August

The Footballers of Kildare stepped forth starry-eyed to take their place in the new world. FINA ruled that Michelle de Bruin should be banned from competitive swimming for four years. It made the news, but not the Late Late Show. Ger Loughnane took a course on how to lose friends but we still liked him. Three priests were brought to book, charged with spreading treasonable rumours. Three minutes went missing in Croke Park. The Offaly fans organised a search and combed the pitch. The GAA compensated them with a a generous 70 minutes.

Clare went out after the Offaly lads decided that they liked the bit of hurling after all. Sonia O'Sullivan was the star of a mediocre European Championships. In Belgium, one of the Arrows drivers caused a massive pile-up, the Jordan team profited, scoring a brilliant first and second place.