The GAA Social

Oliver McVeigh is known across the land. More than 40 years in sports photography and likely to turn up at any GAA event. The legendry 'Season of Sundays' annual is filled with his craft throughout the years. In this podcast, Oliver picks his favourite photos and explains why. Mugsy's arse, Henry Shefflin, the photo that led to the biggest ban in rugby and then there's the changing room shot. Joy...

New rules, big omissions in playing squads (Dublin and Armagh specifically) and all the reaction to the opening weekend of the Allianz leagues

The GAA Social is back and we have perhaps the greatest manager of all time. Jim Gavin. New year, new rules and the FRC chairman himself, to discuss how it all came about. Recorded in front of a live audience

For this year- he's the best. Paul Conroy is thriving in midfield and believes Galway are good enought to win Sam Maguire. This podcast is packed with insights into the mindset of one of the top performers in modern day Gaelic football. Breaking his leg against Sean O'Shea, his annoyance when people pick on teachers and what's next in 2025. One of the genuine great guys in Gaelic Games. *This podc...

Former Tyrone gaelic footballer, Successful manager, but managing death as a young man. This is the remarkable story of Jody Gormley. As strange as it may sound, a hugely uplifiting podcast. Perhaps the most powerful we've ever recorded (we don't say that lightly). He revealed to his Trillick players he has terminal cancer after losing the county final on Friday night. Jody has three children and...

Shane O'Donnell is expected to be named Hurler of the Year 2024. His performances this year, one of the main reasons why Liam MacCarthy resides in Clare over the winter. Shane considered giving up the game after a serious concussion in 2021. He didn't, Clare thrived and there's more to come. This podcast is hugely insightful into O'Donnell, his thinking, the thorny issues of image rights and he ex...

Sometimes podcasts just stop us in our tracks. This is one of them. Niall Grimley from Madden county Armagh. He didn't play a minute in Ulster championship and League- yet is now in the running for an All-star. It's a remarkable sporting journey that reached its climax on Sunday winning his first All-Ireland- and he's been crucial. Niall also broke his neck and tore his MCL. Unfortunately, there’s...

We also pick our player of the Year! Not easy

Ronan Clarke- a former teammate of Oisin and a previous housemate with Thomas at University. Three great friends, sitting down for a chat on the week of the All-Ireland final. Memories flooding back. Ronan was 18 when he got the better of Kerry great Seamus Moynihan and collected an All-Ireland. He also won 'Young Player of he year' at the GAA All-stars. Ronan Clarke was some footballer- an even b...

The best game we've ever seen. Ever! The reaction

We look ahead to the All-Ireland hurling final this weekend with an icon of the sport. Davy Fitzgerald will be in Croke Park as a supporter, in an All-Ireland final this weekend- for the first time! There is so much great stuff in this podcast and Davy answers the questions around his future- it is interesting! He's on of the greats, enjoying life, valuing health and driven to be the best. Liked o...

The boom is back

Where do you actually begin with Aidan O'Shea? He’s one of the biggest names in Gaelic games- but many, don’t seem to like him? He’s one of the greatest footballers in Mayo history, maybe even this generation, but he’s never won an All-Ireland. Mayo have failed in their quest for Sam Maguire for more than half a century, but the embodiment of that failure, for some, is Aidan O’Shea. Why? In a reve...

Less than a year into the role, Mickey Harte has stepped down as Derry manager. It was a controversial appointment in September 2023 and after a successful league- Derry in championship fell apart. Thomas & Oisin are joined by Aidan O’Shea on The GAA Social Podcast- Wednesday edition, but the boys took some time to discuss the news of Mickey Harte’s departure and who will replace him

We begin the look ahead to the 2024 All-Ireland final. A Clare/ Cork final. The drive for five is dead and the beauty of Croke alive- but it can be a cruel place

Niall Devlin is one of the top performers for Tyrone this season. He's only 22. He captained his county to an All-Ireland U20 title two years ago and has made the successful step up into senior level. It's his third season with the seniors. We reflect on Tyrone and look forward to the Tyrone Elclassico with the first round championship meeting of Clonoe and Coalisland. Niall won't be playing. He's...

The final four revealed. One more step to the All-Ireland final

A former Cavan goalkeeper, for Alan it was trying to fit in when he moved from Dublin as a child "Tractors or football." It turns out, he was pretty good at football and after playing Cavan minors and U21's, Alan found himself in Croke Park playing Kerry for a place in the All-Ireland semi-final. Life was good. It wasn't always that way. Struggling with depression, suicide felt like an option. Ala...

It's packed, the All-Ireland minor final has been decided and the case for the All-Ireland quarter-finals to be played outside Croke Park

This was a lovely hour with former BBC Co-commentator Peter McGinnity. Winning Championship titles with his native Roslea and St John's Belfast, a player/ manager for Fermanagh and still coaching with Tyrone champions Trillick. Jody Gormley's team are aiming to become the first team since Carrickmore in 2006, to retain the senior championship. There's plenty of laughs, but 70 has rattled Peter, ju...

The real stuff has finally arrived...

Pete McGrath is a Gaelic football legend. He won Sam Maguire in 1991 & 1994 with his native Down. A lifetime coaching at the great Down/ Armagh nursery St Colman's College, he's coached some of the best players to wear the red and black- from the early days to their biggest. He's had an incredible life. Totally devoted to football, no family, just devotion to faith and Down. He wasn't in the t...

We know the quarter-finalists of the Tailteann Cup and we now know Limerick will win five All-Ireland titles in a row. Don’t we? They picked up a 6th consecutive Munster championship over the weekend, surely now the greatest of all time? Kilkenny may have something to say about that after comfortably picking up another Leinster title, beating Dublin. Th All-Ireland minor semi-finals have now been...

It was a tragedy that rocked the Co Armagh village of Madden. Still does. Three of their own, killed in a road accident returning in a taxi bus after a 40th birthday in Dundalk. 2002 All-Ireland winner Kevin McElvanna lost his wife Ciara and their four children are now without mum. A life changing moment. Kevin is a surgeon and broke his neck in the accident. He's continuing to recover. For the fi...

Is this Derry team at an end? How good are Armagh? Cork are back, Donegal will regroup and the Tailteann Cup prelim quarter-final draw