An Irishman Abroad

Irishman Abroad 9 Year Anniversary Episode

Today we have a very special retrospective episode to mark the 9th anniversary of the Irishman Abroad. Looking back on the most awkward, funny and pivotal moments and episodes across hundreds of hours of conversation with the most fascinating Irish people ever to leave our shores. It's also a chance to say thank you to everyone who has played a part in making our show what it is today and to announce what's coming next for Ireland's biggest podcast for the Irish abroad.

 

I hope you enjoy it and I hope that you will come with me on the next phase of this mad old trip we've been on together for nearly a decade.

 

If you’ve like to contact me, that is easy too. You know what to do!

1. Irishman Abroad Live Line: You can now get in touch with us and feature on our shows by sending your WhatsApp voice note to 00447543122330.

2. Email Jar, Sonia and Marion directly on irishmanabroadpodcast@gmail.com.

For updates on future episodes and live shows follow Jar here on Twitter, visit www.jigser.com or subscribe to the YouTube channel here.

Disclaimer: All materials contained within this podcast are copyright protected. Third party reuse and/or quotation in whole or in part is prohibited unless direct credit and/or hyperlink to the Irishman Abroad podcast is clearly and accurately provided.

Irishman Running Abroad - Obeying Your Body In Week 7

With 4 weeks to go to the Antrim Coast Half Marathon, Sonia O'Sullivan asks us all to breathe out and listen to what our bodies are telling us. It’s a tough thing to do at the best of times but when your training hasn’t been going exactly to plan, it can feel impossible. She walks me and our team captains Neil and Aisling through the plan for this week, examines their progress, offers some unique tips on sock management and gives us glimpse into what her coaching life has been like this week as she moves to London. It’s a jam packed episode featuring a trip around the parishes you need to hear, a retirement voice note from one squad member and the realisation that moving house and while running is the worst for of cross-training.

 

Sadly we will not have episode notes but Patrons will get the full training plan and a further 30 minutes of chat this week. if you’ve like to contact me, that is easy too. You know what to do!

1. Irishman Abroad Live Line: You can now get in touch with us and feature on our shows by sending your WhatsApp voice note to 00447543122330.

2. Email Jar, Sonia and Marion directly on irishmanabroadpodcast@gmail.com.

For updates on future episodes and live shows follow Jar here on Twitter, visit www.jigser.com or subscribe to the YouTube channel here.

Disclaimer: All materials contained within this podcast are copyright protected. Third party reuse and/or quotation in whole or in part is prohibited unless direct credit and/or hyperlink to the Irishman Abroad podcast is clearly and accurately provided.

Irishman Running Abroad - Running On Empty (Part 1)

You don't have to be coaching at the world championships, moving house, raising kids or trying to recover from COVID to feel like you are using energy you don't have to run in the evenings. There can come a point in any training block where we feel like the tank is empty. That's where I got to this week and strangely, many of our listeners reported the same experience. Week 5 of Sonia's half marathon training plan really put it up to us all. This week we review what was learned with our team captains Aisling DeMaison in France and Neil Fusco recovering from COVID in Wicklow.

On the micro level we look at whether running on an empty stomach is a good idea after I bottomed out (bonked) during the group run we organised in the Phoenix Park. Sonia looks back at a jam packed World Championships, getting lost in the hills of Oregon and explains her "Week 6 Plan" in detail. There's a trip around the parishes and some fuelling life hacks you will definitely want to hear. Don't forget there will be episode notes to follow later in the day that include the full training plan and links to items discussed on the show.

On the micro level we look at whether running on an empty stomach is a good idea after I bottomed out (bonked") during the group run we organised in the Phoenix Park. Sonia looks back at a jam packed World Championships, getting lost in the hills of Oregon and explains her "Week 6 Plan" in detail. (Access via Patreon.com/irishmanabroad) There's a trip around the parishes and some fuelling life hacks you will definitely want to hear. Don't forget there will be episode notes to follow later in the day that include the full training plan and links to items discussed on the show.

Want to submit a question or suggest a guest/topic?

You know what to do!

1. Irishman Abroad Live Line: You can now get in touch with us and feature on our shows by sending your WhatsApp voice note to 00447543122330.

2. Email Jar, Sonia and Marion directly on irishmanabroadpodcast@gmail.com.

For updates on future episodes and live shows follow Jar here on Twitter, visit www.jigser.com or subscribe to the YouTube channel here.

Disclaimer: All materials contained within this podcast are copyright protected. Third party reuse and/or quotation in whole or in part is prohibited unless direct credit and/or hyperlink to the Irishman Abroad podcast is clearly and accurately provided.

Irishman Abroad - Anyika Onuora - Jonathan Drennan - (Part 1)

My Hidden Race is the story of Olympic medallist Anyika Onuora, who stood on the podium at every major championship in athletics. Behind all the success and smiles lay something sinister that she could not speak about for years. The she has written with Jonathan Drennan doesn't go into detail about the technicalities of her sport. Instead, it gives an unflinching testimony of what it takes to pursue your dreams as a Black British woman against all odds and lifts the lid on the reality of life as a female athlete in a way that nobody else has done before her. She admits that there have been far too many years of silence caught in a system. Now Anyika is determined to make up for lost time and use her story to inspire and heal others.

Today on Irishman Abroad I talk to her about the writing of My Hidden Race with Jonathan Drennan. I could not put this book down. It will take you into a world that often takes place far from the spotlight of the Olympic torch and shines an intense light on the brutal reality of professional sport for many black females. It is for a me, a must read.

Warning: the episode contains some content that some listeners may find distressing. If you have been affected by abuse or need to talk to someone about what you are going through.

 

The Samaritans can be contacted for free on the 24/7 phone helpline 116 123, email jo@samaritans.ie or visit samaritans.ie.

My Hidden Race by Anyika Onuora is published by Mirror Books.

Want to submit a question or suggest a guest/topic?

You know what to do!

1. Irishman Abroad Live Line: You can now get in touch with us and feature on our shows by sending your WhatsApp voice note to 00447543122330.

2. Email Jar, Sonia and Marion directly on irishmanabroadpodcast@gmail.com.

For updates on future episodes and live shows follow Jar here on Twitter, visit www.jigser.com or subscribe to the YouTube channel here.

Disclaimer: All materials contained within this podcast are copyright protected. Third party reuse and/or quotation in whole or in part is prohibited unless direct credit and/or hyperlink to the Irishman Abroad podcast is clearly and accurately provided.

Irishman Running Abroad - Sonia’s Advice On Bouncing Back During A Training Cycle (Part 1)

Sonia ducks away from the IAAF World Championships to give us another masterclass in training for the half marathon distance. She has a big announcement that only Patrons can hear and I have a huge prize for one lucky listener. I've been getting emails all week from squad members who have picked up bumps, niggles and of course the dreaded virus. We all know the road to any big race is never smooth. Sometimes the setbacks are easily managed with some time off but when the clock is ticking, things get a bit trickier. Sonia pops on her coaching hat and drops some knowledge on how to navigate these setbacks and walks us through the theory behind the plan for this week. Captains Aisling and Neil jump on the live line to fill us in on their progress and we even have time for a listener letter, Coke zero's impact on hydration, meeting bears out on your run and how to remain cool when you lose your car keys at the IAAF World Championships. Don't forget the illustrated and fully clickable episode notes featuring the full plan and our book recommendations.

Want to submit a question or suggest a guest/topic?

You know what to do!

1. Irishman Abroad Live Line: You can now get in touch with us and feature on our shows by sending your WhatsApp voice note to 00447543122330.

2. Email Jar, Sonia and Marion directly on irishmanabroadpodcast@gmail.com.

For updates on future episodes and live shows follow Jar here on Twitter, visit www.jigser.com or subscribe to the YouTube channel here.

Disclaimer: All materials contained within this podcast are copyright protected. Third party reuse and/or quotation in whole or in part is prohibited unless direct credit and/or hyperlink to the Irishman Abroad podcast is clearly and accurately provided.

Opportunity In Adversity - The King Of Chemo - Iain Ward

In 2019 Iain Ward signed up for a medical trial. As part of the trial an MRI was done on his brain and a small, supposedly harmless, tumour was detected. A later scan showed it growing so, two weeks after his 31st birthday he was scheduled for brain surgery, during which he had to be awake and talking the entire time. A week later it was confirmed that he had Stage 3 brain cancer, which normally comes with a life expectancy of 5 years. Because he’s younger he might get longer than this but either way he has decided that he’s going to spend his last years dedicating himself to achieving something difficult and worthwhile. Breaking the world record for the most money raised for running a marathon. Remarkably he’s not looking for your money, he’s simply looking to grow his social media channels so that when his they gets sponsors, he can donate that money. That approach is working. The evidence is on his channels. Just the other week he gathered a huge crowd of runners in London for a run. For every single one that showed up, Brewdog donated £10 to charity.

Please submit a question or suggest a guest/topic?

You know what to do!

1. Irishman Abroad Live Line: You can now get in touch with us and feature on our shows by sending your WhatsApp voice note to 00447543122330.

2. Email Jar, Sonia and Marion directly on irishmanabroadpodcast@gmail.com.

For updates on future episodes and live shows follow Jar here on Twitter, visit www.jigser.com or subscribe to the YouTube channel here.

Disclaimer: All materials contained within this podcast are copyright protected. Third party reuse and/or quotation in whole or in part is prohibited unless direct credit and/or hyperlink to the Irishman Abroad podcast is clearly and accurately provided.

Irishman Running Abroad - World Championships Preview With Cathal Dennehy & Sonia O’Sullivan.

Cathal Dennehy, Ireland’s most respected athletics writer joins us to discuss the upcoming World Athletics Championships while Sonia helps her athletes prepare for the biggest event of the year. Things are definitely heating up. Week 3 of Sonia’s training plan for the Antrim Coast Half Marathon tested our listeners with a 5 mile repeat session and a 100 minute long run. We get the feelings and questions from squad captains Neil Fusco and Aisling De Maison, take a trip around the parishes and get a revelatory tip of the week from Sonia. Hear the entire conversation, get the training plans and episode notes by visiting Patreon.com/irishmanabroad. 

Want to submit a question or suggest a guest/topic? 

You know what to do!

1. Irishman Abroad Live Line: You can now get in touch with us and feature on our shows by sending your WhatsApp voice note to 00447543122330.

2. Email Jar, Sonia and Marion directly on irishmanabroadpodcast@gmail.com.

For updates on future episodes and live shows follow Jar here on Twitter, visit www.jigser.com or subscribe to the YouTube channel here.

Disclaimer: All materials contained within this podcast are copyright protected. Third party reuse and/or quotation in whole or in part is prohibited unless direct credit and/or hyperlink to the Irishman Abroad podcast is clearly and accurately provided.

 

Irishman Running Abroad - Week 3 - Sonia’s Half Marathon Challenge

Before handing out our half marathon training plan for the week, Coach Sonia O'Sullivan gives us a look inside a record breaking night for Union Athletics Club in Oregon. Jessica Hull's attempt to claim another Australian record has parallels with the journey of our squad to the Antrim Coast Half Marathon. If you climb the mountain too fast or skip certain steps, you can easily plummet from where you are. Our team captains Aisling and Neil jump on the live line to talk about how they found week two and ask Sonia about how to cope with doubt and nutrition. Meanwhile in our weekly trip around Strava we find one listener, Elaine De Courcy who shocked her self-with a break through 5k time.
In the extended Patreon (www.returnofthecraic.compatreon.com/irishmanabroad) episode you can hear more about this week's 5 x 1 mile repeats workout and how best to do it, the feedback of our listeners around the world and Sonia's most recent bizarre sign spotting expedition in the woods near Portland.

Want to submit a question or suggest a guest/topic? There's all manner of easy options.

1. Irishman Abroad Live Line: You can now get in touch with us and feature on our shows by sending your WhatsApp voice note to 00447543122330.

2. Email Jar and Sonia directly on irishmanabroadpodcast@gmail.com.

For updates on future episodes and live shows follow Jar here on Twitter, visit www.jigser.com or subscribe to the YouTube channel here.

Disclaimer: All materials contained within this podcast are copyright protected. Third party reuse and/or quotation in whole or in part is prohibited unless direct credit and/or hyperlink to the Irishman Abroad podcast is clearly and accurately provided.

George Hamilton -The Nation Holds Its Breath

Born in Belfast, George Hamilton has worked in broadcasting for four decades. In that time he his voice and ability to tell a story as it unfolds have made him the undisputed voice of Irish football. George’s commentary like John Motson, is the soundtrack that sung by little boys and girls dreaming of winning world cups and scoring goals in the backyards when nobody is watching . He has captured the highs and lows of Irish sport for generations of fans, ever since he first took up the microphone in the mid-seventies, and he has been enthralling his audiences ever since.

When I saw that he recently penned his memoir The Nation Holds Its Breath - I was delighted by the prospect of an hour long chat on Irishman Abroad with him. He doesn't disappoint and neither does the book. It takes us on an affectionate journey from the Cregagh Road in East Belfast to an emotional farewell salute from Big Jack Charlton on the hallowed Anfield turf in 1995. Not surprisingly, the book went on to be nominated at the Irish Book Awards.

 

Hear the whole conversation by supporting us on www.patreon.com/irishmanabroad & get access to tonnes of bonus content, weekly episodes, mini series and interviews from the Irishman Abroad.

Want to submit a question or suggest a guest/topic? There's few easy options.

1. Irishman Abroad Live Line: You can now get in touch with us and feature on our shows by sending your WhatsApp voice note to 00447543122330.

2. Email Jar, Sonia and Marion directly on irishmanabroadpodcast@gmail.com.

For updates on future episodes and live shows follow Jar here on Twitter, visit www.jigser.com or subscribe to the YouTube channel here.

Disclaimer: All materials contained within this podcast are copyright protected. Third party reuse and/or quotation in whole or in part is prohibited unless direct credit and/or hyperlink to the Irishman Abroad podcast is clearly and accurately provided.

Irishman Running Abroad - Week 2 - How To Adjust Your Training - Part 1

After week one on the road to the Antrim Coast Half Marathon Sonia asks us to review and adjust based on what we have learned. We dial in our team captains and a few squad members to get their takes on how the plan felt. Then coach Trevor Cummins jumps on the Irishman Abroad LiveLive (00447543122330) to advise us on what to do with the cross-training days within the plan. Sitting on the deck of her team house in Oregon, Sonia breaks down how to assess if your paces are accurate and why erring on the side of caution will always benefit you in a training block such as this. Scheduling the runs was a concern for both of our captains Neil and Aisling last week but in the end it was Sonia who struggled to fit in her Sunday long-run while coaching at the US National Track Championships. We get a little update on how Union Athletic Club faired over the weekend.

Over the last few weeks Sonia has drilled home the importance of the easy run and the need for a stark differential between these runs and our hard session efforts. I put a few questions to her form the listeners in relation to this including whether our heart rate is the number one guide for keeping the easiest runs where they should be. Finally, our supports get to enjoy the final kick montage and extensive episode notes containing Sonia's week 2 plan. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions in relation to the training or other running matters.

Hear the whole conversation? Get Sonia’s full training plan? Go to www.patreon.com/irishmanabroad & get access to tonnes of bonus content, weekly episodes, mini series and interviews from the Irishman Abroad.

Want to submit a question or suggest a guest/topic? There's all manner of easy options.

1. Irishman Abroad Live Line: You can now get in touch with us and feature on our shows by sending your WhatsApp voice note to 00447543122330.
2. Email Jar and Sonia directly on irishmanabroadpodcast@gmail.com.
For updates on future episodes and live shows follow Jar here on Twitter, visit www.jigser.com or subscribe to the YouTube channel here.
(Disclaimer: All materials contained within this podcast are copyright protected. Third party reuse and/or quotation in whole or in part is prohibited unless direct credit and/or hyperlink to the Irishman Abroad podcast is clearly and accurately provided.)