Forget the forest fires in the Peloponnese, the earthquake in Peru or the Cabinet's spot of turbulence over Aer Lingus. In the dying, dog-days of a Kilkenny summer, the talk has been all about "the Cats" and tomorrow's All-Ireland hurling final against Limerick.
"How's Noel's hamstring?" or "Any word about PJ's arm?" The recuperation of injured players is the subject of a thousand daily solicitous enquiries. Hurling experts - and they are a dime-a-dozen in the Marble City - discuss strategy in workplaces, shops, cafes, pubs and internet chat rooms.
Their observations are double-Dutch to the uninitiated: "Noticed at training that Cody was trying a lot of combinations in the backs, JJ was at full back and then did a switch with Hogan to centre back, Kav was switched from corner back to wing back, with Tommy going in the other direction."
On the local KCLR radio, sports broadcaster Brendan Hennessy sheds light on the mystery with a "guide to hurling" - useful for newcomers to the county or simpletons who still don't get it. He explains the "square ball rule" (like soccer's infamously opaque "offside rule"); the etiquette of "shouldering" opponents (not in the chest please); the meaning of the phrase "pull on him, lads" (not strictly legal); and the role of a "maor uisce" (the team's designated water carrier).
The station has also been airing "Black and Amber News" bulletins four times a day with updates on everything from the state of public bunting (patchy) to the favourite pastimes of the players (golf and horseracing are popular).
Kilkenny manager Brian Cody is respected and admired; the hurlers revered. They are household names here. People describe them as "ordinary fellas" - aged in their 20s - whose occupations include garda, soldier, bricklayer, farmer, teacher, banker, sales rep and student. They'll spellbind the country for 70 minutes on Sunday afternoon and then go back to work or college.
The county's official allocation of about 10,000 tickets, for a stadium which holds over 80,000 people, has led to the traditional last-minute frantic search. Yesterday, men who still hadn't been "fixed up" were ready to swap almost anything for a seat in the Hogan Stand. There is much grumbling about a Dublin internet company (needaticket.ie) selling Hogan or Cusack stand tickets for €550 each.
The teams haven't met in the championship since two consecutive finals in the early 1970s. Limerick won the 1973 encounter (the county's last All-Ireland victory); Kilkenny beat them the following year. "Oul lads" who hurled back then, are consulted like the oracle at Delphi for nuggets of insight. Bookmakers rate Kilkenny red-hot favourites.
Anecdotal chatter suggests 31 counties and most "neutral" sports fans hope the "outsiders" will win. Which hasn't caused Kilkenny supporters to feel beleaguered. In fact, their mood is one of confidence and expectation. Thousands have attended the team's training sessions at Nowlan Park. The players appeared in public for the final time last night and have now entered purdah.