Over The Bar - The Gaelic Games History Podcast

In this episode of Over The Bar , Michael Foley and Ciaran O’Hara explore the deep and often overlooked links between the GAA and the 1916 Rising. From players and officials who became Volunteers to the broader role the Association played in shaping national identity, the lads piece together the scale of GAA involvement in 1916.

What was Limerick’s most important All-Ireland win? In this episode of Over The Bar , Michael Foley and Ciaran O’Hara make the case for 1973 — a victory that meant far more than silverware. Ending decades of waiting, it reignited hurling in the county and reshaped Limerick’s sense of belief and identity. The lads explore the context, the characters and the lasting impact of a triumph that didn’t j...

Where did Offaly’s green, white and gold really come from? Michael Foley and Ciaran O’Hara revisit the story — and challenge the accepted version. With fresh research and a new angle, this episode uncovers a different origin for one of the GAA’s most recognisable jerseys.

Michael Foley and Ciaran O'Hara tell the story of one of the most important GAA stadiums in the country which has known more trouble in its existence than any other, Casement Park in Belfast.

In this episode of Over The Bar , Michael Foley and Ciaran O’Hara chart the full arc of one of the GAA’s most intriguing competitions. From its launch in 1926, when the Gaelic Athletic Association introduced an interprovincial showdown to showcase the game’s finest talent, through the years when the Railway Cup was a marquee event in the sporting calendar. The lads explore when the competition tru...

What was the Riverdance of sport? For Michael Foley and Ciaran O’Hara, the answer lies in Wexford’s unforgettable 1996 All-Ireland triumph under the charismatic leadership of Liam Griffin. In this episode of Over The Bar , the lads revisit a summer when Wexford’s energy, colour and belief captured the imagination of the country. With Griffin’s vision, passion and showmanship at the helm, it wasn’t...

In this episode of Over The Bar , Michael Foley and Ciaran O’Hara dig into the origins of one of the most striking jerseys in Gaelic Games. Tracing the story through local history, the lads explore how Armagh’s colour choice emerged — and what it has come to represent over time.

How did Cork finally catch up with the great Kerry side of the 1980s? In this episode of Over The Bar , Michael Foley and Ciaran O’Hara explore how Cork closed the gap on a Kingdom team that had set the gold standard for a generation. From tactical evolution and hardened mentality to the emergence of leaders who refused to accept second best, the lads trace how the Rebels turned rivalry into resur...

What was the game of the 1990s? For Michael Foley and Ciaran O’Hara, the answer lies in one unforgettable afternoon: Derry v Down in the 1994 Ulster Championship. In this episode of Over The Bar , the lads revisit a match that had everything — intensity, skill, controversy, momentum swings and an atmosphere that crackled from first throw-in to final whistle. More than just a classic, it was a game...

On the road to an Ulster Final, a group of Monaghan footballers found themselves at the centre of one of the strangest pre-match stories in GAA history — arrested en route, with a cloud of confusion hanging over what should have been a straightforward journey. In this episode of Over The Bar , Michael Foley and Ciaran O’Hara unravel a tale that involves the brother of one of the GAA’s most recogni...

As the National Leagues mark their centenary, Michael Foley and Ciaran O’Hara go back to the very beginning to ask a simple question: how did they begin? The lads explore why the leagues were introduced, what problems they were designed to solve, and how they gradually became a cornerstone of the GAA calendar.

Why do Carlow wear red, green and yellow? In this episode of Over The Bar , Michael Foley and Ciaran O’Hara uncover the story behind one of the GAA’s most distinctive colour combinations. Tracing the origins of county colours, local identity and historical influence, the lads explore how Carlow’s jersey came to reflect more than just sporting choice — becoming a symbol of place, pride and traditio...

In this Episode Michael and Ciarán are joined by Joe Ó Muircheartaigh to discuss the fascinating journey of how a set of Cork Jerseys ended up in Dingle and went on to Croke Park, where Kerry donned Red and White for the 1939 All Ireland Final.

Part 3 brings the Offaly story full circle — beginning with the high point of their third All-Ireland final of the 1990s, when the county stood firmly among hurling’s elite. But what followed was a long, difficult descent. Michael Foley and Ciaran O’Hara trace how Offaly slipped from the summit, through years of struggle and soul-searching, down to life in the Christy Ring and Joe McDonagh Cups. T...

Part 2 of our 3 part series. From the breakthrough of the 1989 Minor All-Ireland final to the epic three-game showdown with Clare in 1998, Part 2 tracks the years when belief turned into bite. Michael Foley and Ciaran O’Hara chart how Offaly hardened through near-misses, momentum shifts and unforgettable battles — no longer plucky outsiders, but a county ready to take on hurling’s elite.

How did Offaly grow into a hurling superpower in the 1980s and 1990s? In Part 1 of this three-part mini-series, Michael Foley and Ciaran O’Hara trace a quieter, more organic revolution — driven not by sweeping reforms, but by people. This episode explores how a committed group of players, coaches and administrators gradually reshaped attitudes, standards and ambition within the county, bringing Of...

What’s the longest run ever to win an All-Ireland? The answer lies in Tyrone’s epic 2005 campaign. Michael Foley and Ciaran O’Hara are joined by Peter Canavan to relive a championship journey that went the distance — physically, mentally, and emotionally. A marathon season that redefined what it took to reach the summit.

After Dublin’s 1977 All-Ireland win, Tony Hanahoe became the biggest name in the GAA — but the seasons that followed were anything but straightforward. In Part 2, Michael Foley and Ciaran O’Hara uncover the pressures, setbacks and flashpoints that shaped Hanahoe’s post-glory years and tested the Dubs like never before.

In this edition of Over The Bar, Michael Foley and Ciaran O’Hara explore one of the most pioneering figures in the history of Gaelic Games — the first player-manager to guide his team to All-Ireland success. How did he command a dressing room while still lining out beside the very men he was managing? What kind of tactical mind and character does it take to lead from both the sideline and the fiel...

It's the root cause of the great Galway and Mayo rivalry, so how were both awarded Connacht's first All Ireland Victory in 1925 and why is it Galway who retain it on their roll of honour, Michael Foley and Ciaran O' Hara reveal all in this episode.

In the mid nineties Neil Jordan finally had the opportunity to bring the story of the Big Fella to screen, but how accurate was his depiction of Bloody Sunday. In this episode Michael Foley explains all in the company of Ciaran O'Hara.

Hill 16 is one of the best known and best loved parts of any stadium in Ireland, but how did it get its name? In this Episode Michael Foley and Ciaran O'Hara bust some of the myths about the name's origin and reveal it's complex history as a monument to the fallen.

Michael Foley and Ciaran O'Hara examine where the All Stars concept came from, how the first All Star teams were selected and how they came to play in San Francisco.

In this episode Michael Foley and Ciaran O'Hara look at the remarkable career of Dublin's Jim Stynes. They reveal how he was recruited, what he achieved and his lasting legacy in Australia.

In this episode Michael Foley and Ciaran O'Hara are joined by Cormac Moore, author of 'The GAA v Douglas Hyde' to reveal the complex story of how the GAA came to expel the first President Of The State.