I have just returned from my second visit to Liverpool in eighteen months. Again the stay was enjoyable, but all too brief.

The reason for travelling to Merseyside was to participate in the Annual Irish Political Studies Association (PSA) Annual Conference which for the first time was being staged out of Ireland. The Conference was very friendly and well organized event with around 100 delegates.

On the basis of the interest in Sport and Politics, more especially issues of Identity, Nationalism and the Peace Process I was asked to participate in the first Sport and Politics Panel organised by PSA Ireland. The session went well and my paper on The Welsh Ashes Test of 2009 dovetailed neatly with contributions from colleagues, Dr.David Hassan (University of Ulster) and Dr.David Storey (University of Worcester). On the basis of the interest and discossion generated, PSA Ireland plans to establish a permanent specialist group focusing on the study of Sport and Politics.