Second Captains Saturday welcomes interviewees from different walks of life to explain how sport has impacted them, for good and bad. We'll hear of touching, funny and embarrassing sporting experiences before the show's main feature 'This Sporting Life' bestows that most prestigious of titles - The Greatest Non-Sportsperson Sportsperson. With the multi-award winning three person presenting team from the hugely popular Second Captains Podcast, it's the perfect mix of culture, sport and music.
Eileen Walsh
The summer ain't over til it's over and one of our favourite actors Eileen Walsh still has a chance to pip Ardal O'Hanlon to the title in our season finale.
9/7/2024 • 45 minutes, 41 seconds
Ardal O'Hanlon
With just two weeks to go and Brendan Gleeson still holding on at the top, can Ardal O’Hanlon elbow a fellow national treasure aside?
8/31/2024 • 42 minutes, 29 seconds
Jan Carson
Award-winning Irish writer and die-hard Jackie Fullerton devotee, Jan Carson joins Eoin and Murph for this week's Second Captains Saturday.
8/24/2024 • 43 minutes, 10 seconds
John King
In three months' time, America will take to the polls again and John King will be back stationed at the Magic Wall on CNN. But first, let's put his sporting mettle to the test.
8/17/2024 • 44 minutes, 12 seconds
Colum McCann
He's won most literary prizes worth their salt, but will that tip the scales in Colum McCann's favour in our race to be Greatest Non-Sportsperson Sportsperson 2024? Unlikely.
8/10/2024 • 46 minutes, 39 seconds
Kirsty Wark
Eoin and Murph have to address a points controversy, before turning to their latest would-be athlete, BBC journalist and broadcaster Kirsty Wark.
8/3/2024 • 42 minutes, 59 seconds
Móglí Bap
One-third of West Belfast Irish-language rap group Kneecap, Móglaí Bap AKA Naoise Ó Cairealláin steps up tp the plate in the hopes of scoring more than Brendan Gleeson's 83 points from last week.
7/27/2024 • 43 minutes, 6 seconds
Brendan Gleeson
A summer of sport wouldn't be complete without more famous faces and cultural icons competing to be named Ireland's Greatest Non-Sportsperson Sportsperson, and this year's contest begins with none other than Brendan Gleeson.
7/20/2024 • 48 minutes, 29 seconds
The Mary Wallopers
It's a three-way scramble for the Greatest Non-Sportsperson Sportsperson Christmas title as Charles & Andrew Hendy and Seán McKenna of the Mary Wallopers join Eoin and Murph for a chat and a few amazing live performances.
12/23/2023 • 49 minutes, 57 seconds
The Mary Wallopers
It's a three-way scramble for the Greatest Non-Sportsperson Sportsperson Christmas title as Charles & Andrew Hendy and Seán McKenna of the Mary Wallopers join Eoin and Murph for a chat and a few amazing live performances.
12/23/2023 • 49 minutes, 57 seconds
Michael Sheen
In our last show of the series, can Michael Sheen pull off the extraordinary feat of pipping Enda Walsh at the post and become our Greatest Non-Sportsperson Sportsperson for 2023?
9/9/2023 • 46 minutes, 59 seconds
Annie Mac
Over the course of a 17 year career on BBC Radio 1, Annie Mac became one of the most beloved broadcasters and most influential DJs in the UK. Does she have it in her to put Macúl to the sword in our penultimate show of the series, though?
9/2/2023 • 43 minutes, 55 seconds
Radie Peat
A member of Dublin's Mercury Prize-nominated band Lankum, Radie Peat puts her sporting pride on the line.
8/26/2023 • 43 minutes, 22 seconds
Enda Walsh
Joining the race to snatch first place on the Greatest Non-Sportsperson Sportsperson leaderboard is one of Ireland's best playwrights and screenwriters, Enda Walsh
8/19/2023 • 46 minutes, 48 seconds
Conan O'Brien - Extended Version
In a very special show, one of the most iconic American broadcasters and comedians of the last three decades, Conan O'Brien joins Eoin and Murph in this extended version of the original broadcast.
8/12/2023 • 53 minutes, 57 seconds
Theo Dorgan
Theo Dorgan is one of the finest Irish poets of his generation, but how will he fare under Murph's scrutiny? With a completely made up scoring system, it's ... hard to say.
8/5/2023 • 46 minutes, 50 seconds
Samantha Barry
From her desk in One World Trade Centre, Editor-in-Chief of Glamour, Samantha Barry makes her play for the title of Ireland's Greatest Non-Sportsperson Sportsperson.
7/29/2023 • 46 minutes, 53 seconds
Irvine Welsh
Second Captains Saturday is back for another summer and kicking off this year's series is the author of the one of the most iconic books of the last thirty years, Irvine Welsh.
7/22/2023 • 48 minutes, 8 seconds
Second Captains Saturday NYE Special
Multi-award winning authors Sinéad Gleeson and Roddy Doyle are friends, huge football fans and for one day only, Greatest Non-Sportsperson Sportsperson opponents.
12/31/2022 • 47 minutes, 45 seconds
Second Captains Saturday - Jennifer Walshe
It's the final show of the season and after a storming performance from Kit de Waal, world-renowned composer and vocalist Jennifer Walshe is the only contender with a shot at knocking her off top stop and claiming the title of Greatest Non-Sportsperson Sportsperson 2022.
9/10/2022 • 49 minutes, 17 seconds
Second Captains Saturday - Kit de Waal
With two episodes to go in this series of Second Captains Saturday, novelist Kit de Waal will be looking to dethrone Fiona Shaw, who currently sits atop the Greatest Non-Sportsperson Sportsperson leaderboard. She joins Eoin and Murph to talk about her amazing life story, one which began among the Irish immigrant community in 1960s Birmingham.
9/3/2022 • 50 minutes, 4 seconds
Second Captains Saturday - Brian Gleeson
Last week, Fiona Shaw grabbed on to top spot on the Second Captains Saturday leaderboard. Brian Gleeson, her fellow Irish actor and star of what looks like a massive summer hit, Apple TV's "Bad Sisters" will look to make her reign a short one as he joins Eoin and Murph.
8/28/2022 • 47 minutes, 18 seconds
Second Captains Saturday - Fiona Shaw
Fiona Shaw, one of the greatest actors, on both stage and screen, of her generation, joins Eoin and Murph on Second Captains Saturday as she looks to knock Nick Hornby off the top of the Greatest Non-Sportsperson Sportsperson leaderboard.
8/20/2022 • 48 minutes, 9 seconds
Second Captains Saturday - Mick Lynch
Two months ago, RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch was, in his own words, an obscure trade union leader. He's since become one of the most recognisable faces in the UK, leading railway strikes and emerging as one of the most vocal critics of the Conservative government in Britain. He joins Eoin and Murph on Second Captains Saturday.
8/13/2022 • 47 minutes, 46 seconds
Second Captains Saturday - William Finnegan
For four decades, William Finnegan has been an award-winning war reporter with the New Yorker magazine. He's also lived a sometimes secret second life as a surfer, chasing waves around the world. He joins Eoin and Murph on Second Captains Saturday.
8/6/2022 • 45 minutes, 48 seconds
Second Captains Saturday - Anne Enright
Anne Enright, Booker Prize-winning author and Ireland's first ever Laureate for Fiction, has never been sure about this whole sport business. Does she hold out high hopes to become Ireland's Greatest Non-Sportsperson Sportsperson? In short... No. One of Ireland's greatest contemporary writers joins Eoin and Murph on Second Captains Saturday.
7/30/2022 • 46 minutes, 57 seconds
Second Captains Saturday with Nick Hornby
Second Captains Saturday is back and we're delighted to be joined for the first episode of the series by the author of some of our favourite books, Nick Hornby. Sure, he's a two-time Oscar-nominated screenwriter, but can he take the title of Ireland's greatest non-sportsperson sportsperson?
7/23/2022 • 44 minutes, 13 seconds
Orla Guerin
Orla Guerin is a renowned war correspondent for the BBC. She spent time as Pakistan correspondent, where she built up knowledge of the Taliban. As the US withdraws from Afghanistan, & the Taliban are in power once again, we get an insight into what life is going to be like for those left behind.
9/4/2021 • 51 minutes, 28 seconds
Johnny Watterson
Johnny Watterson of The Irish Times is one of the best sportswriters in the country but his work has gone far beyond sport. He was the journalist responsible for one of the bravest and most significant moments in Irish journalism history when he broke the story and the truth about George Gibney for the first time in the Sunday Tribune in 1994
8/28/2021 • 50 minutes, 56 seconds
Yvonne Farrell
Yvonne Farrell set up Grafton Architects in 1978 along with her friend Shelley McNamara, and they’ve gone on to become two of the most decorated architects on the globe. But how will Yvonne fare in the quest to become Second Captains Greatest Non-Sportsperson Sportsperson?
8/21/2021 • 50 minutes, 8 seconds
Doireann Ní Ghríofa
You may know that Doireann Ní Ghríofa is an internationally renowned poet and the 2020 Book of the Year winner. You may not know that she’s a massive fan of legendary Clare hurler PJ ‘Fingers’ O’Connell.
8/14/2021 • 51 minutes, 19 seconds
Malcolm Gladwell
Malcolm Gladwell is one the world’s most successful writers and podcasters, he has six New York Times best sellers to his name and of course the phenomenal Revisionist History podcast. We break down his love of running and surprising interest in 1970s & 1980s Irish athletes.
8/7/2021 • 51 minutes, 10 seconds
Dave Balfe
Todays guest Dave Balfe is a musician and artist who performs under the name For Those I Love and his album released earlier this year landed him huge international recognition. We talk about the significance of sport in his own life and how it has helped him to grieve for his best mate and much more besides.
7/31/2021 • 48 minutes, 2 seconds
Bonnie Greer
Playwright, author, broadcaster, boxing fan and a national treasure here in Ireland - this week's guest on Second Captains Saturday is Bonnie Greer who tells us about the importance of Ali to her and her generation growing up in 1960's Chicago.
7/24/2021 • 42 minutes, 46 seconds
Richard Ford
One of the world’s great novelists Richard Ford is the guest for episode 1 of series 5 of Second Captains Saturday. Richard tells us about his sporting life, his connections to Ireland, how he became a writer and we see if he has what it take to become Ireland’s greatest non-sportsperson sportsperson.
7/17/2021 • 51 minutes, 24 seconds
Samantha Power
Eoin, Ken and Murph were joined by former US Ambassador to the United Nations and Pulitzer-Prize winning author, Samantha Power. Samantha discusses her childhood in Ireland and the role sport played in adapting to life in the US. Did her basketball career impress Barack Obama?
12/31/2019 • 49 minutes, 59 seconds
Colm Tóibín
Shortlisted for the Booker prize three times, won the International Dublin Literary Prize for ‘The Master’ and the Costa Book Award for Brooklyn, was Eamon Dunphy's bodyguard at Italia 90, wrote about Maradona's life of "samba y caramba" and hates tv, twitter, romance novels and dynamic tennis. This is a fun chat with the brilliant Colm Tóibín
8/31/2019 • 54 minutes, 16 seconds
Peter Hain
Peter Hain served in successive Labour governments under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, was Leader of the House of Commons and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and he’s now a member of the House of Lords.
8/24/2019 • 48 minutes, 28 seconds
Emmet Kirwan
Writer, actor, playwright, poet, social commentator, the creator and star of the award-winning Dublin Old School, and former hockey daydreamer Emmet Kirwan joins us in studio and Jim Carney tells us how wild the KK Tipp rivalry was in the 60's.
8/17/2019 • 45 minutes, 27 seconds
Roisin Conaty
In 2010 Roisin Conaty won best newcomer at the Edinburgh Fringe. She’s acted in After Life and created, produced and starred in the sitcom GameFace. AND she once won a celebrity darts tournament with the nickname The Wedding Slinger. Plus author Mike McCormack helps us figure out what it’s like to be a Mayo football fan.
8/10/2019 • 46 minutes, 48 seconds
Eamonn McCann
Journalist and activist Eamonn McCann dedicated his life to campaigning for civil rights, most famously in his efforts on behalf of the victims of Bloody Sunday. Eamonn also supported Brexit at the time of the referendum. We discuss his current opinions on Boris and Brexit, his love for Derry City.... and the time he was hit by Seamus Heaney.
8/3/2019 • 46 minutes, 44 seconds
John Simpson
The legendary John Simpson has reported from 140 countries. He has interviewed 200 world leaders. During the Iran revolution he flew to Tehran with Ayatollah Khomeini, he dodged bullets in the Tiananmen Square massacre and was in Iraq during the 2003 invasion. BUT... how good was he at sport, and did he land a punch on Harold Wilson?
7/27/2019 • 48 minutes, 45 seconds
Catriona Crowe
Catriona Crowe is Ireland's foremost archivist and of the country's most respected social commentators. We ask her about dodging sport, deceiving nuns, Biddy Early's curse and why, in the social media age, history is still important.
7/20/2019 • 49 minutes, 56 seconds
Senator George Mitchell
This week we have the brilliant Senator George Mitchell on the show - US Attorney, US Army, Federal Judge, Senator, and he brokered the Good Friday Agreement. He tells us about his family's amazing life story, "Swisher" Mitchell and his own sporting life.
7/13/2019 • 48 minutes, 49 seconds
Andy Irvine
Andy Irvine is an Irish music legend, an Everton fan, was a child actor, and a friend of Woody Guthrie. We were honoured to have Andy in studio to talk about his amazing life touring with Planxty
9/22/2018 • 47 minutes, 51 seconds
Cody Keenan
Cody Keenan has been writing for and with Barack Obama, former leader of the free world, since 2007, but the real test comes today when we explore his sporting credentials. We talk about writing Obama's recent speech commenting on Trump, Cruz/O'Rourke in Texas, Colin Kaepernick and his own high school football career.
9/15/2018 • 53 minutes, 13 seconds
Kevin Barry
As one of Ireland's greatest current writers, Kevin’s works have been recognised with some prestigious international awards over the years, but will his pool playing skills be enough to take the crown of Ireland's Greatest Non-Sportsperson Sportsperson?
9/8/2018 • 54 minutes, 39 seconds
Sharon Horgan
Sharon Horgan has created & starred in some of the best shows on tv, such as the multi-award winning Catastrophe on Channel 4. Sharon’s brother Shane is a legend of Irish rugby and Sharon talks us through her bionic cross country running abilities.
9/1/2018 • 53 minutes, 33 seconds
Gabriel Byrne
Gabriel Byrne is a true acting great - star of Miller’s Crossing, The Usual Suspects and Stigmata , not to mention his Golden Globe winning TV roles and stunning Broadway performances. As a former victim of clerical abuse, he talks to us about the Papal visit, Ireland's relationship with Catholicism, and the time he met Muhammad Ali.
8/18/2018 • 50 minutes, 27 seconds
Dermot O'Leary
Eoin, Ken and Murph are joined by X Factor and BBC host Dermot O'Leary plus the great Jim Carney (Uncle Jim) one of Ireland's greatest ever GAA journalists and the first presenter of The Sunday Game joins us to talk about Galway v Dublin in 1983. PLUS PLUS there's music from Villagers, Neil Young and Lisa Hannigan.
8/11/2018 • 54 minutes, 57 seconds
Paraic O'Brien
We talk to award winning Channel 4 News reporter Paraic O'Brien about Tommy Robinson, modern journalism, divided Britain, and the TDF. And Ireland's first ever female Olympian and hockey legend Maeve Kyle joins us to discuss the hockey World Cup.
8/4/2018 • 45 minutes, 40 seconds
Tommy Tiernan
Tommy Tiernan is a brilliant comedian, actor, radio host, TV presenter and pool shark. We discuss awkward encounters, Eamon Dunphy, Meath men, dry tears, city jogs, and Klopp.
7/28/2018 • 50 minutes, 14 seconds
Aisling Bea
Aisling Bea is one of the very best comedians and actors in the business. You'll know her from 8 out of 10 Cats, Live At The Apollo, The Fall. She talks about her mum Helen's career as a jockey, her own successes and failures, and her father's death by suicide.
7/21/2018 • 47 minutes, 52 seconds
Paul Howard
We count down to the World Cup final with one of Ireland's most successful ever writers Paul Howard. We discuss Roy Keane's punditry, Spanish cologne, and being a bespectacled street footballer in 1980's Ireland. Plus Ken snuggles up with Mother Russia and asks for some French flair.
7/14/2018 • 47 minutes, 32 seconds
David Baddiel
David Baddiel: novelist, writer of children's books, wrote a screenplay for Infidel, a successful stand-up.. and the person who wrote 3 Lions with Frank Skinner. He joins us to discuss "it's coming home", England's run in the World Cup, fan culture and his sporting life.
7/7/2018 • 48 minutes, 32 seconds
Clare Balding
Legendary broadcaster and the hardest working person in showbiz, Clare Balding, joins us for the final show of the current series of Second Captains. We discuss gender pay gaps, the Cromwell connection, the success of women's sport and of course her own sporting achievements. Plus there's Ken from Vegas on "the greatest combat event in history".
8/27/2017 • 47 minutes, 46 seconds
Tom Vaughan-Lawlor
The brilliant Tom Vaughan-Lawlor joins us to talk about his new role in The Avengers movie and more importantly, his life as a Shoot! magazine-loving, punch-eating, junior cup rugby-playing sports fan. Will he become our Greatest Non-Sportsperson Sportseprson for 2017? Well, no. But find out how he does.
8/20/2017 • 45 minutes, 8 seconds
Dorothy Cross
This week Second Captains talk to internationally acclaimed artist and five time national swimming champion Dorothy Cross to the show to talk about her love of the ocean, the fusion of art and sport and why its so important to take risks. Plus there's Eoin's swim lesson shame, Ken's triumph of will and Trump's new low.
8/13/2017 • 48 minutes, 13 seconds
Blindboy Boatclub
This week Second Captains are joined by Blindboy Boatclub of Rubber Bandits fame. He discusses giving Leo Varadkar advice on sound quality, growing up in a school where rugby players rule, healthy can drinking and shrill football fans. Plus there's Ireland's most ethnically diverse town, booing Justin Gatlin and Patti Smith on Sam Shepard.
8/6/2017 • 48 minutes, 23 seconds
Adam Hills
Joining us this week on Second Captains Sunday is Australian stand-up comedian and presenter of The Last Leg Adam Hills. We talked to Adam about covering the Paralympic Games, eye-gouging donkeys and getting trash-talked by Mats Wilander.
7/30/2017 • 46 minutes, 11 seconds
Nicky Byrne
This week Second Captains talk to Nicky Byrne about his career as a footballer, and the time he almost made it in the Premier League with Leeds United. Plus there's Richie Sadlier on their time together with Ireland underage sides, and how a career in pop was viewed in the football world at that time.
7/23/2017 • 44 minutes, 31 seconds
Pat Shortt
Second Captains welcome comedian, actor, model and hurling coach Pat Shortt into studio to discuss method acting, bad hips, Father Ted and Garage. We also look at his impressive sporting CV and ask him how he made it as a human punchbag. Plus there's Orange Fest, city breaks in July and the Roger Federer logo.
7/16/2017 • 46 minutes, 27 seconds
Maeve Higgins
First episode of the second series of Second Captains Sunday with comedian, writer and broadcaster Maeve Higgins in New York city. Plus Uncle Jim Carney talks us through the Great GAA Armed Robbery Of 1977.
7/9/2017 • 44 minutes, 27 seconds
Ken Doherty
It's 20 years since Ken Doherty won the World Snooker Championship when he beat Stephen Hendry in the final in Sheffield. He reminisces with the Second Captains about that great day and the celebrations when he returned home
5/1/2017 • 27 minutes, 52 seconds
Bank Holiday special
On the programme today as a Bank Holiday special we featured the Second Captains' in studio. They were celebrating the 20th anniversary of Ken Doherty's win in the World Snooker Championships and also Kathrine Switzer, the first woman to run the Boston Marathon as a numbered entry.
5/1/2017 • 1 hour, 47 minutes, 20 seconds
Kathrine Switzer
Kathrine Switzer is an American television commentator and marathon runner. In 1967, she became the first woman to run the Boston Marathon as a numbered entry. An official attacked her on the course, grabbing for her race numbers and screaming and cursing at her before being body blocked by her boyfriend. The incident was broadcast worldwide
5/1/2017 • 23 minutes, 32 seconds
James Vincent McMorrow (New Year's Eve Special)
James Vincent McMorrow had an exceptional 2016, with the launch of his 3rd album, which went straight to no. 1. He joins Eoin, Ken and Murph in studio to discuss his sporting life. He plays out the show with a special version of Prince's "Purple Rain". We have the brilliant David O'Doherty to put a hilarious full stop on a tough year for us all
12/31/2016 • 45 minutes, 19 seconds
Fintan O’Toole
Today the lads go back to the Tokyo Games of 1964 to hear the amazing story of the Irish runner Jim Hogan who didn’t medal, but did become a heroic figure in the childhood of the shows main guest, author and columnist Fintan O’Toole. The lads also catch up with Olympic Silver medallist Annalise Murphy and Natalya Coyle.
8/21/2016 • 52 minutes, 35 seconds
Dara O'Briain and Natalya Coyle
With guests Dara O'Briain and Natalya Coyle
8/14/2016 • 54 minutes, 15 seconds
Peter Coonan, Andy Lee and Sonia O'Sullivan
Peter Coonan, Andy Lee and Sonia O'Sullivan join the Second Captains today
8/7/2016 • 51 minutes, 47 seconds
Des Bishop
Comedian Des Bishop is this weeks guest. A keen footballer with a love of Cork GAA, the sporting life of Des will be ranked ruthlessly by Eoin, Ken and Murph.
7/31/2016 • 49 minutes, 37 seconds
Lenny Abrahamson
Oscar-nominated director Lenny Abrahamson joined the lads in studio to talk about his thrilling 2016 so far.
7/24/2016 • 48 minutes, 40 seconds
David O'Doherty
Second Captains Sunday, 17th July
7/17/2016 • 58 minutes, 4 seconds
Gabby Logan
The second captains are joined by BBC presenter (and former Rose of Tralee contestant) Gabby Logan.
