at the Rome Olympic Games in 1960 from Abebe Bikila, Allal Saoudi, Aurele Vandendriessche, Rhadi Ben Abdesselam and Arthur Keily. Photo: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Meet Bertie Messett, the bus conductor behind the Dublin marathon

The champion runner and Olympian used his day job on the number 10 Dublin bus route to plot the course for the city's first marathon

Dublin Marathon • 21 Oct 25

Joan Horan arrives back in Dublin after becoming the first Irish woman to compete in the Paralympic Games, winning gold in both archery and swimming in Rome in 1960. Photo: Paralympics Ireland

Meet Joan Horan, Ireland's forgotten Paralympic gold medalist

The first Irish woman to compete in Paralympics won gold in 1960 in archery and swimming, but remains largely unknown and uncelebrated

Paralympics • 28 Aug 24