An Irishman Abroad

Ever thought about running a marathon? Can anyone do it or is that madness? Sonia O’Sullivan digs into the myths and legends surrounding marathon training to reveal some surprising realities. Is it really something that anyone can train for in 12 weeks? Will you still have any friends at the end of it? We get a masterclass from the Irish athletics icon and former winner of the Dublin City Marathon. Jarlath asks Sonia questions posed by our running club members on everything from nutrition to shoes, cross training to runners' stomach. No stone is left unturned in this bumper edition and long awaited episode of Irishman Running Abroad.

 

Join our running event on strava.com/clubs/irishmanrunningabroad and help raise vitally needed funds for our chosen charity partner jigsaw.ie and all the work they do to support young people in Ireland.  

 

To hear every episode in full and to gain access to the entire back-catalogue of over 500 Irishman Abroad episodes that are not available on iTunes for just the price of a pint every month visit www.patreon.com/irishmanabroad  

 

Supplementary research provided by John Meagher.

 

The Irishman Abroad Liveline is now open. You can now get in touch with us and feature on our shows by sending your WhatsApp voice note to 0044 7543 122 330. Why not pose a running question to Irish Olympic Legend Sonia O'Sullivan or ask our America Correspondent Marion McKeone her thoughts on a current talking point Stateside? Of course, if you have an issue with traffic or elephants on the loose in your area, Jarlath can do his best to sort that out too.

 

Our charity partner is jigsawonline.ie. In these tricky times, Jigsaw provides a range of resources, advice and care for your people to help them strengthen their mental health and the skills needed to navigate life. Please visit their website and consider making a donation.

 

For updates on future episodes and live shows follow @jarlath on Twitter, visit www.jigser.com or email the show directly on irishmanabroadpodcast@gmail.com.

 

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.

This week, the most capped Leinster Rugby player of all time Devin Toner, joined Jarlath for a rare and in-depth conversation about his life and career.

 

Devin opens up about the Joe Schmidt era, how he manages the uncertainty of pro sports and his plans to avoid becoming a “rugby Dad”. There are some big laughs in this chat too with Jar quizzing Dev on the worst team building events he’s been forced to attend and whether he might consider fighting Jake Paul if the offer ever came in.

 

To hear every episode in full and to gain access to the entire back-catalogue of over 500 Irishman Abroad episodes that are not available on iTunes for just the price of a pint every month visit www.patreon.com/irishmanabroad  

 

Supplementary research provided by John Meagher.

 

The Irishman Abroad Liveline is now open. You can now get in touch with us and feature on our shows by sending your WhatsApp voice note to 0044 7543 122 330. Why not pose a running question to Irish Olympic Legend Sonia O'Sullivan or ask our America Correspondent Marion McKeone her thoughts on a current talking point Stateside? Of course, if you have an issue with traffic or elephants on the loose in your area, Jarlath can do his best to sort that out too.

 

Our charity partner is jigsawonline.ie. In these tricky times, Jigsaw provides a range of resources, advice and care for your people to help them strengthen their mental health and the skills needed to navigate life. Please visit their website and consider making a donation.

 

For updates on future episodes and live shows follow @jarlath on Twitter, visit www.jigser.com or email the show directly on irishmanabroadpodcast@gmail.com.

 

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.

When Dawn Behan decided to set up her own bookstore in a small rural town in Ireland there were plenty of people eager to tell her it would not work. Five years on the shop has been named independent book shop of the year, hosted author events with the likes of Graham Norton and become an essential pillar of the community. Today in the fourth instalment of our mini-series focusing on independent book sellers Jarlath hears her story. Woodbine Books has fast become one of the most respected bookshops in the country. How did Dawn change the minds of those reluctant locals and forge a place for her shop in Kilcullen. Like all of these episodes, it’s a great story. Ireland’s independent bookstore week is coming soon. Why not check to see where your local bookstore is and give them some support this month.

 

To hear every episode in full and to gain access to the entire back-catalogue of over 500 Irishman Abroad episodes that are not available on iTunes for just the price of a pint every month visit www.patreon.com/irishmanabroad  

 

Supplementary research provided by John Meagher.

 

The Irishman Abroad Liveline is now open. You can now get in touch with us and feature on our shows by sending your WhatsApp voice note to 0044 7543 122 330. Why not pose a running question to Irish Olympic Legend Sonia O'Sullivan or ask our America Correspondent Marion McKeone her thoughts on a current talking point Stateside? Of course, if you have an issue with traffic or elephants on the loose in your area, Jarlath can do his best to sort that out too.

 

Our charity partner is jigsawonline.ie. In these tricky times, Jigsaw provides a range of resources, advice and care for your people to help them strengthen their mental health and the skills needed to navigate life. Please visit their website and consider making a donation.

 

For updates on future episodes and live shows follow @jarlath on Twitter, visit www.jigser.com or email the show directly on irishmanabroadpodcast@gmail.com.

 

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.

If Sonia was a member of the A-Team she would have pointed out to Hannibal that it’s not really a plan until you write it down. This week Jarlath gets more guidance from the Irish sporting icon on how to properly plan a week of running. Regardless of where you are with your progress, Sonia’s insight into what should form the basis of your run plan will help. From rest to ambition, consecutive training days to discomfort and pain, this is a fun and in-depth conversation about one of the most overlooked aspects of the running world. In the full episode (available to Patrons on Patreon.com/irishmanabroad) Irish Olympic medal hopeful and national record holder Ciara Mageean jumps on the LiveLine for a chat. She, like Thomas Barr, is part of a brilliant new documentary series following the journey of 9 irish athletes to Tokyo. Horizon Tokyo will be released soon on RTE and was created by a good friend of the show, Darragh Bambrick. Ciara burst out of lockdown running crazy new times. Jarlath asks her how she used the time to her advantage and what is her planning strategy. There’s also listener questions answered, the tip of the week and Sonia narrow miss while running in the woods of Oregon. Patrons also gain access to exclusive episode notes with more tips and reading recommended by Sonia.

 

Join our running event on strava.com/clubs/irishmanrunningabroad and help raise vitally needed funds for our chosen charity partner jigsaw.ie and all the work they do to support young people in Ireland.  

 

To hear every episode in full and to gain access to the entire back-catalogue of over 500 Irishman Abroad episodes that are not available on iTunes for just the price of a pint every month visit www.patreon.com/irishmanabroad 

 

Supplementary research provided by John Meagher.

 

The Irishman Abroad Liveline is now open. You can now get in touch with us and feature on our shows by sending your WhatsApp voice note to 0044 7543 122 330. Why not pose a running question to Irish Olympic Legend Sonia O'Sullivan or ask our America Correspondent Marion McKeone her thoughts on a current talking point Stateside? Of course, if you have an issue with traffic or elephants on the loose in your area, Jarlath can do his best to sort that out too.

 

Our charity partner is jigsawonline.ie. In these tricky times, Jigsaw provides a range of resources, advice and care for your people to help them strengthen their mental health and the skills needed to navigate life. Please visit their website and consider making a donation.

 

For updates on future episodes and live shows follow @jarlath on Twitter, visit www.jigser.com or email the show directly on irishmanabroadpodcast@gmail.com.

 

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.

Irish Olympian Thomas Barr joined Jarlath for a fascinating conversation about his life and career while in the thick of his preparation for Tokyo. Thomas is one of Ireland's biggest medal hopes for the upcoming games. He speaks for the first time about his discomfort when put in front of the media, the days in which his commitment to his sport is most tested and why he believes dopers will always be one step ahead of the testers.

 

Thomas explains the influence, bound and mutual support between him and his Olympian sister Jessie and how he unwinds watching some pretty strange videos on YouTube. Can he go all the way in Tokyo? Jarlath asks if the strange circumstances might work in his favour.

 

This episode was made possible by Darragh Bambrick. Darragh followed Thomas for “Horizon Tokyo” an extraordinary documentary series that followed 9 Irish athletes on and off the track for 3 years as they try to qualify for the Olympic games in Tokyo. Catch it on the RTÉ player.

 

To hear every episode in full and to gain access to the entire back-catalogue of over 500 Irishman Abroad episodes that are not available on iTunes for just the price of a pint every month visit www.patreon.com/irishmanabroad  

 

Supplementary research provided by John Meagher.

 

The Irishman Abroad Liveline is now open. You can now get in touch with us and feature on our shows by sending your WhatsApp voice note to 0044 7543 122 330. Why not pose a running question to Irish Olympic Legend Sonia O'Sullivan or ask our America Correspondent Marion McKeone her thoughts on a current talking point Stateside? Of course, if you have an issue with traffic or elephants on the loose in your area, Jarlath can do his best to sort that out too.

 

Our charity partner is jigsawonline.ie. In these tricky times, Jigsaw provides a range of resources, advice and care for your people to help them strengthen their mental health and the skills needed to navigate life. Please visit their website and consider making a donation.

 

For updates on future episodes and live shows follow @jarlath on Twitter, visit www.jigser.com or email the show directly on irishmanabroadpodcast@gmail.com.

 

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.

In today’s episode of our mini-series on Irish independent bookshops Jarlath visits Kenny's Bookshop in Galway. He speaks to Tomás Kenny about the university romance that gave rise to this family business, the gamble of starting a bookstore in 1940s Ireland and the remarkable stories that are tied up in the history of this Irish literary institution. From humble beginning Kenny's has gone on to become a pillar of the Irish arts landscape west of the Shannon and the preferred Irish book supplier for the United States Library of Congress. Tomás also explains how a chance meeting with an unemployed computer engineer in 1994 resulted in Kenny's bookshop beating Amazon to the internet punch. Finally we hear the touching story of how the local community rallied around the bookshop during the pandemic.

 

To hear every episode in full and to gain access to the entire back-catalogue of over 500 Irishman Abroad episodes that are not available on iTunes for just the price of a pint every month visit www.patreon.com/irishmanabroad 

 

Supplementary research provided by John Meagher.

 

The Irishman Abroad Liveline is now open. You can now get in touch with us and feature on our shows by sending your WhatsApp voice note to 0044 7543 122 330. Why not pose a running question to Irish Olympic Legend Sonia O'Sullivan or ask our America Correspondent Marion McKeone her thoughts on a current talking point Stateside? Of course, if you have an issue with traffic or elephants on the loose in your area, Jarlath can do his best to sort that out too.

 

Our charity partner is jigsawonline.ie. In these tricky times, Jigsaw provides a range of resources, advice and care for your people to help them strengthen their mental health and the skills needed to navigate life. Please visit their website and consider making a donation.

 

For updates on future episodes and live shows follow @jarlath on Twitter, visit www.jigser.com or email the show directly on irishmanabroadpodcast@gmail.com.

 

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.

The number one cause of re-injury is doing too much too soon when trying to return to activity. Why do we find it so hard to resist the urge to go for it too soon? Sonia takes Jarlath into how to avoid this common pitfall that she herself has fallen for on many occasions. There’s your questions on carb loading, dealing with heat and fitness answered. Then the LiveLine is open for a call from Sonia’s strength and conditioning guru Trevor Cummins in Cóbh. There is so much to enjoy in these episodes and even more over on Patreon.

 

Join our running event on strava.com/clubs/irishmanrunningabroad and help raise vitally needed funds for our chosen charity partner jigsaw.ie and all the work they do to support young people in Ireland.  

 

To hear every episode in full and to gain access to the entire back-catalogue of over 500 Irishman Abroad episodes that are not available on iTunes for just the price of a pint every month visit www.patreon.com/irishmanabroad 

 

Supplementary research provided by John Meagher.

 

The Irishman Abroad Liveline is now open. You can now get in touch with us and feature on our shows by sending your WhatsApp voice note to 0044 7543 122 330. Why not pose a running question to Irish Olympic Legend Sonia O'Sullivan or ask our America Correspondent Marion McKeone her thoughts on a current talking point Stateside? Of course, if you have an issue with traffic or elephants on the loose in your area, Jarlath can do his best to sort that out too.

 

Our charity partner is jigsawonline.ie. In these tricky times, Jigsaw provides a range of resources, advice and care for your people to help them strengthen their mental health and the skills needed to navigate life. Please visit their website and consider making a donation.

 

For updates on future episodes and live shows follow @jarlath on Twitter, visit www.jigser.com or email the show directly on irishmanabroadpodcast@gmail.com.

 

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.

This week the one and only Blindboy Boatclub makes his much-anticipated return to An Irishman Abroad.

 

Limerick’s most loved artist and hip-hop icon explains how his life was changed by taking his courage in his hands on a new platform, his attraction to dog videos as pure entertainment on Tik Tok and the Irish housing crisis.  For the very first time he discusses how Irish artists are moving to London because they can't afford to rent in Dublin. There's also a fascinating discussion on how we expect things from those with a platform, conspiracy theories and Jarlath reveals some exciting news about the next stage of the Irishman Abroad Podcast Network.

 

To hear every episode in full and to gain access to the entire back-catalogue of over 400 Irishman Abroad episodes that are not available on iTunes for just the price of a pint every month visit www.patreon.com/irishmanabroad  

 

Supplementary research provided by John Meagher.

 

The Irishman Abroad Liveline is now open. You can now get in touch with us and feature on our shows by sending your WhatsApp voice note to 0044 7543 122 330. Why not pose a running question to Irish Olympic Legend Sonia O'Sullivan or ask our America Correspondent Marion McKeone her thoughts on a current talking point Stateside? Of course, if you have an issue with traffic or elephants on the loose in your area, Jarlath can do his best to sort that out too.

 

Our charity partner is jigsawonline.ie. In these tricky times, Jigsaw provides a range of resources, advice and care for your people to help them strengthen their mental health and the skills needed to navigate life. Please visit their website and consider making a donation.

 

For updates on future episodes and live shows follow @jarlath on Twitter, visit www.jigser.com or email the show directly on irishmanabroadpodcast@gmail.com.

 

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.

When he started renting books to his sisters as a child Kevin Gildea had no idea he was planting seeds for what would become a lifelong journey towards owning his book shop. In episode two of this very special Irishman Abroad mini-series focusing on independent bookstores around Ireland, Jarlath meets Kevin  to talk about his very long and winding road towards creating his Dun Laoighaire hub for second hand books. You’d be forgiven for thinking that starting his own business was the biggest challenge within this story but Kevin reveals the odour that nearly bested him. How conquering it might have been the thrill of his life and how opening up four days before lockdown made this enterprise even more special.

 

To hear every episode in full and to gain access to the entire back-catalogue of over 400 Irishman Abroad episodes that are not available on iTunes for just the price of a pint every month visit www.patreon.com/irishmanabroad  

 

Supplementary research provided by John Meagher.

 

The Irishman Abroad Liveline is now open. You can now get in touch with us and feature on our shows by sending your WhatsApp voice note to 0044 7543 122 330. Why not pose a running question to Irish Olympic Legend Sonia O'Sullivan or ask our America Correspondent Marion McKeone her thoughts on a current talking point Stateside? Of course, if you have an issue with traffic or elephants on the loose in your area, Jarlath can do his best to sort that out too.

 

Our charity partner is jigsawonline.ie. In these tricky times, Jigsaw provides a range of resources, advice and care for your people to help them strengthen their mental health and the skills needed to navigate life. Please visit their website and consider making a donation.

 

For updates on future episodes and live shows follow @jarlath on Twitter, visit www.jigser.com or email the show directly on irishmanabroadpodcast@gmail.com.

 

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.

Hips, just like the resemblance between Joey Tribbianni and an Irish Uncle, have been overlooked for far too long. This week Sonia explains why developing even a little more power in your hips can make a world of difference to your running, posture and prospects of getting injured. Jarlath went down the rabbit hole of Matt LeBlanc memes while simultaneously devouring every piece of half baked theory on the subject of hips. He puts his findings to Sonia and explains why he had resigned himself to having old man hips. Is there any hope for those of us who have long standing injury damage? Sonia’s own mobility issues are revealed and she takes your questions on supplements and letting your internal monologue get you down when injured. There’s a reminder of the next Irishman Abroad event and an update on how Sonia’s athletes faired in a Portland track meet last weekend. 

 

Join our running event on strava.com/clubs/irishmanrunningabroad and help raise vitally needed funds for our chosen charity partner jigsaw.ie and all the work they do to support young people in Ireland.  

 

To hear every episode in full and to gain access to the entire back-catalogue of over 400 Irishman Abroad episodes that are not available on iTunes for just the price of a pint every month visit www.patreon.com/irishmanabroad  

 

Supplementary research provided by John Meagher.

 

The Irishman Abroad Liveline is now open. You can now get in touch with us and feature on our shows by sending your WhatsApp voice note to 0044 7543 122 330. Why not pose a running question to Irish Olympic Legend Sonia O'Sullivan or ask our America Correspondent Marion McKeone her thoughts on a current talking point Stateside? Of course, if you have an issue with traffic or elephants on the loose in your area, Jarlath can do his best to sort that out too.

 

Our charity partner is jigsawonline.ie. In these tricky times, Jigsaw provides a range of resources, advice and care for your people to help them strengthen their mental health and the skills needed to navigate life. Please visit their website and consider making a donation.

 

For updates on future episodes and live shows follow @jarlath on Twitter, visit www.jigser.com or email the show directly on irishmanabroadpodcast@gmail.com.

 

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.