An Irishman Abroad

The week of any race is a tricky one. Getting the balance right between rest and keeping the legs fresh is made all the more difficult by the amount of admin involved in getting to the race site with all your bits and pieces. It's a plate spinning exercise but Sonia knows just the man to help us with the Antrim Coast Half Marathon. James McIlroy, the former international middle distance running star and organiser of the race, pops in to walk us through what to expect on the big day. Meanwhile team captains Aisling and Neil get some help with their final questions for the big event.

Were Liz Channey's reelection hopes doomed on January 13, 2021, when a week after the insurrection at the Capitol, she and nine other House Republicans voted to impeach former President Donald Trump? This week they paid price at the polls. Like having to drive to Dundalk twice in one day, is this a time loop we will all be stuck in for the next two years or could Sarah Palin by the answer. Marion McKeone surveys the landscape of the Primaries and calls out the crazies. There was more shock and horror on Thursday when Allen Weisselberg, who for decades was one of Donald Trump's most trusted and loyal employees as chief financial officer of the Trump family business, pleaded guilty on Thursday to 15 counts ranging from grand larceny to tax fraud to falsifying business records. He is the latest person close to the 45th president to plead guilty or be convicted at trial of of a felony. Marion examines the fine print of his deal and spots a problem.

Why did the Orange fella keep those boxes of confidential documents? I have four theories and ask Marion to debunk them one by one. A US magistrate judge started the process of potentially releasing some information from the affidavit that the Justice Department used to obtain a search warrant for former President Donald Trump's Florida residence. Trump says he wants it released in full. Why? Is this normal? Marion has the answers and a great recommendation for you to read this weekend.

It’s been a week like no other. He was a President like no other. Now something is happening to him that has never happened to any President before him. Marion gives us a play by play review of what exactly happened at Mar A Lago and what could happen next. Trump went into full court press on the spin cycle as soon as his least favourite kid delivered the news of the raid. Was it really a raid? Or was it a heavily sign posted event that his Royal Orangeness is using to galvanise support for his run in 2024. Marion turns her focus in the second part of the show (only on Patreon) to Alex Jones, Joe Biden’s huge week and another case against Trump that reaches a pivotal moment this week. There’s so much more in the second part but the only way to hear it is by signing up and helping us make this podcast last until 2024 and beyond. 

If you’d 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 [email protected].

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.

With a million and one muscle soreness remedies available over the counter Sonia and Jarlath go in search of the most unusual but effective recovery aids with the help of the listeners. It’s week 8 of Sonia’s half marathon training plan and time to start the taper. Captain Neil Fusco lead a gang of hardy Irishman Abroad runners around his favourite trail in Bray county Wicklow on Sunday. We check in with him and ask if lowering expectations in the lead up to a big race is healthy. This episode covers a lot. Even more if you’re a member on Patreon. We have a further 40 minutes of motivation, Craic, advice and uddermint over there. Support the show. Join up. It only takes a few seconds. 

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 [email protected].

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.

Marion McKeone (Sunday Business Post US Correspondent) takes a trip to Liz Cheney's homeland and comes to understand the Republicans that reside there a little better. She describes to Jarlath Regan here interactions with locals while attending a rodeo festival, taverns and parks. Later in the episode she looks at the assignation of Ayman al-Zawahiri in Kabul. The most surgical of US airstrikes took the head of al-Qaeda out standing on a balcony while his family were unscathed just feet away. In the second part of the discussion we hear who about al-Zawahiri's ferociously violent past and whether a retaliation could be on the cards. Finally Marion examines the latest developments in the Alex Jones trial and asks why did Nancy Pelosi visit Taiwan? Jarlath recommends the most 90s documentary of all time and reveals his plans for the next two weeks of the podcast.

If you would like to contact Irishman Abroad there are a number of 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 [email protected].

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.

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 [email protected].

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.

In April 2021, for the first time since 1851, the population in the Republic of Ireland was estimated to have passed the five million mark. Many believe a big part of this story has to do with returning Irish nationals. This weekend I became one of them. According to CSO findings, 65,200 people immigrated to Ireland in the year to April 2021, 30,200 of whom were returning Irish nationals, the highest number of returning Irish nationals since 2007. 2022 is set to be an even bigger year for the return of the Irishmen and women abroad. James Parnell has made helping these people re-integrate into Ireland a huge part of his successful coaching business. His site ANewDawninIreland.com  is a resource for both returning emigrants and those coming to Ireland for the first time. A New Dawn in Ireland was the first blended online and offline training/coaching programme to inspire and help people create the life they want back in Ireland.

Today on the podcast, with my car packed up and ready to head for the ferry, I took a moment to talk James about what he has learned through his years of meeting the returning Irish. It’s fascinating stuff whether you’re on the road home, thinking about it or at home wondering how tricky it might be for a member of your family to get back. James is a natural communicator with an abundance of empathetic, positive and creative energy. It’s easy to see why his business The Wellbeing Gym and the MAP model he created for personal wellbeing and peak performance have been so successful. The Wellbeing Gym provides online, offline and blended life design, self-leadership, performance and productivity training programmes to individuals and businesses. If you would like to contact James simply email [email protected] and 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 [email protected].

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.