Neil Stokes

                                                  Always Leading: Lessons From Lancaster In these heady times for Leinster Rugby, it’s easy to forget the low ebb the province found itself at this time four seasons ago. A convincing defeat in the Pro 12 final to Connacht coupled with a discouraging fourth-place finish in their Champions Cup pool meant a second straight season without silverware. For a team that had amassed a haul of seven major trophies in seven years, such a dry spell must have felt uncanny at the least. The arrival of Stuart Lancaster in the autumn of 2016 however, reversed that tide. In tandem with Head Coach, Leo Cullen, the province have sparkled since, claiming two Pro 14 titles and the biggest prize of all, the 2018 Champions Cup. And while much is written about Lancaster the rugby coach, far less is known about him ...

                                                            The Business Interview: Denis O’Brien Denis O’Brien is a serial entrepreneur who founded Communicorp, a commercial radio and emerging digital media provider, and Digicel Group, a complete communications provider serving the Caribbean, Central America and Pacific – along with several other companies. Throughout his personal and professional interests, Mr O’Brien is a firm believer in philanthrocapitalism to help communities around the world grow and flourish. As patron of the Digicel Foundation, he has helped to meet the needs of people in Haiti, Jamaica, Papua New Guinea and Trinidad & Tobago, focusing on education and community development by building schools, establishing medical centres, and completing other community projects. He serves as a b...

                                Return of the Roar: The Tale of Tiger's Remarkable Renaissance If 2018 taught us anything, it is that Tiger Woods moves the needle like no other in golf, period. Yet amid the corybantic afterglow of his electrifying comeback year, it is easy to forget the low ebb the 14-time major champion found himself at entering last year. As a non-playing vice-captain in the most recent Presidents Cup, Woods cut a forlorn, woebegone figure, often grimacing in pain as he moved in and out of his golf buggy and even when merely standing still for several minutes. At the same tournament, he remarked how he may never play competitive golf again such was the severity of the smarting in his lower back. Though the American was several months removed from a successful microdiscectomy, it was the barrage of injuries and surgeries over the years that were now evide...

                                   Centurion Shimmins Set To Shine At Hockey World Cup It would be difficult to argue with the supposition that hockey in Ireland has never had it so good. After the ladies’ phenomenal achievement in reaching the World Cup final during the summer, the men’s Hockey World Cup tips off in Bhubaneswar, India at the end of November, and for the first time since 1990, Ireland will be joining the party. While expecting the men to match the exploits of their female counterparts would be fanciful, there is a quiet confidence among the squad that we can give a good account of ourselves- this despite the fact that the team have been handed a relatively difficult group.  Indeed, Ireland will open their campaign against world champions Australia, before facing China, and then England. Only the pool winners are guaranteed a berth in the quarter-finals, with the...