An Irishman Abroad

After almost 12 months and nearly 50 episodes, Jarlath and Sonia meet face to face for the first time to discuss that awful sense we all get from time to time. Feeling like you’ve bitten off more than you can chew whether it’s at work or in running can leave us feeling frazzled, depressed and completely exasperated. Sonia has some simple yet effective advice as always for anyone feeling this way. Unlike most of us, she has felt the weight of the world on her shoulders when performing on the world’s biggest stage. Few can relate to Simone Biles better than Sonia. Jarlath gets her take on what took place in Tokyo this week, asks how the Irish fared, gets Sonia’s highlight of the games so far and a few tips for what is coming next. There’s also her tip of the week, Rob Heffernan’s Brendan Boyce and much more when you sign up 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 suppor

How do you go from picking up ball for the first time at 13 years old in a Clondalkin secondary school to becoming one of the most talked about NBA prospects in America? This week, Aidan Igiehon tells Jarlath about this journey and all the bumps along the way. With an incredible honesty Aidan speaks about his phenomenal growth both on and off the court during his teenage years. The Irish Hulk as he is known, was growing an inch a month in one crazy period where his mother sought medical help to slow him down . We also hear about the trip to the Philadelphia 76ers camp that changed everything for him. Aidan opens up about his brutal training regime at the age of 14 upon his arrival in the States when as he puts it, his childhood effectively came to an end due to the level of commitment he had to give to the game. Aidan also explains the importance of seeing the light at the end of the tunnel when battling injury. We get the never before told story of the game that changed his life, the 30 scholarship letter

This week US gymnast Simone Biles stunned the world by withdrawing from the team gymnastics event at the Tokyo Olympic Games. Behind the storm the decision created was Larry Nassar. Biles was a victim of the US team doctor who abused hundreds of female gymnasts over the course of years while employed by the organisation and Michigan State University. Biles along with dozens of young women didn’t break their silence when the case went to court, they were never silent. They told everyone they could but nobody would listen or do anything. Today Marion asks why. She examines what took place and asks whether the sport of gymnastics itself is to blame for the mental abuse that appears to be widespread throughout the world.  Submit your voice notes and questions for Marion through the Irishman Abroad Liveline, which 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

The final episode of our independent book stores 10 part mini series takes us to Letterfrack and another outlet of Books At One. Mary Ruddy gives Jarlath a look inside the shop, the rich history of its location and how she came to run the store with her husband Vincent Murphy. Like it’s sister store in Louisburgh, the books store that started this series, the Letterfrack branch is more than just a book retailer. Mary talks to Jar about her previous life, her publishing company Artisan and the task of founding a local radio station. Finally Jarlath fondly looks back across the series and urges us one final time to go and seek out these gems wherever they can be found. Special thanks to Dec Ryan and The One Foundation for all their help in creating this series. 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 pro

With the track and field events commencing this Friday, Sonia focuses this Irishman Running Abroad on what we can expect. How will the bizarre circumstances affect performances? The former world champion walks Jarlath through who to watch and why. With both Jar and Sonia back in Ireland there is news on a meet up run on August 8th and how to navigate a running plan in a new location. Sonia gives Jar a funny idea to replace weight training when you’re at the beach and the question of whether it is ever acceptable to get a taxi home from a run is finally answered.  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. Why not join Jarlath in raising money for Jigsaw by signing up to the Irishman Abroad challenge over at https://www.idonate.ie/event/2576_.html To hear every episode in full and to gain access to the entire back-catalogue of over 500 Irishman Abroad

Liz Nugent has lived an extraordinary life. This week the award-winning crime fiction writer joined Jarlath for a one of a kind conversation about the highs and lows of her life and career. Liz gives a hilarious account of being a compulsive liar as a child while also explaining the influence that growing up in constant fear had on her life. Having emigrated to London on her own at the age of 17, Liz explains how things took an unforeseeable turn after a break up. The end result is a misdiagnosis from which she was lucky to escape with her life. From the impact her neurological condition had on her acting aspirations to the struggle she is currently having writing the ending on her fifth novel, the surprising reveal of why she doesn't particularly enjoy the writing process and much more, this conversation is nothing short of riveting. 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 pi

This week, we are joined by Will De Búrca of De Búrca's Rare Books to discuss the fascinating world of book collecting, binding and discovery as an independent rare book store. Will talks about his time in Sotheby's in New York and what he has learned about the spending habits of wealthy collectors. We also get an insight into his extraordinary other life as a music producer. From playing Electric Picnic to bizarre valuation, the stories of Will’s life and the De Búrca family business flow in this one of a kind episode of The Selection Box. To read Will's Irish Times article about book collecting that is referenced in this conversation, click here: https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/a-peek-between-the-covers-of-the-rare-book-world-1.3907253 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 Joh

Gait analysis is rightly or wrongly something a lot of runners fear from a cost and mortification point of view. This week Jarlath reluctantly submits to having his gait analysed by the brilliant Irish chi running coach Emer O'Brien (fitnesswithemer.ie). Sonia admits why even she hates seeing the reality of her running technique played back to her. Emer explains why getting past this cognitive dissonance is so important to running more efficiently and avoiding injury. With the Olympics just around the corner, we get an update on Sonia's running team in Utah and her own plan to get home and meet up for a run with the listeners. Premium members on patreon.com/irishmanabroad can enjoy the full extended conversation and fully illustrated notes from Sonia and Emer on this topic.   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. Why not join Jarlath in raising mo

With many Irish people abroad and at home at a complete loss as to what the future holds in terms of travel, Dec Ryan, co-founder of Ryanair and Chairman of Viva Air and VivaLatinAmerica, rejoins Jarlath for a follow-up interview after almost 2 years since his first appearance. In this episode they discuss the 'crazy' regulations the industry is witnessing. Regulations which Dec believes are killing both the aviation and tourism sectors. Jarlath asks the Irish aviation pioneer why he has said he would close down NPHET 'yesterday.'   Dec reassures the listeners of the safety of flying, addresses concerns over the COVID passport and why he feels social distancing is for wealthier countries. Finally they discuss his concerns over a Lambda variant and much more.   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

Vibes & Scribes is a Cork literary institution. Today Jarlath hears the story of how Joan Lucey took the leap into book selling with the help of her sister in Macroom. Joan’s inspirational story of following her gut feeling and taking on the iconic building in Cork City is one that needs to be heard. Joan explains how Vibes & Scribes came to host live events with the likes of Mary Robinson, the personality that drives the store, the crash of 2008 and how surviving it helped her through the pandemic. We get her book recommendation for the week and a rare insight into how to create your own award winning independent bookstore.  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

Weight loss is a global obsession and often the hidden motivation behind a lot of new and old runners. Today on the podcast Sonia looks at a subject she has taken as a basic by-product of her job and considers why so many struggle with it. Jarlath quizzes the Irish Olympic legend on the errors most people make, her cheat code for meal prep and how to design your running schedule to maximise your chances of getting your body composition to match your running goals. There’s also listeners’ questions answered and a look at Roy Keane’s ability to move tea.    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. Why not join Jarlath in raising money for Jigsaw by signing up to the Irishman Abroad challenge over at https://www.idonate.ie/event/2576_.html    To hear every episode in full and to gain access to the entire back-catalogue of over 500 Irishman Abroad episod

This week, Irish comedy legends Foil, Arms & Hog joined Jarlath for a rare and hilarious conversation about their rise to success and more.    In this rip-roaring chat, Sean Finegan, Conor McKenna and Sean Flanagan speak to Jarlath about bringing sketch comedy into the modern Irish comedy scene, how they often consoled each other on those long journeys home after a tough gig and their experiences of taking the Edinburgh Fringe Festival leap.   The lads open up about the one show after which they didn't want to meet their audience, the powerful influence that Dr. Brown's performance style had on them, the art of clowning, how it feels to be creating on their own terms and much more.   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. Y

When Cian Byrne nabbed a steady job with a multinational as a business forecaster his future looked pretty set in stone. Then over coffee with his father he realised that the family business would soon disappear if he didn’t reject the big business opportunity in favour of moving to Maynooth. Today Cian tells Jarlath the story of their independent bookshop and examines the rise of independent stores. Book sales have been in his family for almost 50 years, Jarlath asks Cian about the trends they have witnessed over that time especially the rise of children's book fandom.   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

The New York Times bestselling book “Breath - The New Science Of A Lost Art” is the jumping off point for this discussion of the roles of breathing in life and running. In James Nestor’s book he presents evidence from a wide array of sources to suggest that we can reduce stress, sleep apnea and even auto-immune diseases by simply reverting to nasal breathing. Sonia and Jar look at the application of nasal breathing in athletics and they both give it a try. Later in the episode Sonia’s coach Trevor Cummins calls the Irishman Abroad Live Line with his top three most overlooked marathon training tips. Don’t forget members get the XL version of the episodes each week plus illustrated notes with even more tips. There’s also Sonia’s tip of the week, information on the prize for our July 8th global virtual event, the announcement of the first ever piece of Irishman Running Abroad training gear and a dog attack! And finally, Sonia and Jar have designed some really quite trendy training gear and you can get it here. P

Acclaimed comic artist and now host of "Draw With Will" on Sky TV speaks to Jarlath from his home in Ballycotton county Cork. Will has worked for the biggest studios and franchises in the comic book universe including Star Wars and Marvel. His work on Spiderman is vast but he still finds time to work on a multitude of other projects such as a breathtaking mural in Cork city, his own best-selling comic series on The Celtic Warrior Cú Chulainn and instructional videos for kids. Jarlath and Will bond over how little was known about comic books in Ireland in the 90s, the role Derek Davis played in discovering his talent and that first trip to Comic Con where it all began. For even more on how Will Sliney eventually got his break and how he funded the journey, become an Irishman Abroad patron by heading over to www.patreon.com/irishmanabroad where you can hear the full uncut version of this interview. Patrons also get to hear every episode in full and gain access to the entire back-catalogue of over 500 Irishman

Jarlath meets Irish bookseller of the year Antonia Daly to discuss the independent bookstore movement and how she followed her grandparents unusual path from Barrow Street to Trim, County Meath. Her bookstore is a childhood dream that she plucked up the courage to pursue when the engineering  company she worked for was moving abroad. Today “Antonia’s Bookstore” isn’t just a retail outlet in a small town in Meath, it’s an integral part of the community. Jarlath also gets her summer read recommendations. This mini-series from Irishman Abroad is nearing its conclusion. We would love to hear your suggestions for future episodes.   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 sen

Want to run more efficiently, with more balance, better posture and less chance of injury? Apparently “drills” are the only way to go. Today Sonia explains what the hell a drill is apart from a handy yoke around the house. The principles behind them and why pretty much every runner should regard a solid selection of drills as essential at least twice a week. With the US Olympic trials concluded Sonia is completely exhausted from the emotional rollercoaster of seeing her athletes qualify in style and see their dreams come true, or get pipped at the post and ponder what happens next. Later in the show over on Patreon, members can get their questions answered by the Irish athletics legend, find out what drills she recommends and what drills should be avoided by beginners. There’s also comprehensive illustrated notes containing more advice for members 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

In a week when Ireland faced the reality of the rise of the Delta variant of COVID-19, Jarlath sat down with Eamon Dunphy to ask what exactly is happening on the ground back home. Few have been so critical of the Irish establishment and yet on the question of whether this government has failed the people Eamon has a surprising response. Jarlath asks whether there is hope to be found and whether the anti-vaccination campaign is growing or shrinking in size. Later in the episode we hear Eamon’s views on the John Delaney fiasco, punditry, the Euros and how he discovered his love of horse racing through George Best. 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

This week the Selection Box stops in Greystones to meet Trish Hennessy, the dynamo behind one of the most unusual independent book shops in Ireland. Her story of how selling a few books as a hobby turned into a successful award winning business is an inspiration. Jarlath asks Trish about the remarkably novel ways in which she survived the pandemic. Her book subscription service has allowed relatives in other countries to use literature to keep in contact with the children they desperately want to see. We also get a few great book recommendations from perhaps the most qualified young people’s book expert in the country.  For more information on (or to purchase) the books recommended by Trish in this episode, please click the links below: The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy While We Can't Hug by Eoin McLaughlin and Polly Dunbar Outside, Inside by LeUyen Pham To hear every episode in full and to gain access to the entire back-catalogue of over 500 Irishman Abroad episodes that are no

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 p