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Irish Daily Mirror
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Donncha O'Callaghan wasn't surprised to see Doireann Garrihy return to 2FM
Ireland rugby legend Donncha O'Callaghan said he wasn't surprised to see his former 2FM co-host Doireann Garrihy make a shock return to the station because she is 'so talented'. Last summer, the pair left 2FM Breakfast, as Carl Mullan was later joined by new hosts Roz Purcell and Aisling Bonner. However, it wasn't long before Doireann was back in Montrose as she was announced as the new host of 2FM Drive a couple of months ago. Speaking about the presenter and social media star's swift return, Donncha said: 'I wasn't surprised because of how talented she is. If anything, I was delighted to see her go back and this might sound a bit harsh, but on her own, with her name in lights. Because she deserves that.' While hosting the breakfast show together, the rugby legend said Doireann always had his back. Donncha joked that he loves Carl like a brother, but he would be more prone to slag him on air and leave him to dig himself in a hole. The former Munster star, who has 94 caps for the Irish team, said he hasn't ruled out making a return to radio himself. He told the Irish Sunday Mirror: 'I certainly love radio and it's definitely something I'd love to do again in the future. I miss them (Doireann and Carl) though, I miss that group. I think we all knew it was fairly special. It's rare you get on so well with people as well so quickly.' The former lock pivoted his career away from rugby and sports after retiring, and says this was no accident. He explained: 'I'm good at setting goals, and that's a goal I set for myself for five years (after retiring). If I'm being completely honest, I could have stayed around the rugby environments because that's all I've known since I went into the academies at 17. "I wanted to push myself a little bit, so I had a goal of - can I stand on my own two feet away from all this within five years? I really wanted to have a look in that entertainment space." Despite missing the 2FM show, Donncha is thankful for the energy that it has given him and the time he now has for other projects. He launched a podcast with his former teammate Tommy Bowe and recently published a children's book called Disaster Dad. Foregoing the alarm clock at the break of dawn has also given him more opportunities to do activities with his children, such as cooking. The father shares four children - Sophie, 14, Anna, 12, Robin, 10 and Jake, nine - with his wife, Jenny. Donncha is an ambassador for Tesco Ireland's new Stronger Starts Cooks - a programme rolling out in primary schools across Ireland this year, designed to inspire a lifelong love of food and cooking among children. He said: 'I look at what our teachers do, and they do an incredible job, but you always look for stuff outside the subjects. 'Are there other life lessons they could take away? And I definitely think cooking is one that could, the kitchen can be a classroom in its own terms, you can learn an awful lot about budgeting, timing, safety and working together.'
Irish Daily Mirror
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Donncha O'Callaghan admits he didn't enjoy the wins in his 90-cap Ireland career
Irish rugby legend Donncha O'Callaghan has admitted he didn't enjoy the wins during his 90-cap international career. The 46-year-old, who turned to a broadcasting career after retiring, has revealed that he constantly doubted his sporting abilities. In a candid chat on The Bookshelf with Ryan Tubridy, the former Munster player spoke about the anxiety he would feel before every game. While sitting in the dressing rooms before some of Ireland's biggest matches, Donncha thought he would 'get exposed' for not being a good enough player. He told the former Late Late Show host: 'I used to look over at guys like Paul [O'Connell] and Brian [O'Driscoll] before matches and see them nervous and nearly be cross. How are they nervous? Look how talented the two of them are… it didn't add up for me.' O'Callaghan feared he would 'get found out' for not being good enough before every game. However, he revealed that this anxiety drove him to being a better player. He added: 'My point of difference was the non-talent stuff, I had to work my tail off.' During his time with Munster and Ireland, the lock said his mindset was all about not losing rather than enjoying winning. He said: 'My drive was to avoid the downs, avoid the losses. The wins I didn't enjoy… but it's not the best fuel and I wish it didn't fuel me as long as it did.' Donncha told Ryan that he'd have had the same mindset no matter where he grew up as 'it was embedded at home, that kind of mindset where no one's going to give us anything'. The retired player, who recently stepped back from hosting 2FM Breakfast, said he has looked up to many people throughout his varied career. However, one man that had an immense influence on him was Paul Darbyshire. He was Munster's head of strength and conditioning and sadly passed from Motor Neuron Disease in June 2011. Donncha said: 'He had an incredible way with our group, it was the first time I saw someone who didn't treat us all the same. He had carrots for some guys, sticks for others.' He added that Paul's legacy helped shape him and the team 'as men'. The rugby legend joined Ryan as his new children's book, Disaster Dad: Chicken Chaos, is available in hardback now, with paperback release on May 29. This autumn, a sequel to the story, called Disaster Dad: Fun Day Fiasco, is due to be released. Donncha was the eighth guest on Ryan's new podcast, which was launched after his shock exit from RTÉ in 2023. Other guests that have already featured include Taoiseach Micheál Martin, author Harlan Coben, Eamon Dunphy and entrepreneur Aimee Connolly.
