An Irishman Abroad

How do you go from Cahersiveen, Co. Kerry, to working for CNN investigating Russian interference in the 2016 American Presidential Election? Well, Donie O'Sullivan did just that and this week he joined Jarlath to tell his incredible story.

Today his focus is upon the ways in which Trump and Biden are using social media in their  campaigns. Donie speaks to Jarlath about this bizarre process and later in the discussion, they discuss the attempts by Trump to influence violent groups to take action (51:00).

Donie gives his thoughts on the wider responsibilities of social media platforms (30:00) and the aspects of social media that are most concerning to him (58:00).

From his hilarious story about an article published about him in a local Kerry newspaper (13:00) to his perspective on the #MeToo movement and what it was like working in the media at the time it all started (35:00) and much more, this is a hilarious and engaging conversation with a true talent of Irish journalism.

This is just a taster. To hear this 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.  

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 [email protected].

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.

To mark World Mental Health Day we have gathered together some of the most enlightening and heartfelt moments of honesty on the subject of mental wellness. To start off Jarlath has the tables turned on him as Jen Trzeciak of Jigsaw.ie asks the questions. For the first time Jarlath opens up about his own mental health journey and challenges he finds toughest as a parent trying to guide his son through life and the pandemic. Jarlath and Jen talk about the incredible work that Jigsaw does, then in the second half of the show we hear from Bob Geldof, Blindboy Boatclub, Marian Keyes, Jason McAteer, Caroline Foran and Richie Sadlier.

As the e-Mental Health Manager Jen Trzeciak is responsible for and central to the work Jigsaw does to help young people in Ireland. In a first for the series, Jarlath opens up about his own mental health struggles and Jen gives some priceless advice to parents looking to protect the mental health of their children.

In the second half Bob Geldof speaks about letting the light back in after experiencing loss, Marian Keyes gives her thoughts on the most common misconceptions about mental health and Blindboy Boatclub opens up about his own mental health difficulties.

Caroline Foran also explains how she discovered that mental health issues can become embedded in childhood while Jason McAteer opens up about reaching his breaking point while Richie Sadlier discusses the devastating impact for him when his career came to an end.

This is a truly invaluable collection of conversations for a particularly special occasion, enjoy.

Covid19 has undoubtedly impacted the mental health of our young people, the increasing demand for our services is not a Covid specific phenomena. Demand in 2019 was 22% up on the same period in 2018. Demand in 2020 was 25% higher again (25% increase on 2019).

There has also been an over 400% increase of traffic to its e-mental health platform over the last six months, a surge in demand for its schools supports and a month-on-month increase to calls to 1800 JIGSAW support line.

It is clear that young people need support to get them through the coming months. What we are hearing from those who have been using our services and supports over the last six months is a real cause for concern.

Isolation, uncertainty and fear are leaving many without the core elements we value and need for our mental wellbeing. We have seen a slight shift in the issues that young people are presenting with since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. While anxiety remains the top issue among young people, we have seen an increase in sleep-related issues, family conflict and a marked spike in contacts from parents and teachers seeking support.

Young people, parents, guardians or those who work with young people can visit jigsaw.ie to access support or Freephone 1800 JIGSAW (544729), Monday to Friday, 1pm- 5pm.

To hear all of our episodes 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.  

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 [email protected].

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 25 days to go Marion and Jarlath consider whether it’s too late to change the outcome of the Presidential election. Insisting on returning to the White House, claiming a miracle cure has been found and that it was God’s plan that he contract Corona virus rather than the result of pure negligence, Donald Trump looks every inch a man in crisis. 

Marion breaks down this week’s debate between Kamala Harris and Mike Pence. Ducking questions but not flies, the debate had it all, including a semblance of manners. Will it be the last one we see? Finally Jarlath ask if we can’t predict the popular vote, can we predict the electoral colleges. There’s also news on an up-coming episode with CNN’s Donie O’Sullivan.

If you have a question for Marion please send it through to [email protected] and Jarlath will do his best to include it next week.

To hear this episode in full each week and to gain access to the entire back-catalogue of over 250 Irishman Abroad episodes that are not available on iTunes for just the price of a pint every month visit www.patreon.com/irishmanabroad.

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 [email protected].

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 this latest instalment of An Irishman Running Abroad, Sonia O'Sullivan announces our next event, discusses her recent secretive London Marathon experience and explains the fascinating reason why she is currently in Spain working alongside future record holders.

As always, Sonia gives Jarlath her invaluable advice on how to take things to the next level, discusses the surprising advantages of running in the rain and the potential pitfalls of posting each run on social media.

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.

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 jigser.com or email the show directly on [email protected].

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 Jarlath is joined by legendary writer Paul Howard. Having made his first appearance on the podcast over 5 years ago, Paul rejoins us to talk about his new book 'Braywatch' and to have a rare in-depth discussion about his time spent as a sports writer.

Paul speaks Frankly about his relationship with Ross (5:00), the fit of optimism which resulted in him destroying 4,000 copies of his first self-published book (12:00) and the letter he received from Bray Chamber of Commerce which influenced him to write 'Braywatch' (17:00). Paul also tells us how Donald Trump once caused him to scrap a book! (29:00).

In a fascinating discussion about his time spent as a sports writer, Paul explains how he could wallpaper his office wall with solicitor's letters received from Pat Hickey (1:01:00), why he resents his tax money going to the FAI (1:04:00), the incredible story about Sonia O'Sullivan's honesty (43:00), why he thinks Mick McCarthy tried to drive Roy Keane out (34:00) and much more.

This is just a taster. To hear this episode in full and to gain access to the entire back-catalogue of over 350 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.  

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 [email protected].

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.

It’s been called a train wreck, a dumpster fire, a disgrace, an embarrassment and completely unwatchable but like it or not, we had the first Presidential debate this week. Now that the dust has settled Marion McKeone sifts through the rubble. Jarlath asks if Trump was actively attempting to make the debate unwatchable in a bid to make viewers switch off? Marion explains what she believes to be the root cause of the strategy and why it backfired horribly. Can we even compare Joe Biden’s performance to the Trump playground flailing? Marion thinks not. Should the rules of the debate change? Is a new moderator needed? Is a cattle prod needed?

Finally Jarlath puts a range of the best listener questions to our US correspondent and we hear Marion’s prediction for what happens next - best and worst case scenarios.

If you have a question for Marion please send it through to [email protected] and Jarlath will do his best to include it next week.

To hear this episode in full each week and to gain access to the entire back-catalogue of over 250 Irishman Abroad episodes that are not available on iTunes for just the price of a pint every month visit www.patreon.com/irishmanabroad.

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 [email protected].

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.

Navigating the technology options available to new and established runners can be as hard as running itself. That’s why this week Sonia and Jarlath invited Jess Kelly onto the show to break down a few basics and not so simple aspects of modern running gadgetry. Jess Kelly isn’t just one of the most respected tech journalists in Ireland, she makes the truly excellent Tech Talk radio show and podcast for Newstalk. 

Check out the items recommended in the episode and a few other bonus tips by joining us on Strava.com/irishmanabroad and patreon.com/irishmanabroad. Jarlath also reveals how his first week under Sonia’s running plan went and how much he fears being murdered by a crazed listener.

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.

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 jigser.com or email the show directly on [email protected].

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.

Clare Dunne joins us this week to discuss the journey of writing, creating and starring in her first feature film “Herself”. Until now Clare was best known for work on stage but here for the first time she examines how her life as an actor almost never came to be. “Herself” is an up-lifting and heartbreaking story of a young Dublin mother attempting to escape her abusive partner and with the help of some friends building something they can rely upon. It sparks a discussion with Jarlath about the true meaning of Irish identity and its impact on every decision that went into making this critically acclaimed film (15:00).

Clare speaks about the value of having Sharon Horgan in her corner (54:00), her rollercoaster of being broke one minute then on the set of Spiderman the next(48:00). In rare brutal detail Clare explains the lightning bolt that hit her while struggling to make ends meet in New York (43:00). This is one of those chats where you need to hear every single minute.

This is just a taster. To hear this episode in full and to gain access to the entire back-catalogue of over 350 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.  

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 [email protected].

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 breaks down another tumultuous week in US political history with one major difference. Just days ago she tested positive for COVID19. Marion warns the listeners to take no risks and explains how, despite taking all the precautions, she still managed to contract the virus. There is no longer a question as to whether the talk of refusing to accept the election result is bravado. Marion is convinced that there is no longer anything the current President won’t do to win. 

The disgusting manner in which the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg was dealt with sparks a wider discussion on whether there are any break away factions in the Republican Party. The violence that met the Breonna Taylor verdict has rocked the country. Marion explains how the situation came about and suggests that far worse is to come. Finally with Marion in her sick bed Jarlath asks if there is a link between infections numbers and states with large Trump polling numbers.

If you have a question for Marion please send it through to [email protected] and Jarlath will do his best to include it next week.

To hear this episode in full each week and to gain access to the entire back-catalogue of over 250 Irishman Abroad episodes that are not available on iTunes for just the price of a pint every month visit www.patreon.com/irishmanabroad.

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 [email protected].

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 you’re just starting out or are a seasoned half marathon enthusiast you’re going to need Sonia’s advice on how to prepare a training plan. Fresh off the high of his first 5K, Jarlath asks Sonia about the come-down after an event that we might have pinned all our hopes upon. How do we survive success, find the next mountain and park the imagination when the next mountain looks remarkably similar to the last one. 

Sonia looks at giving each run a purpose and explains the power of threshold training as she devises Jarlath's training plan. To see the plan, join our running club on strava.com/irishmanabroad. There’s even a brief trip down memory lane as Jarlath asks Sonia about seeing the Dream Team at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.

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.

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 jigser.com or email the show directly on [email protected].

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.