The Comeback with Brenda Dennehy

Growing up in a broken home and struggling at school with undiagnosed dyslexia, Sarah McGarry faced challenges from an early age.

But nothing could have prepared her for November 2008, when her beloved sister Emma suddenly collapsed from a brain aneurysm at just 25 years old.

Sarah was only 22 and pregnant with her son when she lost her sister.

In this emotional and honest conversation, Sarah opens up about sibling loss, the anger and grief that followed, and navigating life's biggest milestones without Emma by her side.

Despite everything she's been through, Sarah refuses to be defined by her past.

A powerful conversation about grief, resilience and finding your way forward.

If this story resonates with you, please leave a comment and hit that subscribe button. It really helps.

🎧 This episode is proudly sponsored by ADHD Now, the online clinic transforming ADHD assessment and care across Ireland. If you are seeking an ADHD assessment or support, visit adhdnow.com today.

This week’s episode is a little different, and one that is very close to my heart.

In support of Coolmine’s Sober October campaign, I’m joined by Lorraine Higgins and Caroline Dunne from Coolmine to have an open and honest conversation about addiction, recovery and the incredible work being done to support individuals and families across Ireland.

Later in the episode, we hear the powerful story of Bernard West, whose journey took him through heroin and crack cocaine addiction, prison, homelessness and relapse before ultimately finding recovery through Coolmine.

Today, Bernard is drug-free, has rebuilt his relationships with his children and family, and now uses his own lived experience to help others on their recovery journey.

This is an episode about addiction, but more importantly, it’s about recovery, hope, second chances and the possibility of rebuilding your life.

🎧 This episode is proudly sponsored by  ADHD Now, the online clinic transforming ADHD assessment and care across Ireland. If you are seeking an ADHD assessment or support, visit adhdnow.com today.

In this episode, Shirley Keegan shares a deeply personal story of resilience, motherhood, shame, burnout and rebuilding.

From growing up in a very different Ireland, to becoming pregnant at just 15 and spending time in a mother and baby home, Shirley reflects on experiences that shaped her from a young age and stayed with her throughout her life.

She also opens up about the pressures of a long corporate career, the point at which everything became too much, and how that period led her to completely reassess her life.

This is an honest and powerful conversation about identity, healing and finding the courage to own your story.

If this story resonates with you, please leave a comment and hit that subscribe button. It really helps.

🎧 This episode is proudly sponsored by ADHD Now, the online clinic transforming ADHD assessment and care across Ireland. If you are seeking an ADHD assessment or support, visit adhdnow.com today.

This week on the podcast I sit down with 17-year-old Sarah Monaghan, who was diagnosed with thyroid cancer at just 13.

Sarah speaks so openly about her diagnosis, undergoing an egg retrieval at 14, the isolation of radioactive iodine treatment and what life has been like in the four years since.

We also hear from Sarah’s sister Zoe, who becomes emotional talking about how much she wished she could take the cancer and the pain away from her little sister.

A huge thank you to Sarah’s parents, Sylvia and Brian, for trusting me with Sarah’s story, and to Sarah Burke O’Connor for introducing me to this gorgeous family.

Sarah is such a remarkable young lady and I am so glad she spoke with me and shared her story so openly. Please give her page a follow on Instagram, @sarah_monaghann.

If Sarah teaches us one thing, it’s to never take life for granted.

If this story resonates with you, please leave a comment and hit that subscribe button. It really helps.

🎧 This episode is proudly sponsored by ADHD Now, the online clinic transforming ADHD assessment and care across Ireland. If you are seeking an ADHD assessment or support, visit adhdnow.com today.

Bernard Westman shares the story of the darkest period of his life, the moment he felt there was no way out, and what happened when his family found him in Galway.

It is a deeply honest conversation about suicidal thoughts, shame, family, asking for help and finding your way back.

Bernard’s message is simple: the people who love you would rather walk through your darkest days with you than live without you.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, Pieta’s 24-hour Crisis Helpline is available on 1800 247 247, or text HELP to 51444.

🎧 This episode is proudly sponsored by ADHD Now, the online clinic transforming ADHD assessment and care across Ireland. Visit adhdnow.com.

Aoibhe Devlin opens up like never before about some of the most difficult periods of her life.

For the first time, she speaks publicly about experiencing postnatal depression, struggling in silence and eventually reaching out for help. She also talks about the online abuse she faced while heavily pregnant, going through a breakup and reaching a point where she questioned how much more she could take.

Aoibhe shares how her two children kept her going, how she began rebuilding her life and, on a lighter note, opens up about her new relationship, how they met and their first date.

A really open conversation about what can be happening behind the picture-perfect moments we see online.

If this story resonates with you, please leave a comment and hit that subscribe button, it really helps.

🎧 This episode is proudly sponsored by ADHD Now, the online clinic transforming ADHD assessment and care across Ireland. If you are seeking an ADHD assessment or support, visit adhdnow.com today.

What happens when the person you thought you would grow old with is suddenly gone?

In this episode, Catriona Brennan, Samantha Byrne and Fiona McCluskey share their experiences of becoming widowed at a young age.

Catriona lost her partner Timothy Lynch Junior, on November 22nd, 2025. Samantha lost the love of her life Seán Feeney on September 3rd, 2023. Fiona lost her husband Stephen on April 24th, 2021.

They speak about the shock of sudden loss, the days and weeks that followed, raising children through grief, the things they still miss most and the reality of trying to build a life around an absence that never really goes away.

They also discuss the support available to young widows, the things people say with the best intentions that can sometimes hurt, and the connection that comes from meeting someone who truly understands what you have been through.

A raw, honest and important conversation about love, loss, grief and life afterwards.

Thank you to Catriona, Samantha and Fiona for sharing their stories, and for keeping the memories of Tim, Seán and Stephen at the heart of this conversation.

🎧 This episode is proudly sponsored by ADHD Now, the online clinic transforming ADHD assessment and care across Ireland. If you are seeking an ADHD assessment or support, visit adhdnow.com today.

This week, I’m joined by one of Ireland’s best-known content creators, Caoimhe McGinley.

Many will know Caoimhe from The Big Hill House, but behind the beautiful home and social media posts is a story of heartbreak, resilience and rebuilding.

In this honest conversation, Caoimhe opens up about the breakdown of her marriage, navigating such a difficult time in the public eye, raising her four children, and the devastating loss of a baby through miscarriage at almost 17 weeks pregnant.

For the first time publicly, she also speaks about a defamation case that she says became one of the lowest points of her life, how it affected her personally and professionally, and why she has chosen to tell her story now.

This is a conversation about heartbreak, hope and proving that, no matter what life throws at you, you can come back stronger.

If you enjoy the episode, please follow the podcast and share it with someone who might need to hear it.

🎧 This episode is proudly sponsored by ADHD Now, the online clinic transforming ADHD assessment and care across Ireland.

Visit adhdnow.com to learn more.

The podcast is back after the summer break, and we’re returning with an episode that has quite a story behind it.

Eleanor has been here before. Her original episode went live a few months ago, but shortly afterwards, it disappeared.

A lot of people noticed. A lot of people asked why.

In this episode, we explain what happened.

For those who don’t know Eleanor, you may know her for the funny videos, positivity and big personality. But behind the humour is a story of survival.

Eleanor is a mum of three who has spoken openly about domestic abuse, violence, fear and trying to protect her children while rebuilding her own life.

Her story is raw and difficult at times, but ultimately it is about survival, rebuilding and finding your way back to yourself.

Eleanor is back, and this time we’re telling the full story.

🎧 This episode is proudly sponsored by ADHD Now, the online clinic transforming ADHD assessment and care across Ireland. Visit adhdnow.com.

If you are affected by anything discussed in this episode:

Women’s Aid 24hr National Freephone Helpline: 1800 341 900

Men’s Aid Ireland: 01 554 3811

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999 or 112.

After an incredible 14 months and almost 1.2 million Spotify streams, I’m taking a short summer break from the podcast.

Thank you to every guest and listener who has supported the podcast, and a huge thank you to ADHD Now and GoLoud for making it all possible.

I’ll still be recording during the break, so this is not goodbye. I’ll be back with a bang!