An Irishman Abroad

Acclaimed comic artist and now host of "Draw With Will" on Sky TV speaks to Jarlath from his home in Ballycotton county Cork. Will has worked for the biggest studios and franchises in the comic book universe including Star Wars and Marvel. His work on Spiderman is vast but he still finds time to work on a multitude of other projects such as a breathtaking mural in Cork city, his own best-selling c...

Jarlath meets Irish bookseller of the year Antonia Daly to discuss the independent bookstore movement and how she followed her grandparents unusual path from Barrow Street to Trim, County Meath. Her bookstore is a childhood dream that she plucked up the courage to pursue when the engineering  company she worked for was moving abroad. Today “Antonia’s Bookstore” isn’t just a retail outlet in a smal...

Want to run more efficiently, with more balance, better posture and less chance of injury? Apparently “drills” are the only way to go. Today Sonia explains what the hell a drill is apart from a handy yoke around the house. The principles behind them and why pretty much every runner should regard a solid selection of drills as essential at least twice a week. With the US Olympic trials concluded So...

In a week when Ireland faced the reality of the rise of the Delta variant of COVID-19, Jarlath sat down with Eamon Dunphy to ask what exactly is happening on the ground back home. Few have been so critical of the Irish establishment and yet on the question of whether this government has failed the people Eamon has a surprising response. Jarlath asks whether there is hope to be found and whether th...

This week the Selection Box stops in Greystones to meet Trish Hennessy, the dynamo behind one of the most unusual independent book shops in Ireland. Her story of how selling a few books as a hobby turned into a successful award winning business is an inspiration. Jarlath asks Trish about the remarkably novel ways in which she survived the pandemic. Her book subscription service has allowed relativ...

Ever thought about running a marathon? Can anyone do it or is that madness? Sonia O’Sullivan digs into the myths and legends surrounding marathon training to reveal some surprising realities. Is it really something that anyone can train for in 12 weeks? Will you still have any friends at the end of it? We get a masterclass from the Irish athletics icon and former winner of the Dublin City Marathon...

This week, the most capped Leinster Rugby player of all time Devin Toner, joined Jarlath for a rare and in-depth conversation about his life and career.   Devin opens up about the Joe Schmidt era, how he manages the uncertainty of pro sports and his plans to avoid becoming a “rugby Dad”. There are some big laughs in this chat too with Jar quizzing Dev on the worst team building events he’s been fo...

When Dawn Behan decided to set up her own bookstore in a small rural town in Ireland there were plenty of people eager to tell her it would not work. Five years on the shop has been named independent book shop of the year, hosted author events with the likes of Graham Norton and become an essential pillar of the community. Today in the fourth instalment of our mini-series focusing on independent b...

If Sonia was a member of the A-Team she would have pointed out to Hannibal that it’s not really a plan until you write it down. This week Jarlath gets more guidance from the Irish sporting icon on how to properly plan a week of running. Regardless of where you are with your progress, Sonia’s insight into what should form the basis of your run plan will help. From rest to ambition, consecutive trai...

Irish Olympian Thomas Barr joined Jarlath for a fascinating conversation about his life and career while in the thick of his preparation for Tokyo. Thomas is one of Ireland's biggest medal hopes for the upcoming games. He speaks for the first time about his discomfort when put in front of the media, the days in which his commitment to his sport is most tested and why he believes dopers will always...

In today’s episode of our mini-series on Irish independent bookshops Jarlath visits Kenny's Bookshop in Galway. He speaks to Tomás Kenny about the university romance that gave rise to this family business, the gamble of starting a bookstore in 1940s Ireland and the remarkable stories that are tied up in the history of this Irish literary institution. From humble beginning Kenny's has gone on to be...

The number one cause of re-injury is doing too much too soon when trying to return to activity. Why do we find it so hard to resist the urge to go for it too soon? Sonia takes Jarlath into how to avoid this common pitfall that she herself has fallen for on many occasions. There’s your questions on carb loading, dealing with heat and fitness answered. Then the LiveLine is open for a call from Sonia...

This week the one and only Blindboy Boatclub makes his much-anticipated return to An Irishman Abroad.   Limerick’s most loved artist and hip-hop icon explains how his life was changed by taking his courage in his hands on a new platform, his attraction to dog videos as pure entertainment on Tik Tok and the Irish housing crisis.  For the very first time he discusses how Irish artists are moving to...

When he started renting books to his sisters as a child Kevin Gildea had no idea he was planting seeds for what would become a lifelong journey towards owning his book shop. In episode two of this very special Irishman Abroad mini-series focusing on independent bookstores around Ireland, Jarlath meets Kevin  to talk about his very long and winding road towards creating his Dun Laoighaire hub for s...

Hips, just like the resemblance between Joey Tribbianni and an Irish Uncle, have been overlooked for far too long. This week Sonia explains why developing even a little more power in your hips can make a world of difference to your running, posture and prospects of getting injured. Jarlath went down the rabbit hole of Matt LeBlanc memes while simultaneously devouring every piece of half baked theo...

The challenge of emerging from lockdown is the topic for discussion today when Jarlath sits down with one of our most popular guests of all time Enda McNulty. Last time they spoke in March of 2020, the pandemic was just unfolding. With the world flying blind as to how long the lockdowns would last and what impact COVID19 might have, Enda provided a calm voice of reason. The episode was listened to...

Jarlath meets Joanne Hunter the manager of a brilliant independent book shop in Louisburgh in county Mayo to talk about the challenges facing these kinds of book shops during the pandemic. We hear the very unusual story of how an Irish Times article brought her to apply for the job and how Books At One has come from a cornerstone of the community. The first in a series of Selection Box episodes to...

Understanding the relationship and difference between these two things could change your running forever, help you avoid injury long term and make you a better person. Well the third one isn’t a guarantee but Sonia takes Jar by the hand and walks him through the essentials of teaching your body to do more and why it has such a huge impact on even elite athletes. With his injury still hanging aroun...

Rory O’Neill aka Panti Bliss sat down with Jarlath this week to talk about Ireland six years on form that momentus day when the nation said yes to marriage equality. In this wide ranging discussion Jarlath asks Rory about the rise of a certain kind of insensitivity in the country and whether it is linked to a minority who feel wronged by the changes that have occurred in recent years. To hear the...

Tom Dunne stops by for a chat about Bob Dylan turning 80 and his own brush with death. He opens up to Jarlath for the first time about the rare heart condition that put him into coma for several days. An appreciation for life runs through his music recommendations for this week including the new Nick Cave book, albums by Paul Weller and St. Vincent and a documentary about the legendary band The Sp...

Why do we have it in our heads that there is a right way and a wrong way to run? Why are we obsessed with speed rather than enjoyment? Has Strava and the smart watches conditioned us all to want the wrong things from lacing up our shoes and enjoying this simple thing? Sonia breaks down a few of the most common mistakes she sees in amateurs and pros, while looking back and critically assessing her...

After 17 years at the BBC Annie MacManus walks away to start a new chapter. For two decades she has devoted her life to music and shining a light on the creativity of others. Her on air and on stage shows have become the stuff of legend, helped a generation form their musical tastes and thousands of artists find their audience.  With the release of her stunning debut novel Mother Mother, Annie tak...

As the entire world changes over the coming months there can be a sense of anxiety around losing the gains you have made or the fitness plan you have locked into place. Sonia has seen her world flipped upside down in recent weeks and Jarlath’s injury is throwing all sorts of new challenges at him. Together they chat through a few basic concepts that will hold you firm to your path, some supplement...

This week, we bring you the star and mastermind behind the hit show Irish Pickers, Ian Dowling. In the true style for which Ian is known, with all his cards laid out on the table, Ian generously tells us his incredible journey of success, tragedy, rebuilding and being the creator of his own path. Ian explains how he left a fantastic life in Australia to return home to help his family through a tra...

You can’t feel good all the time. It’s that simple. Even if you’re breaking your personal best on a weekly basis, you might not feel great about it. Runners low can be as common as runners high. This week our resident health, wellness and running guru Sonia “The Legend” O’Sullivan gives us her best advice on managing the inevitable dip in your outlook. Jarlath is really struggling this week after...