Welcome to this very special episode of The Players Voice, a podcast brought to you by the Gaelic Players Association in collaboration with Real Talks. 2022 has been an incredible year for The Players Voice and our 20 episodes were streamed all over the world. The Players Voice will be returning in 2023 but before we look forward to next year, we wanted to reflect on some of the best bits so far. During each unique conversation with our host Alan O’Mara, we took you inside the minds of some of Ireland's most inspiring athletes and role models - and covered some very important topics. We talked about things like addiction, leadership, sexuality, resilience, entrepreneurship, sport-life balance, eating disorders, retirement, identity and much, much more. Thank you to each and every player who shared their stories, insights and experiences so openly and honestly for our listeners. We are privileged to know that these conversations have helped others get through challenging times and to reach out for help. Learn more about the GPA’s Beo 360 programme and the four key pillars of well-being, life-skills, transitions and dual-career by going to www.beo360.gaelicplayers.com To find out more about Alan O’Mara’s work as a performance and wellbeing consultant, go to www.RealTalks.ie

For the twentieth and final episode of The Players Voice series this year we were joined by Limerick’s Barry Hennessy. The multiple All-Ireland winner opens up about his eating disorder and mental health challenges. Barry also reflects on Limerick’s recent dominance of the All-Ireland hurling championship, provides fascinating insights into his relationship with fellow Limerick goalkeeper Nickie Quaid and discusses the importance of humility on and off the field. Each episode of this series is hosted by Alan O’Mara, a former Cavan goalkeeper now working as a performance and wellbeing coach with sports and business leaders around the world. If you are a GPA member and impacted by this conversation, please call the GPA’s 24/7 helpline on 1800 98 92 85 or text ‘GPA’ to 50808 from the Republic of Ireland. From Northern Ireland call 0800 044 5059 or text ‘GPA’ 85258. If you aren’t a GPA member and are impacted by this conversation, please check out bodywhys.ie for more information on eating disorders, body image issues and support services. Thanks for listening!

Host Alan O’Mara gets inside the mind of Lee Keegan on this week’s episode. The Mayo legend reflects on his GAA journey to date and explains how becoming a father has widened his perspective in both sport and life. Lee talks about the frustration of appearing in, but not winning any, of his 7 All-Ireland final appearances and chats about his plans for the 2023 season. He discusses the challenges of physical and mental burnout, changing the culture in Mayo GAA and how much he has benefited from engaging with the GPA and going back to college to develop himself as a leader and a person. This podcast series is brought to you as part of BEO 360, a GPA programme that empowers inter-county players across 4 key areas - life skills, wellbeing, dual career and transitions. Please go to beo360.gaelicplayers.com to learn more. Our host Alan O’Mara is a Performance and Wellbeing coach with sports and business leaders around the world. Learn more about his work at www.realtalks.ie

We are delighted to welcome Limerick’s Dan Morrissey onto the podcast this week. Dan chats to our host, Alan O’Mara, about what it has been like to win four of the last five All-Ireland Hurling championships and shares his journey on and off the field. [Text Wrapping Break]He also discusses the role of sports psychology, the importance of belief and confidence and how grateful he is to be part of this golden generation of Limerick hurlers. The Players’ Voice is a podcast brought to you by the Gaelic Players Association in collaboration with Real Talks. The podcast series is brought to you as part of BEO 360, a GPA programme that empowers inter-county players across 4 key areas - life skills, wellbeing, dual career and transitions. Please go to beo360.gaelicplayers.com to learn more. To find out more about Alan O’Mara’s work as a performance and wellbeing consultant, please go to www.RealTalks.ie or find him on Twitter and Instagram at @aomthecat. Thanks for listening!

This is the second part of a two part interview with Offaly legend Niall McNamee. Here he opens up about life in recovery from gambling addiction and how he has maintained his well-being since his last bet almost 11 years ago. Niall also discusses how he uses his own struggles to help other people in difficulty and the rise of problem gambling in sport and wider society. In part one of this conversation, Niall reflected on his sporting career to date and his journey as a successful entrepreneur. You can find that episode by searching ‘The Players Voice’ on whatever podcast platform you prefer. Earlier in this series,Tyrone’s All Ireland winning midfielder Conn Kilpatrick shared his experience of gambling addiction and recovery, so please feel free to check that out also. If you are a GPA member and worried about problem gambling, call 1800 98 92 85 or text ‘GPA’ to 50808 from the Republic of Ireland OR from Northern Ireland please call 0800 044 5059 or text ‘GPA’ 85258. If you aren’t a GPA member and need support, please check out gamblersanonymous.ie OR problemgambling.ie Finally - this podcast is brought to you as part of BEO 360, a GPA programme that empowers inter-county players across 4 key areas - life skills, wellbeing, dual career and transitions. Please go to beo360.gaelicplayers.com to learn more.

On the podcast this week is Niall McNamee, who has been one of the most dangerous and consistent forwards in Gaelic Football since making his Offaly debut in 2003. In part one of this two-part interview, Niall reflects on his sporting career to date, why he came out of retirement after one season away from the inter-county game and whether he plans to keep playing at the top level in 2023. Niall also shares his journey as an entrepreneur, which began by googling ‘how to make football socks’ after a conversation with a teammate. Since then his company Twelves has gone from strength to strength selling sportswear to people and teams around the world. They just recently launched a brand new football boot that Niall has been working on for two and a half years. Part 2 of this interview will be released soon and will explore Niall’s journey as a recovering gambling addict, the role of gambling in sports and wider society and helpful tips and insights for those experiencing problem gambling. If you are listening to this, make sure to subscribe to The Players Voice, so you don’t miss the second part of our conversation. This podcast is brought to you as part of BEO 360, a GPA programme that empowers inter-county players across 4 key areas - life skills, wellbeing, dual career and transitions. Please go to beo360.gaelicplayers.com to learn more. Thanks for listening!

Ashling Thompson was a key figure on the Cork camogie team that won four All-Ireland’s in the last decade and she also lifted the O’Duffy Cup as captain in 2015. She explains why she is still so driven to return Cork back to the promised land after back to back All-Ireland final defeats and describes the pain she has been feeling since the final whistle went in this year’s championship decider. As well as her many highs and lows on the field, Ashling has been open and honest in the past about mental health challenges and her struggles off the field. During this conversation, Ashling provides so much insight into her experience with depression, anxiety and panic attacks and explains how self-awareness and emotional intelligence have positively impacted her life in recent years. This podcast is brought to you as part of BEO 360, a GPA programme that empowers inter-county players across 4 key areas - life skills, wellbeing, dual career and transitions. Please go to beo360.gaelicplayers.com to learn more.

Our host, Alan O’Mara, is joined this week by Tipperary’s Aishling Moloney. Since breaking on to the inter-county scene in 2017, Aishling has become one of the most feared forwards in gaelic football. She was a key player on the Tipperary ladies’ football team that won 2 Intermediate All-Ireland titles and was voted Player of the Year in 2019. Unfortunately the 2022 season played out without Moloney on the field, as the Tipperary ace battled to overcome an ACL injury and the complications that followed post-surgery. Aishling is open and honest about how the last 13 months have challenged her, both mentally and physically, in ways she never imagined. The sharpshooter shares some of the lessons she has learned on the long and winding road to recovery and why she is returning to gaelic games as both a better person and athlete. She also discusses heart troubles, how much things have improved for female GAA players in recent seasons and the challenges her inter-county peers are still facing. The Players’ Voice is a podcast brought to you by the Gaelic Players Association in collaboration with Real Talks. BEO 360 is a GPA programme that empowers inter-county players across 4 key areas - life skills, wellbeing, dual career and transitions. Please go to beo360.gaelicplayers.com to learn more. To listen to previous episodes with leading inter-county GAA players like Patrick Horgan and Vikki Wall, make sure to subscribe by searching 'The Players Voice' on whichever podcast platform you prefer. And while there, you would really be helping us out if you rated or reviewed the show. To find out more about Alan O’Mara’s work as a performance and wellbeing consultant, go to www.RealTalks.ie. Thanks for listening!

Our host Alan O’Mara is joined this week by Cork’s Patrick Horgan. 2022 was a year to remember for the 34-year-old, as he became the top scorer of all-time in the hurling championship and a dad for the first time. Horgan explains why he is determined to continue playing for Cork next season. He also discusses how the game still finds new ways to challenge him after 15 campaigns at the elite level, and how he dealt with being dropped from the Cork starting team this summer. He shares how working with a sports psychologist helped achieve better sport/life balance and how much he has enjoyed founding Pro-Hurling, Ireland’s first hurling e-academy. To find out more, go to www.ProHurling.ie This podcast is brought to you as part of BEO 360, a GPA programme that empowers inter-county players across 4 key areas - life skills, wellbeing, dual career and transitions. To find out more about our host Alan O’Mara and his work as a performance and wellbeing consultant, please go to www.RealTalks.ie. Thanks for listening!

Conor McDonald’s rise to the top level of inter-county hurling was meteoric. In 2013, when most people his age were worried about the leaving cert, Conor was already living his dream having played for the Wexford minors, u21s and then the senior team in the space of a few short weeks. He was just 17 when he made his senior debut. He won three Leinster u21 titles in a row and helped Wexford win their first Leinster senior title for 15 years back in 2019. Conor has known who he was as a hurler since a very young age but his journey for self-discovery as a person is ongoing. He talks about fear of failure, identity, asking for help, developing weaknesses, entrepreneurship and much more. This podcast is brought to you as part of BEO 360, a GPA programme that empowers inter-county players across 4 key areas - life skills, wellbeing, dual career and transitions. Please go to beo360.gaelicplayers.com to learn more. To find out more about Alan O’Mara’s work as a performance and wellbeing consultant, please go to www.RealTalks.ie

Vikki Wall speaks about how her life has changed since she became an All-Ireland champion and how adaptability, trust and vulnerability were at the heart of Meath’s success. She also discusses the verbal abuse she has received over the years, her search for sport/life balance, and how much she is looking forward to becoming a professional athlete later this year in the Australian Football League. The Players’ Voice is a podcast brought to you by the Gaelic Players Association in collaboration with Real Talks. Hosted by Alan O’Mara, this series features some of Ireland’s most inspiring athletes. Please go to beo360.gaelicplayers.com to learn more about BEO 360, a GPA programme that empowers inter-county players across 4 key areas - life skills, wellbeing, dual career and transitions. To find out more about Real Talks and their work as performance and wellbeing consultants, please go to www.RealTalks.ie. Thanks for listening!

Our host Alan O’Mara is joined on the podcast this week by Lisa O’Rourke. On May 19, O’Rourke captured the hearts of the nation when she picked up the gold medal in the light middleweight division at the World Boxing Championships in Turkey. This was the 20 year old’s first ever appearance at the world championships but she is anything but an overnight success. Earlier this year she also won at the European u22 championships. We talk about life lessons learned from her climb through the boxing ranks, the benefit of having a sister, Aoife, who is an Olympic boxer, and why she still makes time to play inter-county football for Roscommon, and helped them win the Division 3 National League title this season. This podcast is brought to you as part of BEO 360, a GPA programme that empowers inter-county players across 4 key areas - life skills, wellbeing, dual career and transitions. Please go to beo360.gaelicplayers.com to learn more.

We were joined this week by Colm Begley of Laois, who officially announced his retirement from the inter-county game. Colm made his senior debut in 2005 but life soon took him in a very different direction. That direction was Down Under, when he secured a professional contract with Australian Football League team Brisbane Lions. Colm’s rise through the ranks of a new sport was remarkable and he was voted club rookie of the year in 2007. The Stradbally man played four years in the AFL before deciding to return home. Back in Ireland, he enjoyed 12 more seasons in the blue and white of Laois and learned the importance of developing Colm Begley the person, as well as the athlete. Transition was a key theme throughout this episode as Colm reflected on life lessons gathered from experiencing two elite sports. He is now the Player Welfare and Engagement Manager with the Gaelic Players Association. This podcast is brought to you as part of BEO 360, a GPA programme that empowers inter-county players across 4 key areas - life skills, wellbeing, dual career and transitions. Please go to beo360.gaelicplayers.com to learn more. To find out more about our host, Alan O’Mara, and his work as a performance and wellbeing consultant with sports teams and companies, please go to www.RealTalks.ie Enjoy The Players Voice with Colm Begley!

We are joined this week by Aisling Maher. Aisling is a respected leader on the Dublin camogie team, an All-Star, an artist, a member of the GPA’s LGBTQ+ working group and the co-founder and CEO of Mooze Vegan. She talks about the importance of living an authentic life, her experience coming out to family, friends and teammates and her passion to drive equality, diversity and inclusivity. She also calls for straight allies to step up in the GAA world and in wider society. The Players’ Voice is a podcast brought to you by the Gaelic Players Association in collaboration with Real Talks. Hosted by Alan O’Mara, a former Cavan goalkeeper now working as a performance and wellbeing consultant, this series takes you inside the minds of inspiring inter-county GAA players. If you have enjoyed any of the episodes so far, please leave a review on whatever podcast platform you prefer to help us reach more listeners. Please go to beo360.gaelicplayers.com to learn more about BEO 360, a GPA programme that empowers inter-county players across 4 key areas - life skills, wellbeing, dual career and transitions. To learn more about Alan O’Mara’s work, check out www.realtalks.ie.

We are joined this week by former Wicklow footballer and managing director of Nutriquick, Dean Siney, who recently made a €9 million business deal with Aldi. Dean talks to our host Alan O’Mara about the entrepreneurial journey that stemmed from an idea in his head. Dean began operating from his home kitchen and eventually became a leading brand for healthy, convenient food. They now employ more than 50 people in his hometown of Blessington. Dean Siney’s story is one full of courage and passion and the conversation features so many insights on leadership, starting a business, work/life balance and much more.

Welcome to The Players’ Voice - a podcast brought to you by the Gaelic Players Association in collaboration with Real Talks. We are joined this week by Neil McManus, who at 33 years of age has more than 100 inter-county appearances for Antrim under his belt. He opens up about his love for hurling and Cushendall and, thanks to the longevity of his playing career, the joy he now gets from hurling with the sons of former teammates. This is a conversation about an athlete embracing his leadership qualities to create a more fulfilling life, the importance of personal development and much, much more. Our host, Alan O’Mara, is a former Cavan goalkeeper and Real Talks Founder, now working as a performance and wellbeing consultant. This podcast is brought to you as part of BEO 360, a GPA programme that empowers inter-county players across 4 key areas - life skills, wellbeing, dual career and transitions. Please go to beo360.gaelicplayers.com to learn more.

We are joined on The Players’ Voice podcast by Conn Kilpatrick, an All-Ireland winning midfielder with Tyrone in 2021, who opens up in great detail about his gambling addiction. He talks about the web of lies he spun to hide his secret, the ups and downs of recovery, bouncing back from a relapse and repairing damaged relationships with family and friends. This is a powerful listen full of honesty, insight and courage that will help many people and communities. We also discuss the joy he has experienced from representing and winning with Tyrone and Edendork, climbing the steps of the Hogan Stand to lift the Sam Maguire Cup and living a more authentic, balanced life.

Our host Alan O’Mara, is joined this week by Louise Galvin. From Finuge in Co. Kerry, our guest is a trailblazer who has played both international basketball and rugby for Ireland as well as inter-county football. She discusses the many highs and important life lessons learned on her unique journey and offers fascinating insights into imposter syndrome, growth mindset, leadership and the importance of integration in the GAA. She also shares the difficulties that have stemmed from inequality or lack of resources over the years - including Ireland’s disappointing home performance in the 2017 Rugby World Cup. This episode was recorded just as Louise began maternity leave, so we talked about how pregnancy challenges athletes both physically and mentally. This is the first time for as long as Galvin can remember that she hasn’t been an active member of a team, but she hopes to be back on a court or field soon. This podcast is brought to you as part of BEO 360, a GPA programme that empowers inter-county players across 4 key areas - life skills, wellbeing, dual career and transitions. Go to beo360.gaelicplayers.com to learn more. We hope you sit back, relax and enjoy The Players Voice with Louise Galvin.

This week our host Alan O’Mara is joined by Kate Keaney, who was called up to the Donegal seniors at 15 years of age after experiencing All-Ireland minor success and then became a key leader in successful senior teams. In 2022, a new adventure across the Atlantic awaits, where Kate will be working as a sports scientist with the USA’s international soccer teams. We discuss her excitement for this incredible opportunity and how much she has already enjoyed supporting elite teams around the world. Kate also shares how struggles with concussion significantly impacted her day to day life and how participating in the GPA’s Madden Leadership Programme had a transformational impact on her personal journey. This podcast is brought to you as part of BEO 360, a GPA programme that empowers inter-county players across 4 key areas - life skills, wellbeing, dual career and transitions. Please go to www.beo360.gaelicplayers.com to learn more.

In this episode, Chloe Morey and Séadna Morey join the Players’ Voice. Cousins born ten days apart, they grew up together in Clare and broke through to the senior hurling and camogie teams as teenagers respectively. They discuss the pros and cons of reaching the pinnacle of the game at such a young age, the challenge of finding balance in their adult lives and why they both took a break from the inter-county scene after more than a decade of service. They now run Morey Movement together, a fitness facility in their hometown of Sixmilebridge. This podcast is brought to you as part of BEO 360, a GPA programme that empowers inter-county players across 4 key areas - life skills, wellbeing, dual career and transitions. Please go to www.beo360.gaelicplayers.com to learn more. For more information on Alan O’Mara and his work as a performance and wellbeing consultant, visit www.RealTalks.ie, or follow Alan on Twitter @aomthecat.

The Players’ Voice is a podcast brought to you by the Gaelic Players Association in collaboration with Real Talks. Hosted by former Cavan goalkeeper Alan O’Mara, each episode takes you inside the minds of inspiring inter-county GAA players as they talk about life on and off the field. The series starts with former Mayo footballer and current CEO of the Gaelic Players Association, Tom Parsons. He discusses the many highs and lows he experienced while playing for Mayo between 2008 and 2020, including a horrific leg injury, and being dropped from the squad. He also explains how a journey of self-discovery has made him a more resilient person and leader, and how proud he is to represent and support inter-county players in his role. This podcast is brought to you as part of BEO 360, a GPA programme that empowers inter-county players across 4 key areas - life skills, wellbeing, dual career and transitions. Please go to www.beo360.gaelicplayers.com to learn more. For more information on Alan O’Mara and his work as a performance and wellbeing consultant, visit www.RealTalks.ie, or follow Alan on Twitter @aomthecat.

Ahead of World Mental Health Day on Sunday, the GPA have partnered with SilverCloud to offer members a new online support platform to help them look after their mental health. To mark the new service The Players’ Voice speaks to Tyrone’s All-Ireland winner Conor Meyler and from SilverCloud Dr. Derek Richards.

Down footballer Kevin McKernan shares his story about a recent health scare with The Players’ Voice.

On The Players Voice we mark the launch of our Official Charity Partnership with Cliona’s Foundation and speak to Tom Parsons about his role as GPA CEO.

Former Clare camogie player and WGPA founding member Deirdre Murphy speaks to The Players Voice about this week’s funding announcement for female inter-county players.

Ian Reeves and Karen Thorpe speak to The Players’ Voice about the supports and opportunities players can avail of in terms of their development and education through the GPA.

On this International Women's Day, The Players’ Voice speaks to Armagh's Aimee Mackin about her journey back from injury to be crowned footballer of the year and Cork Camogie's Gemma O'Connor following her retirement.

Next Gen Leaders by The Players Voice

Paul Flynn and Gemma Begley explain what this week’s decision for the GPA and WGPA to come together as one players’ association will mean to inter-county players

In this episode of The Players’ Voice we preview the Christy Ring and Nickey Rackard Cup finals with Down manager Ronan Sheehan, Kildare manager David Herrity, Mayo’s Cathal Freeman, and Donegal’s Sean McVeigh

Galway hurler Paul Flaherty tells The Players’ Voice about setting up his own business while Marie Davis from Google discusses an exciting new partnership with the GPA and WGPA.

To mark World Mental Health Day 2020 Ian Power from 50808 speaks to Dublin's Shane Carthy and Cork's Hannah Looney about their experiences. If you are facing a tough time don't be afraid to talk to someone.

To mark what would have been All-Ireland football final weekend, The Players’ Voice speaks to two legends of the game. Jack O’Shea is a seven-time All-Ireland winner at senior level, a six-time All-Star, a member of the GAA’s Gaelic Football Team of the Century, and was Texaco Footballer of the Year in 1980, the year Kerry beat Roscommon to win Sam Maguire and complete a 3-in-a-row. Larry Tompkins captained Cork to All-Ireland victory over Meath in 1990 completing a historic ‘Double’ for the Rebel County who had also won the All-Ireland hurling title two weeks previously. That completed back to back All-Ireland’s for Tompkins who is also the holder of six Munster medals and three All-Stars. The pair reflect on their respective wins in 1980 and 1990, the Cork v Kerry rivalry and lining out against each other.

To mark what would have been All-Ireland hurling final weekend, we're delighted to bring you this very special episode of The Players' Voice podcast. Our guests are two legends of hurling; Galway's captain from their 1980 win Joe Connolly and the Man of the Match from the final in 2000, Kilkenny's DJ Carey.

With deadlines for GPA and WGPA scholarships coming up, Wexford’s Liam Óg McGovern and Waterford’s Trish Jackman speak to The Players’ Voice about the huge impact further education has had on their careers.

Zach Tuohy of the Geelong Cats talks to The Players’ Voice about returning to play during the pandemic, his Irish teammates Down Under, and the way Conor McKenna was treated.

Professor Mary Horgan is the President of the Royal College of Physicians and a Consultant Physician in Infectious Diseases at Cork University Hospital. She talks to the Players' Voice about returning to play while Covid-19 remains in Ireland.

Down LGFA’s Mary Adegbamiye and Westmeath’s Boidu Sayeh discuss the issue of racism within Irish society on The Players Voice.

Brendan Maher talks to Colm Begley and Kieran McSweeney about making the decision to change career, his mindset when recovering from injury and the hunt for THE broken hurley on The Players’ Voice, available now on Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

3-time All-Ireland winner Donnchadh Walsh tells The Players’ Voice why the current stoppage to GAA action is giving players a

Michael sits down with former Kilkenny team mate Richie Power and talks about what hurling means to them, Kilkenny's 4 in a row between 2006 and 2009; and how life is now for Richie after retirement from the inter county and most recent club scene.

Michael sits down with Tipperary's James Woodlock, who he shared many a midfield battle with during a long standing Tipperary Kilkenny rivalry. James talks about life itself, his inter-county career, and the return of Liam Sheedy to the Tipperary dressing room for 2019.

The Players Voice brings you Michael Fennelly, former Kilkenny Midfielder and Waterford Legend Tony Browne who has represented his county for 22 years. Topics discussed are retirement, life after the game and their current endeavours.