Real Talks

Clare’s Carol O’Leary has become one of the leading voices that is both demanding and creating meaningful change for female sport in Ireland. Like many, Carol’s passion for GAA took hold at a young age but her development into the authentic and inspiring leader she is today wasn't without complications. On the podcast this week, she speaks about the search for self-confidence, the difficulty of trying to fit in and how turning to drink and failing college eventually forced her to look within for the answers that she craved. This podcast was brought to you by the Women’s Gaelic Players Association in conjunction with Pat the Baker. Their partnership, through the Be Healthy Wholemeal Loaf, actively supports Ladies Football & Camogie players in every intercounty squad. The WGPA player development programme provides services such as scholarships, careers advice and counselling to help members be their best in their personal and professional lives. If you enjoy this episode, don’t forget there are 17 previou

Diarmuid Lyng wore the Wexford jersey for a number of years but after captaining his county in 2009 and 2010, his relationship with the game turned sour. In search for answers about himself and his relationship with the game, Diarmuid went and travelled the world. On that journey, which included a stay in a Buddhist temple, he found some of the answers he was looking for but he was also left with even more questions. Big thanks to Diarmuid for his honesty as well as his fascinating insight into sport, life, identity, meditation and a whole lot more. This is a conversation that everyone will be able to take something from. Thanks for listening to all our podcasts so far. We live in a society where we are constantly told shorter is better and we get soundbites forced down our throats but it is truly humbling that over 50,000 times, someone has sat down to press play on one of these conversations.

On the podcast this week, Leitrim GAA legend Colin Regan talked about what it was like to represent the county with the smallest population in Ireland, how being a protestant that thrived in the GAA jersey helped shape his identity and how now, in his role as Community and Health Manager in the GAA, he is adamant that the Association is about much more than just the games. If you are a first time listener, we hope you enjoy listening to a show that lets you see another side to GAA players by focusing on the person rather than the athlete. You can find us on iTunes or SoundCloud by searching ‘Real Talks’. There you can access previous episodes with Cora Staunton, Kevin McMamamon, Eamon McGee, Michael Fennelly and many more. If you are returning listener, thanks for the ongoing support. By the time you are tuning into this, will should have passed the 50,000 play count, so please keep spreading the word about the podcast to your friends, family and teammates. Last but not least, to help out Alan Kerins, who

With 17 Senior All-Irelands, 11 in football and 6 in camogie, Briege Corkery is one of the greatest GAA players of all time. However, after giving so much to the Cork cause over the years, Briege decided to focus on other areas of life in 2017. She spoke about that decision on the podcast, whether she intends to return to the Cork fold next season, why the fear of losing drives her on more than the joy of winning and the danger of presuming that sports stars are automatically confident and out going people. We hope you enjoy getting such a detailed insight into the mind of one of Ireland’s most prominent sporting role models. This podcast was brought to you by the Women’s Gaelic Players Association in conjunction with Pat the Baker. Their partnership, through the Be Healthy Wholemeal Loaf, actively supports Ladies Football & Camogie players in every intercounty squad. The WGPA player development programme provides services such as scholarships, careers advice and counselling to help members be their best

As well as recounting some good and bad times in his Kildare jersey, Dermot Earley was also open and honest about being diagnosed with testicular cancer in his early twenties, what it was like to grow up in the army, serve in unstable countries like Bosnia and Lebanon and the impact of the untimely passing of his father, Dermot Snr, seven years ago. He even retold the story of a time when he was invited to Manchester United and ended up in the physio room beside Diego Forlan and Carlos Queiroz. Dermot is the current CEO of the Gaelic Players Association and spoke about why he is so passionate about bettering the lives of the inter-county player on and off the field.

Back in 2001, Alan Kerins had the rare experience of playing in both the All-Ireland football and hurling finals for Galway. Throughout the noughties there was plenty of hype surrounding his dual player status but since then Alan has pursued another passion and raised millions of euro that has saved and changed thousands of lives in Africa. During the podcast we spoke about how playing sport at such a high level helped him to develop the skills and self-confidence to take on such massive projects and how staring death in the face while in Africa changed his perspective on both sport and life. A quick reminder for you to please share the podcast in your whatsapp groups or online via Twitter and Facebook as your support is invaluable to us in spreading the word and helping to celebrate these GAA heroes.

Next up on the podcast is Michael Fennelly, an eight time All-Ireland winner with Kilkenny. Under the management of Brian Cody, the Cats have become one the most respected and consistent teams in the history of the GAA. During the course of this hour long conversation, it was fascinating to get an insight into the culture of the group, as well as the individual mentality Michael has needed to survive and thrive in a high performance culture. The 2011 Hurler of the Year was incredibly honest about the impact his love of hurling has had on his body and mind, and the many challenges he has had to overcome. Now in the latter end of his career at 32, he has changed jobs, studied leadership, started lecturing and began a journey into the entrepreneurial world. There is zero doubt that Michael Fennelly is much more than just a hurler.

An All-Ireland winner with Armagh, Oisin McConville was also a key member of the Crossmaglen Rangers club that won more titles than any mantlepiece could handle. To most supporters, Oisin was living the dream throughout his playing career but the stark reality was that away from the highs of places like Clones and Croke Park, he was dealing with a chronic gambling addiction in his day to day life. It was a real pleasure to sit down to reflect on his journey, his transition out of playing a game he relied on so much and discuss the incredible life lessons he has learned along the way, After the success of the first ten episodes of the Real Talks podcast with current GAA players, we will be bringing you another ten truly unique conversations over the coming weeks with living legends of Gaelic Games. Our next stop will be Kilkenny.

This episode of the Real Talks podcast with Jamie Wall was recorded in the heart of San Francisco. A former underage player for Cork in both codes, Jamie was a prospect that had high hopes of representing his county for many years to come but back in 2014 his life changed after an abscess at the spine resulted in the loss of power in his legs. During this conversation, Jamie talks openly and honestly about the day his legs first gave way and the ups and downs of the last three years as he has had to adapt to life in a chair and rise to numerous challenges. He is now currently enjoying an extended break in a new city while also managing a GAA team on the west coast of America – an opportunity that arose after he coached Mary I to the Fitzgibbon Cup earlier in 2017. Keep an ear out at the end of the show as well for an exciting update about the next season of the podcast which will kick off in the coming few weeks. If new to the show, find us on iTunes and SoundCloud by searching ‘Real Talks’ to find

Now in her 23rd season at the top level, it is a real honour and privilege to welcome Cora Staunton onto the Real Talks podcast. Having made her debut for the Mayo senior team at 13 years of age, Cora has gone on to win four All-Ireland’s for her county, 10 All-Stars and become a household name due to her incredible longevity, mesmerising talent and amazing ability to consistently get huge scores in the green and red jersey. Over the hour, Cora talked openly and honestly about how sport changed her life for the better, the impact of the death of her mother had on her life and why after all these years, she keeps coming back for more.

Michael Quinn did something so many young people dream of when he became a professional sportsman and signed for Aussie Rules outfit Essendon. Plucked from Longford as an 18 year old, he holds the record for the fastest conversion from GAA to AFL starter, ahead of the likes of Tadhg Kennelly, Marty Clarke and most recently Kerry’s Mark O’Connor. Now 27 years of age, he talks open and honestly about those achievements and what it was like to return to Ireland after experiencing extreme highs at such a young age. This podcast is brought to you thanks to the support of Kelly Bradshaw Dalton, who for over 20 years have been selling, renting and managing property in the greater Dublin area. Be sure to check out their website at KBD.ie.

Noel Connors is a two-time All-Star with Waterford and one of the most respected hurlers in the modern game. A deep thinker and a keen academic, Noel (27) is a player who has found some of the things that most GAA players crave – a balanced lifestyle, respect of his peers and a humble appreciation for the privileged position he is in as a respected athlete. Having burst onto the senior inter-county stage while still a teenager, he talked openly and honestly about the pros and cons of having remained in the limelight ever since and what keeps him going back to the battlefield every year despite the fact that his county haven't won an All-Ireland since 1959. This podcast is brought to you thanks to the support of Kelly Bradshaw Dalton, who for over 20 years have been selling, renting and managing property in the greater Dublin area. Be sure to check out their website at www.KBD.ie.

Eamon McGee was part of a Donegal defence that changed the landscape of gaelic football and brought Sam Maguire home to the hills of Donegal for the first time in 20 years. However, during this week’s podcast, he talks about living the 'party' lifestyle in earlier years all the while dealing with anxiety, panic attacks, and a relationship with alcohol that resulted in him needing professional help. Having hung up his boots in 2016, the Gweedore man is extremely proud of his career with Donegal, and while there may be some regrets, there is no doubt he is now better equipped to live and maintain a balanced lifestyle as live moves on and he manages the transition into retirement. This podcast is brought to you thanks to the support of Kelly Bradshaw Dalton, who for over 20 years have been selling, renting and managing property in the greater Dublin area. Be sure to check out their website at KBD.ie.

In 2012, Offaly forward Niall McNamee publicly admitted he owed around €80,000 as a result of a gambling addiction, accepted that he needed professional help and so began, his journey towards recovery. It is now 5 years since Niall has made a bet and his life has been transformed. We sat down to chat about many lessons he has learned along the way and what it is like to be able to look at himself in the mirror now and be proud of what he sees – because for many years he didn’t and gambling became his form of escapism from everyday life. He burst onto the inter-county scene as a 17 year old back in 2003 when he made his championship debut, the week before his Leaving Cert began. Since then he has become Offaly’s talisman, missing just one championship game over 14 campaigns, but while Niall has been a beacon of consistency on the field, a large portion of his football career was spent battling a chronic gambling addiction. This podcast is brought to you thanks to the support of Kelly Bradshaw Dalton, who

Having spent the large majority of 2016 in New York City, Jamie Clarke is back in Ireland and once again strutting his stuff in a Armagh jersey. Renowned for his individual style on the pitch, Jamie is one of the most talented forwards and interesting personalities the modern game has produced. We chat about the positive impact that travelling has had on his life and outlook, the importance of being authentic and not submitting to stereotypes, and how now, at 27 years of age, he felt a magnetic pull that lured him home from America because ultimately he wants to help leave Armagh football in a better place.

Wicklow footballer John McGrath was diagnosed with leukaemia and entered four intense cycles of chemotherapy in 2011. Within 6 months he was back playing for his beloved club Baltinglass and a year later he was on the Croke Park turf winning a league title for his county.   As we discussed the ups and downs of his recovery, it became abundantly clear that we were sitting in the room with one of the most resilient and inspiring men our national games have to offer as he prepares for his 11th season at inter-county level. John openly discusses his recovery, mindset through challenging times and how his love for football gave him a constant source of hope.   In our first two episodes of the Real Talks Podcast, we checked in with members of the All-Ireland winning teams of 2016 in Brendan Maher of Tipperary and Dublin’s Kevin McManamon. Thanks to the 5,000 people who have so far tuned in to the show.

The second episode of the Real Talks podcast features Tipperary’s All-Ireland winning captain of 2016, Brendan Maher. Over the course of the hour conversation with host Alan O'Mara, this Tipperary warrior shows he is an intriguing character, with a fascinating outlook on life, winning, leadership and communication. What he said: “My hurling journey has helped me an awful lot off the pitch as well. I have learned how to live by so many values. Through sport I’ve learned so much.” This is the second episode of a ten part series highlighting that GAA players are far more than just footballers and hurlers. Episode one featured Dublin’s Kevin McManamon. Disclaimer: All materials featuring in this podcast are copyright protected. Reuse or quotation in part or in full is prohibited unless direct credit and/or hyperlink to the Real Talks podcast is clearly and accurately provided.

The first ever episode of the Real Talks podcast features Dublin’s four time All-Ireland winner, Kevin McManamon. During an open and honest conversation, Kevin discusses becoming a key cog in a Dublin machine that has dominated Gaelic Football this decade as well as his love for a goal on the biggest occasions. He chats about overcoming performance anxiety that held him back in earlier years, how his study of sports psychology has made him both a better player and person, and how he had to learn the hard way to build self-confidence. His love for music is instrumental in ensuring he maintains a balanced lifestyle and on top of all that we discuss the importance of resilience, particularly when it comes to educating people on mental health, masculinity in the modern world and his love for Damien Dempsey. What he said: "When I was pronouncing the other side of my life that I enjoyed, not only was I happier in general, but I was actually playing better!” Disclaimer: All materials featuring in this podcast a

A weekly podcast hosted by Alan O’Mara. Each Real Talks episode provides a prominent Irish figure with the opportunity to talk about life lessons, leadership, resilience, purpose, sport, passions and much more during a relaxed, meaningful and humorous conversation. This will be the first time a strategic and coordinated planned sequence of conversations will take place with leading Irish sports stars for digital listeners. Season One features 10 leading GAA players speaking in a way they have never been heard before. Guests include Kevin McManamon, a four time All-Ireland winner with Dublin, and Brendan Maher, Tipperary’s All-Ireland winning captain in 2016. No more clickbait. No more soundbites. Choose real people. Choose real stories. Alan O’Mara is the founder of RealTalks.ie and author of the best-selling memoir ‘The Best Is Yet To Come’.