Welcome to The Mixed Zone with Kieran Cunningham

Covering all sports you're passionate about and giving a unique slant on those who make the headlines

Hi all,

Thanks for reading The Mixed Zone. I never take it for granted that work is read and appreciate all who take the time to do so - and to comment.

It's fair to assume that you're wondering what this is all about, as it's something new.

Well, first of all, let me tell you a few things about myself. I started out in journalism in 1991 in a radio station in Dublin before moving to London where I worked for various national newspapers.

There was always a desire to return to Ireland and I did that by taking up a job in Cork and then my current position as chief sports writer with the Irish Daily Star in 1998.

I also write a weekly news and current affairs column for the newspaper and have always taken that interest in the wider world into my sports journalism.

Of course, things like match reports and managers' press conferences and statistical analysis of teams etc have their place but, increasingly, this is a world where sport collides head on with social, political and business affairs.

It collides with crime on occasion too and I spent a fair chunk of the last few years investigating drug cartel leader Daniel Kinahan's infiltration of professional boxing.

This may all sound pretty serious - and it is - but I am well capable of seeing the lighter side of sport too. Sports are, at heart, supposed to be something people do for fun and there is no shortage of laughs on this beat. I hope to share both the light and the shade of the job with you.

Sport is fascinating because, ultimately, it’s about people and you come across all kinds when on the sporting beat. Sometimes the public face of sportspeople is different to how they operate behind closed doors. I’ll try and give you as full a picture as possible.

The newsletter will land in your inbox once a week and, to access it in full, you will have to spend a little bit of cash. I do appreciate that it isn't easy to have to dip into your pocket so I promise to do all that I can to offer good value. I fully appreciate every single subscription, I really mean that.

I also get how annoying it is when you are trying to read an online article and you are relentlessly bombarded with adverts.

A paid newsletter will enable us to focus more resources on stories which take a bit more time and expertise. I think it is a positive step in journalism and I hope plenty of you feel the same way.

Click here for current subscription offers - https://themixedzone.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=3e26570a

This is an exciting time in Irish sport, but that's usually the case these days. It is something we should be genuinely proud of, that a small island produces so many outstanding sportspeople on the international stage, and not forgetting the stars of our own native games.

If you have topics you want me to look at or if you want to offer feedback, drop me an email at kieran.cunningham@reachplc.com