"I always wanted to be Mick Jagger but you can't be Mick Jagger in Dublin'' - Eamon Dunphy on life after The Stand

Eamon Dunphy is not unwell.

As for The Stand podcast, it may return, it may not. But rumours of its host's demise have been greatly exaggerated.

It has been one of the most popular pods in Ireland for a long time, so an announcement earlier in the week that it was ending took many by surprise.

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But, as Dunphy explained, the decision to park it was due to himself and his wife Jane Gogan - the producer - having different work priorities.

"Jane was a huge part of The Stand over its eight year run. Only for her initiative in building a studio in the house, we'd have been sunk - especially in Covid times,'' he said.

"Her background is in film and drama - she was RTE's Head of Drama - and she's working on a film of 'The Witness' alongside Stuart Carolan and David Caffrey, who were behind Love/Hate.

"The Witness tells the true story of Joseph O'Callaghan, who became the youngest person to enter the witness protection programme in Ireland.

"There has been funding from the Irish Film Board towards the project, which is a big endorsement in itself. And this is a resumption of Jane's drama career, really."

As for Dunphy, he too has a major project on the go. Back in 2013, he released 'The Rocky Road', an autobiography which covered his childhood in Dublin, his football career in England, and his move into journalism.

It ended with the drama of the 1990 World Cup - where Dunphy became a truly national figure.

The intention was always to release an autobiography in two parts, and the second half will be his focus now. So what is in store for readers?

"They can expect something lighter, and funnier. It'll cover those years in the nineties and the noughties - the Celtic Tiger years - when I was hanging around town in places like the Horseshoe Bar and the Unicorn.

"Bumping into people like the playwright Tom Murphy - who became a good friend - and PJ Mara, the government press secretary for a long time.

"The tone will be different. I hope it'll be entertaining and funny."

Nights out with Dunphy in that era tended to be entertaining and funny. There was one night with Páidí Ó Sé that ended with the late Kerry great preening and posing for pics with Bono.

There was another night where Dunphy came on Welsh superstar Tom Jones in the downstairs bar of Shanahan's steakhouse on Stephen's Green. It is generally accepted that Jones has one of the great voices in pop, but Dunphy insisted that he listen to him sing...

"There was a lot going on in Dublin, there was a vibe around town. We were working really hard on The Last Word and felt we deserved our nights out.

"I'm two years younger than Mick Jagger. I always wanted to be Mick but it's not possible in Dublin.''

Dunphy will be 80 in August so he doesn't hit the town often, but that doesn't mean the fire has gone out.

"I'm in great shape, I still have the passion. I'm a Liverpool fan and I was watching their last two games against Manchester United and Spurs and throwing things at the television. I still get involved, I still get passionate,'' he said.

"I have always wanted to work, and still do. I can't sit on the sofa backing horses all day. I do enjoy a flutter but I need to be doing something."

Dunphy will continue to write his football column for the Irish Daily Star - his only longer working relationship was with RTE.

"I've worked for The Star longer than any other newspaper and there's never been any hassle,'' he said.

"I'm not a difficult person to work with, I'm not a bollocks, I'm not demanding. If I fuck up, it's no problem.

"I don't know if I have a reputation for being difficult, I've never seen myself that way.

"I do like being a freelance, and not having to go into an office. I fucking hate offices because you just talk shite all day" and get nothing done.

"It's better if you are your own boss and can decide what way to go. The Stand was really satisfying because there was no-one demanding that it go in a certain direction, but pressure does come with it as you want to get it right.

"Generally, I move on from projects and places after a time. I look at Donald Trump and what's going on all over the world and I think we have a few turbulent years ahead - not least here in Ireland.

"It is attractive to want to cover that on The Stand, but it needs full time commitment and we can't give that now."

Fans of the show will still be able to listen to its archive on the Acast platform, and Dunphy and Gogan have made a deliberate choice to leave the name out there.

"We did over 2000 pods in eight years so it was hard going. We had people behind the scenes who listeners don't know who were brilliant,'' said Dunphy.

"We had great contributors - like Niall Stanage on the US. Niall was with us from the start and he is now seen as one of the best commentators around on America.

"We have the option of going back to The Stand in the future and going again. Who knows what will happen down the road?''

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