Sport (esp rugby) business, politics and popular culture - sometimes all 4! Chair @idaireland and @iiea. Former Managing Partner @pwcireland Athlone (always!)
Dublin
Joined December 2010
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I’ve written a book - not a sentence I ever expected to write 😀. "From Rags to Riches” charts the @IrishRugby men’s team over the 29 seasons and 316 test matches since the game went professional in 1995. All profits going to @IRFUCharTrust. With over 600 pages and over ..(1/3)
Feargal O'Rourke retweeted
Robert Cialdini’s big ideas, in plain English:
People say yes to people they like.
Liking is a shortcut to trust.
We follow reciprocity.
If someone gives us something, we feel pressure to give back.
Scarcity increases value.
Things seem more desirable when they feel rare or limited.
Social proof drives behavior.
People look at what others are doing to decide what’s right.
Authority strongly influences us.
We’re more likely to comply with credible experts and symbols of authority.
Commitment and consistency matter.
Once people make a small commitment, they tend to stick with it.
Unity is powerful.
People are more persuaded by those they feel are “one of us.”
Ethical influence beats manipulation.
Persuasion works best when it helps both sides, not when it tricks people.
Small changes in framing can change decisions.
How you present an idea often matters as much as the idea itself.
Influence is a science, not magic.
You can learn the patterns behind persuasion and use them deliberately.
Robert Cialdini has spent 40 years studying why people say yes…
He needed a colleague’s research for a report due the next day, and the guy flat out said no and told him he couldn’t be responsible for his poor time management.
Instead of pleading, Cialdini said one sentence and had the research that same afternoon.
He walks through the persuasion principle behind it and how to use it in this clip 👇
Agree with Breaking Bad, The Wire and Mad Men but Ozark and Catastrophe should be much higher up….have seen 39 and a few look interesting.
The 100 Best TV Shows of the 21st Century nytimes.com/interactive/2026… via @NYTimes
Feargal O'Rourke retweeted
Thank you to @IndyChamber for the opportunity to take part in their Leadership Exchange Programme in Dublin this morning with fellow panellists @FeargalORourke of @IDAIRELAND and @GerardBrady100 of @ibec_irl
Political Nerd Alert! Was away this week and disappointed to miss the launch of “Fearless” by my old pal @kevinrafter For those who became politically aware in the 1980s, Magill was a must get every edition. Excellent writers and brilliant stories and will be starting this today!
10 years later, the OECD’s Pillar 1 (which we’ve signed up to) comes around again. Will it be this time ? Is it further away than it was in, say, 2021 (Will it happen in my life time ??)
The large tax revenues Ireland earns from multinational tech companies should be “redistributed” more fairly among other European countries as they stem from income made across the Continent, France’s minister for finance has said.
“At the moment, for obvious reasons, Ireland is getting a big share of the global taxation because most of the digital global companies have got their headquarters in Ireland,” Lescure said in an interview with The Irish Times.
irishtimes.com/politics/2026…
Delighted to get Mark on board !
The Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA) - Ireland's independent think tank dedicated to European and international affairs - has appointed Mark Redmond as its new Director General. rte.ie/b/1591860
Some finish today - and a great boost for Irish golf tourism judging by this !
Observations from Sunday at Lahinch 🇮🇪
1. Wow. Stunning. Sport at its finest and what an amazing setting for it. I've covered over 200 golf events but that is right up there with the most thrilling week I've experienced. For the entire week to come down to one putt. Unreal.
2. I got up from my seat after it all finished and went to get some air outside the media center. Who was there, Josh Hill. Beer in hand, still with a stunned look on his face. I shook his hand and told him how impressed I was. Going to write up his story tonight and what he told me, but what a moment for the lowest ranked player in the event.
3. Shout out to the caddies. All longtime Lahinch loopers, randomly drawn with their players at the start of the week. Four of them from the same family, some with 40+ years experience, all with love for the place and the game. Got to meet a couple and they were delightful. They’ll have a few new stories to tell after this week. Great nugget from @IrishGolfDesk that Hill's caddie knew there was less sand in the bunkers on 18 than on the practice area. Stuff only a true caddie would know.
4. I was shocked by how many putts were left short all week, but especially today. Important, match-changing putts. I wonder if there was an element of foursomes mentality in the morning, not wanting to race putts when your partner has the comebacker but it was undeniable how many putts, from both sides, were coming up short.
5. Surveyed a few media members that know amateur golf to ask which of the players they think will go on to have the best careers on Tour. The top three picks were Russell, Weaver and Poulter. Interesting that Stout, world number one, didn’t get as much love.
6. I think Ethan Fang was probably my favourite player this week. Really sharp game, especially off the greens, and a very chilled, funny character of the course. Will definitely keep an eye on him.
7. Lahinch remains one of the world’s great golf towns. The proximity of the beach, town and course. Every pub full to the rafters of fans eager to discuss holes, shots, courses and of course, the best pint of Guinness in town. Laughed when I heard the clubhouse sold 1,200 pints of Guinness to their members on Friday. Had a local tell me “I played a few amateur tournaments in Lahinch and staying sober was more difficult than the golf course itself.” I can attest that, covering the Walker Cup too.
8. Regardless of result, the format of the event needs to change. I don’t think that’s a negative take, it’s a positive one. We need more of this. It should be three days, it should have fourballs. Going to write more on that for tomorrow.
9. Interesting to see the Walker Cup going to Bandon Dunes next in 2028. Not a traditional US style course. Will likely feel and play pretty similar to this week. And I thoroughly enjoyed this week.
What a week.
The @iiea is an independent think tank that facilitates respectful and diverse discussion and debate on policy and political matters. We don’t take sides but have trusted convening power. This week, under cover of darkness, two masked people did this to our front door to protest
the Deputy Sec Gen of NATO giving an update on the Ukraine war. Those same people would have been welcome to participate in a respectful discussion but chose this route. The @iiea will continue to host diverse views and discussions and all are welcome to join @quinn55418
A super evening in The Pavillion in DL with @cooper_m interviewing @AkaPaulHoward about his new book “A Nation Once Again” - Hillarious and it just flew by !
Vice Captain of the Irish Team today (and not because of my golfing ability!) A lot of fun today ….#GatewayCup
With the passing of Ned Van Esbeck, @IrishRugby has lost its best known rugby writer and one who charted the history of Irish rugby over many years and books. I recall chatting to him over 40 years ago at the sideline of some match and he was so engaging. RIP Ned @rugby_writers
There is a great (for us tax nerds) book to be written on the evolution of Ireland’s tax system from 1996 to 2026 dealing with all aspects from the political (Ire, EU, US, OECD) & the practical (the “selling” of Ireland’s tax landscape, the companies who came here etc) Maybe…😀
Beautiful
Ten years ago today, Team GB women won Olympic hockey gold. The worst day of my life
sportingintelligence832.subs…
An alternative view which I feel was out of date 2 years ago when written and more so now in light of OECD P2 developments and US and Irish changes. Ultimately when it comes to tax we are global rule takers and not rule makers. US position will always dictate global tax agenda.
'The logic of the Irish tax code that sees multinational tax avoidance as a public good is institutional, which in part explains its longevity. Indeed, Ireland’s corporation tax regime has become almost imbued with a religious fervour.'
@Rundale_Media
rundale.org/2024/09/26/colon…
Well, you missed the “Plumbers at home” competition at Woodbrook Golf Club this weekend @gregallenRTE but in fairness, you were working ! A memorable event made even more memorable by your commentary.
