Real Talks with Alan O'Mara

Welcome to the Real Talks with SOSAD Ireland well-being series. The first episode of our new series is with Rory O’Connor, more commonly known as Rory’s Stories. Rory explains how he worked through his mental health struggles to become an online sensation, a stand up comedian and a published author. We talked about failure, fear, self-awareness, authenticity and much more. In the coming weeks, som...

Here is the first exclusive clip from the upcoming Real Talks with SOSAD Ireland well-being series. The first episode of our new series is with Rory O’Connor, more commonly known as Rory’s Stories, and will be released in full on September 22. Rory explains how he worked through his mental health struggles to become an online sensation, a stand up comedian and a published author. We talk about fai...

Welcome to the Real Talks with SOSAD Ireland well-being series. In the coming weeks, some of Ireland’s most inspiring people will support the Real Talks with SOSAD Ireland well-being hub, by talking to host Alan O'Mara about important life lessons and exploring various strands of well-being. This includes topics like depression, grief, resilience and confidence. The first episode of our new series...

As part of the First Fortnight festival, I recently sat down with Dublin’s double All-Ireland winning players Nicole Owens, Noelle Healy and Sinéad Finnegan for a live panel discussion in The Sugar Club, Dublin. We spoke about how sport can impact your mental health in both positive and negative ways, discussing vulnerabilities with teammates and in the media, living a balanced lifestyle and the r...

Philly McMahon is a five time All-Ireland winner with Dublin and leading advocate for addiction recovery in Ireland. We sat down in front of a live audience in The Sugar Club, Leeson Street to discuss his best-selling book ‘The Choice’ as well as his hopes for 2018.

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 tr...

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...

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...

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 th...

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 i...

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 su...

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 surv...

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....

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 hones...

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...

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 abou...

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-count...

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...

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...

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 bei...

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 th...

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....

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...

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 st...