The GAA Social

Recorded in front of 2000 people at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast, Shane O'Donnell and Seamus Flanagan preview the All-Ireland hurling final. Shane confirms his intention of staying on with Clare for another season- as does Seamus with Limerick under the management of John Kiely. Seamus also owns and opens up around the incident with Niall O'Leary earlier this year. He owns it, but disagrees with the internal suspension given to h...

Rory O'Connor has made a new career out of comedy. A fun project making sketches in a GAA world is now a job. The first half of this podcast deals with mental health. It's an area where Rory has experience. ADHD, a gambling addiction, losing family to suicide and trying to keep the mind right. At times it's a challenge. The second half of this podcast is Meath. The love of the place and the pride in seeing his team in an All-Irelan...

This is a different but hugely honest insight into goalkeeping. The picture of the summer sits in Niall's living room- a first Leinster championship in more than 60 years- his photo summed it up. He'd like changes. Four points for a goal and believes goalkeepers should be allowed to take a return pass. Some agree, some don't. What is the culture in Louth- what can they go? Niall found out he was dropped by Mickey Harte because he w...

This is a remarkable podcast. Joe Diver had the world at his feet. A beautiful wife, family, talented footballer, successful job and drinking a bottle of whiskey at 10am in the morning. Wild. Ultimately, alcoholism could have cost Joe his life. He turned it around, returned to University and is a mental health counsellor. He doesn't drink anymore and hasn't for some time. Helping people is what he wants to do. Addiction is a growin...

Kevin Mussen was the first man to bring Sam Maguire across the border. He still remembers the night and the customs posts. Different days. He and his Down team lit up the 60’s and Kevin remembers it all. Eamon de Valera, climbing the steps, bringing Sam to school and looking back on a truly historic moment for the GAA. Kevin is the oldest person we’ve ever had on the podcast- and full of craic. There's a devilment to this witty, ki...

King of the celebration, a proper Dublin superstar who had to wait seven years for his breakthrough season. Wins, bringing Dublin back from obscurity and in 2002 finishing joint top scorer- but missing that crucial free v Armagh. What could have been. What is the ultimate embarrassment for any Gaelic footballer? Tommy Carr brought Ray Cosgrove on as a substitute in Croke Park, 1999 Leinster final. He was then taken off. Cruel. Thei...

In one of the most powerful and impactful episodes of the GAA Social, Johnny Glynn & Thomas Niblock lift the lid on their experiences of multiple miscarriages. Johnny and his wife Serena, along with Kirstie and Thomas have travelled similar paths. It’s difficult. This is a male perspective. One very rarely, told publicly. Why is that? Johnny has just captained his county to an All-Ireland in Croke Park. On Thursday before the...

The surname probably gives it away. Yes related to Thomas, but if you're of a particular age- you will know of the exploits of Mickey Niblock. An All-Ireland winning minor and U21, Derry seniors flew him back to play for the team in the 70's, when New York was his home. The building sites of the Bronx was his home. Derry could win Ulster championships- but they couldn't beat Kerry. 50 years later and watching his son David play for...

In 1997, less than a year before the Good Friday Agreement, Sean Brown was locking the gates of Bellaghy GAA club. He was abducted and killed by loyalists, his body dumped beside his burnt out Ford Sierra. 28 years later, the Brown family continue to search for answers. Bridie Brown lost her husband, she also lost her son Damian. The entire Brown family were flanked by 10,000 people in the Co Derry village recently, and their searc...