The GAA Social

Neil McManus on the GAA Social has announced his retirement from inter-county hurling. What a career. 2007 he made his debut with Antrim, he'll continue to wear the maroon of Cushendall. But there's so much more. His love of the sport, how he describes hurling, its future and the rural depopulation that's hitting the Glens of Antrim. But there's a plan- and McManus is leading! His father was evict...

We have the draw for the final 8 for Sam Maguire and the semi-final line-up for the Tailteann cup. It was perhaps the best weekend for Gaelic football this summer and the new format seems to be working. It's a packed GAA Social Extra with all bases covered. We also talk officials in the game and Oisin is clear- it's time for 2 referees at the top of the game!

Willie Anderson is a former Ireland rugby captain from a Protestant, Unionist background. Growing up in county Tyrone, marching on the 12th of July, Gaelic Games wasn't the jumper that fitted best. Life changes. Arrest in Argentina, threat of execution, before playing rugby in communist Romania changed his outlook on the place he calls home. In this podcast we hear the thoughts from a different ba...

Hurling tops the bill as the roadtrip to Munster begins. Massive weekend of football coming up in Sam Maguire and Tailteann cup- we have all angles covered.

Sambo McNaughton is perhaps the most recognisable hurler in Ulster history. He scaled new heights with Antrim and Cushendall, managed both teams after retirement and continues to manage and coach today. His name is recognisable everywhere in Ireland- he doesn't even need a surname! Behind the man is a life struggling with a speech impediment, a troubled childhood and a society that was unforgiving...

All the games reviewed, the talking points and in general the state of Gaelic Football. It's the GAA Social Extra on a Monday

Philly McMahon has lived, and living a remarkable life. Under Pat Gilroy and Jim Gavin he thrived. We dig deep into both managers- what they brought and why they were different. Gavin is specifically interesting. Bringing the Dublin team to the Battle of the Somme in France and camping in an army barracks. The team to sleep outside and work life out for themselves. He was trying to pick his captai...

The GAA Social with Oisin McConville & Thomas Niblock- Dublin won't win Sam

Kevin Hughes lost his sister Helen and brother Paul in two separate car accidents. He was on the pitch when Paul McGirr died representing Tyrone in an Ulster championship match. Cormac McAnallen was his captain and friend. It's a life of loss- but remarkably Kevin has found a way to survive, grow and cope. He was Man-of-the-match in the historic All-Ireland final of 2003 when Tyrone won their firs...

It's the GAA Social on a Monday, Oisin and Thomas review the GAA action over the weekend and preview what's to come. It's also time to reflect on the recent impact of the podcast series in the immediacy of recording, perhaps, our most powerful yet. (We know we have said that before) Down footballers enjoyed Thurles- on the pitch and slightly off it too? The GAA Social Extra- we hope you enjoy

We don't know how exactly it happened- but it has. Armagh legend Francie Bellew agreed to sit down and take part in his first and only sit-down interview. In a wide ranging conversation we dig into being shy, how he was bundled into a car and brought to Armagh training and his memories of playing in Orange. He's not a fan of modern day football, he hasn't been back at Clones since he retired but h...

A first ever draw between Armagh and Derry, an Ulster final decided on pens, drama almost beyond words and a performance of a lifetime (another one) from Shane McGuigan. It's the GAA Social Extra on a Monday.

Tickets sold out in 6 minutes. A capacity Seamus Heaney HomePlace welcomed the GAA Social with a live studio audience. Two provincial finals to look forward to, questions from the audience & one lucky Castledawson boy managed to convince Michael Murphy back down the Glenshane and take his club for a training session. You don't ask, you don't get. Former Derry All-Ireland winner Eamonn Burns ta...

It's the GAA Social Extra, on a weekend of one sided Provincial finals- we hope for much more this weekend. A guarenteed sell-out Clones will be a day from the Gods- for the gods. Armagh will win (apparently) and wait for it.....Louth can do it!! It's the GAA Social with Oisin & Thomas.

In one of the most powerful GAA Social podcasts to date, former Armagh manager Brian Canavan joins Thomas and Oisin. He talks football, one of the most high profile shootings in his bar during the Troubles- weeks before the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. Brian also talks living with Cancer, refereeing and perhaps unusually, there's plenty of laughs too. In 1998, best friends Damien Trainor...

Greg McCabe is growing in the famous number 6 shirt that Kieran McGeeney made his own. An immense performance in the Ulster semi-final over Down, McCabe talks about the lure of an Ulster title, taking on Derry and brings us on the Armagh journey. He’s a player on top form. The podcast also talks Dublin, their escape from the clutches of Kildare and we ask a question- that doesn't seem as rhetorica...

Barry O’Hagan is a week out of career threatening surgery. A Triple reconstruction of knee ligaments, a procedure that was dramatically changed 30 minutes before operation. The Hilltown man is the marquee Down forward- until a Saturday night against Antrim in February! In this podcast we examine and dig into living with injury, processing it and beginning the long road to recovery. It’s a fascinat...

With Oisin on championship duty, Michael Murphy jumps on the podcast with Thomas- joined by 1-3 Down hero Pat Havern. The Down full-forward talks expectations with Down, a big championship win, the inside track on Conor Laverty & taking a penalty he wasn't due to hit. Pat also looks forward to an Ulster semi-final with Armagh- can they win? We also reflect on some of the key talking points ove...

Fr PJ McCamphill has spent more than 50 years in Africa as a missionary. He's survived murder attempts. All this, because he left Ireland and the sport he adores to help others less fortunate. Yet people in Africa, according to PJ, are the happiest on the planet- why is that? This podcast is a unique insight into life in Africa, spreading the Gospel of GAA, playing every trick in the book to get h...

Ryan O'Toole joins Thomas Niblock and Oisin McConville after a day he'll never forget. When the GAA world expected him to go for a point- O'Toole shocked everyone (except himself) and shot for goal. The reward is a place in the Ulster semi-final against Derry. In the immediate aftermath, Ryan reveals walking away from Monaghan, why he did it and how he came back. Mickey Harte joined Oisin and Mich...

Fermanagh's Sean Quigley provides a fascinating and unvarnished insight into the mind of a leading Gaelic footballer on this week's podcast. Straight-talking Quigley bites back at the podcast, discusses the media's attitude towards Fermanagh and the state of modern inter-county football - are players too sensitive these days? He also explains why he wouldn't allow a nutritionist into his home and...

What a night it was in New York, a first ever championship win in Connacht and a victory up there with the Yankees 1998 season (well, sort of) In '98, did the Yankees move off 1st base, risking a few yards, just like the NY goalkeeper? Should it have been spotted by the officials? It was however an amazing win for NY and as one tweeter told the GAA Social 'It's the best championship moment of the...

In March, Paddy McBride lost his sister Marie to suicide. In his only sit down interview, Paddy reflects on the journey his family have travelled since the tragedy and the pragmatic steps to heal their lives. It's a stunning listen. Paddy is also one of the top players in Antrim. 12 years playing senior, under seven different mangement teams- the podcast explores the challenges the county faces. R...

It's Championship. Yes- it's April, but it's Championship. Here we go....

This is one of our best ever podcasts. Brendan Devenney led Donegal for years, but they couldn't get across the line- Armagh & Oisin were the main roadblock. However this podcast digs deeper into the life of Brendan Devenny. Success, failures, helping chirldren in Africa and beyond. It's an education into living life now- and not planning too much for the future. There's also tragedy. Brendan...