Episode 4: Michael Foley on editorial rigour, writing long reads, and telling big stories in a small way

The Sportswriter's Life

This 12-part podcast is brought to you by Magnificent Irrelevance, a new publishing venture which aims to bring readers one standalone and stand-out piece of soul-searching sportswriting every week. You can find out more about Magnificent Irrelevance, and sign up for regular updates in the journey towards making it a reality, by visiting magnificentirrelevance.com.

"The Sportswriter’s Life" is a series of interviews with writers and editors from around the world. They talk through their past, their present and their possible future in the business, and share their insights into the writing process and the world of sports journalism and media in general.

Episode 4 is a conversation with Michael Foley of The Sunday Times in Ireland.

Michael has been a sportswriter with the Times for more than 20 years and is the author of three books on Gaelic games, including The Bloodied Field, about events at Croke Park in November 1920 when a day of bloodshed in Dublin, during the Irish War of Independence, culminated in the deaths of 14 people who had traveled to Croke Park for a Gaelic football match between Dublin and Tipperary. He is also the author of Kings of September, about the famous Offaly-Kerry All-Ireland final of 1982, which won the Boylesports Irish Sports Book of the Year Award.

Stories mentioned in the show:

• Read Michael Foley’s “The perfect fit” (2013)
• Read Denis Walsh’s “Their world is their bond” (pic) (1997)

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