# opening up

Last year

2022

# opening up

Olympic champion Kelly Holmes ‘needed to do this now,’ announces she is gay

The 52-year-old revealed that she came out to her family and friends in 1997.

15.2k

Jun 19th 2022, 10:22 AM

# opening up

Paul Pogba reveals he has suffered from depression in recent years

‘You will feel it in your body, in your head, and you can have a month, even a year, when you are not great. But you can’t say it – publicly anyway.’

7.1k

Mar 23rd 2022, 11:03 AM

# opening up

Wayne Rooney: ‘For long periods in my career I was suffering inside’

A new film about the Manchester United great is out this week.

4.5k

Feb 7th 2022, 8:31 AM

# opening up

Explainer: Why are Covid restrictions lifting now?

Most measures will be lifted tomorrow. Experts say there are good reasons for this.

59.7k

Updated Jan 21st 2022, 9:22 PM

# opening up

Government confirm sporting events to return to full capacity from tomorrow

Munster Rugby have reacted by releasing an additional 11,000 tickets for Sunday’s Heineken Champions Cup meeting with Wasps.

18.2k

Updated Jan 21st 2022, 6:21 PM

All time

# opening up

'Learning how to look after yourself mentally is a huge stepping stone'

Hannah Looney’s mental health journey can be an example to all GAA players.

16.2k

Dec 29th 2021, 8:00 AM

# opening up

Former Man United defender Patrice Evra alleges he was sexually abused as a teenager

The former France and Man United defender says he wants to make sure children who suffer abuse ‘do not blame themselves’.

30.4k

Oct 22nd 2021, 8:44 PM

# opening up

I didn’t do this on my own – Gareth Thomas hails support for his HIV mission

‘I am only who I am because of the people around me,’ the former Wales star says.

5.6k

Oct 12th 2021, 12:31 PM

# opening up

Real Madrid target Mbappe reveals he told PSG he wanted to leave in July

The French World Cup winner has refused to sign an extension to his contract, which expires at the end of the season.

5.1k

Oct 4th 2021, 1:02 PM

# opening up

Government confirm increased crowds at sports events from 6 September

Stadiums will be allowed 50% capacity from 6 September, and 75% if crowds are fully vaccinated.

16.1k

Aug 31st 2021, 6:36 PM

# opening up

'Realistically, where am I going to go back to? The Championship? Top of League One?'

‘Perception, that’s the most important word in football. People think I’m probably not up to it, they see me on the television and see me as a bit of a headcase. I don’t think I am.’

21.5k

Aug 26th 2021, 2:55 PM

# opening up

Croke Park to host 18,000 supporters for Leinster hurling final

There will also be increased crowds for the Leinster SFC semi-finals and the Munster SHC final.

7.2k

Jul 8th 2021, 10:44 PM

# Sold Out

Tickets for James Vincent McMorrow pilot gig sell out in 30 minutes after 'phenomenal' demand

The gig, which will also feature Sorcha Richardson, is the first in a series of pilot events held as Ireland comes out of lockdown.

14.1k

Jun 3rd 2021, 12:38 PM

# opening up

Two-time All-Ireland winner reveals he recently underwent testicular cancer surgery

Former Tipperary defender James Barry had the operation in April.

10.0k

May 13th 2021, 7:04 PM

# opening up

'Vast majority' of Covid-19 restrictions hoped to be gone by August, Tánaiste says

“I’m hoping that that’s the month when things are relatively normal again,” Leo Varadkar has said.

38.9k

Updated May 5th 2021, 6:51 PM

# opening up

Karen Carney says she had suicidal thoughts after receiving online abuse

The former England international deleted her Twitter account in December following a barrage of abusive messages.

13.8k

May 2nd 2021, 5:02 PM

# opening up

'I had a panic attack on the pitch, but I didn't know what it was at the time'

DLR Waves star Katie Burdis delves deeper into her mental health struggles, and stresses the importance of speaking up.

8.8k

Mar 27th 2021, 8:30 AM

# opening up

'To be honest, from 2017 to 2019, I heard something in every single game about my weight'

Meath All-Ireland winner and Intermediate Player of the Year Vikki Wall speaks candidly about the regular verbal abuse she has been subjected to on the pitch.

92.4k

Updated Feb 27th 2021, 9:11 PM

# opening up

Former Liverpool winger Jordon Ibe reveals he is 'in a dark place' suffering from depression

The player has started rehabilitation to improve his mental health after crashing his car into a coffee shop.

40.5k

Jan 22nd 2021, 8:05 PM

# opening up

'It's scandalous that lads don't feel comfortable in those jerseys' - body image in GAA

Johnny McMahon – or Johnny Smacks of The 2 Johnnies – delves deeper into a brilliant podcast discussion with The42.

130k

Jan 1st 2021, 7:00 AM

# opening up

'We can't bring Gary back but we can try and help other people'

Dublin star Lauren Magee speaks about a recent family tragedy in the hope of helping others.

39.6k

Nov 28th 2020, 10:00 AM

# mental health matters

'It's really important for others to see players as people with problems, and not just players'

Tipperary dual star Roisin Howard discusses the WGPA column she penned ahead of today’s All-Ireland camogie semi-final.

3.0k

Nov 28th 2020, 7:45 AM

# Family Tragedy

'Camogie kind of saved my life. You wouldn't heal, but you learn to deal with what happened'

Waterford goalkeeper Brianna O’Regan opens up on how camogie has shaped her life following a tragic event from her childhood.

10.2k

Nov 14th 2020, 6:45 AM

# opening up

'Most nights, I cried myself to sleep': Former Wallabies prop Palmer pens powerful column on his sexuality

Former Australian rugby international Dan Palmer opens up on his sexuality, noting that Isreal Folau’s homophobic comments spurred him to speak out.

59.9k

Updated Oct 30th 2020, 3:00 PM

# trolling

Social media abuse became ‘too much for me’, says ex-England star and pundit Alex Scott

The footballer-turned-pundit says she is taking the hit of online abuse in order to pave the way for others.

52.7k

Updated Sep 30th 2020, 9:31 PM

# opening up

'He lived the best life he could, he smiled every day and enjoyed everything. I take that into my life'

Death, grief, joy, elation: Leanne Kiernan has had to overcome a lot on her journey so far. Having recently turned 21, the Ireland and West Ham star reflects on her remarkable rise.

54.3k

Jun 6th 2020, 8:00 AM

# opening up

Presenter Nick Hancock 'appalled' with himself for mocking Luke Chadwick on TV

The ex-Manchester United player has admitted that he used to ‘dread it’ when ‘They Think It’s All Over’ came on.

17.5k

May 18th 2020, 1:09 PM

# opening up

Italy to re-open borders to tourists from June

A nationwide shutdown has effectively ended tourism in a country heavily dependent on the industry.

38.8k

May 16th 2020, 8:19 AM

# opening up

'I'm not meant to look but these messages still hit me so hard' - Wright reveals online racist abuse

Leading anti-racism charities condemned the incident after Wright went public with the messages.

12.6k

May 11th 2020, 8:06 PM

# opening up

Italy begins easing world's longest country-wide coronavirus lockdown

It comes after the country reported its lowest toll since 10 March yesterday.

32.0k

May 4th 2020, 7:42 AM

# opening up

Countries around the world including the US and India begin to lift restrictions

It comes as the global death toll has edged closer to 200,000.

33.5k

Apr 25th 2020, 3:51 PM

# opening up

'Everything clouds over and goes dark' - Barca great Iniesta reveals battle with depression

Iniesta endured a difficult time after the death of his friend Dani Jarque.

7.7k

Apr 24th 2020, 2:25 PM

# opening up

'You aren't thinking about anybody. You just want the pain to stop, and you'll go to any extreme to do it'

Tyrone and Dromore 21-year-old Oran Sludden delves deeper into his story and mental health struggles – and shares messages of hope.

34.0k

Apr 19th 2020, 8:00 AM

# opening up

'You've dealt with one of the hardest things life can throw at you when you're 14. Nothing can get much harder'

Ireland rugby star Eimear Considine shares her story, and opens up on the impact of her father’s tragic death.

61.9k

Feb 17th 2020, 5:05 PM

# opening up

'I wanted to end it all. I thought I was a burden on everyone'

Ireland and Glasgow City star Clare Shine delves deeper into her mental health struggles.

52.3k

Jan 16th 2020, 6:15 AM

# opening up

No private plane, no plastics as Lewis Hamilton declares: 'I'm only human'

The five-time world champion is on the brink of possibly claiming a sixth title at this weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix.

15.0k

Oct 24th 2019, 8:35 PM

# opening up

'My life was turned upside down by having two kids on my own at the age of 18' - Stephen Ireland

Now 33, the ex-Ireland and Manchester City midfielder has opened up about his fall-out from international football and the demise of his club career.

152k

Sep 10th 2019, 6:00 PM

# opening up

'You're just accepted for who you are and that's the way it should be in men's or women's football'

Ireland captain Katie McCabe reflects on the positive reaction since opening up about her relationship with team-mate Ruesha Littlejohn.

8.6k

Aug 20th 2019, 9:43 PM

# opening up

'I hated rugby' - retired All Black Dagg on mental health battle

Israel Dagg retired last week due to a chronic knee injury.

16.0k

Apr 16th 2019, 7:59 AM

# opening up

'The big thing for me was to show it's not just depression and anxiety. There's loads of mental health issues'

Roscommon footballer Amanda McLoone reached out to the WGPA counselling service last year when she began to feel overwhelmed in her life.

16.3k

Feb 23rd 2019, 7:00 AM