Latest news with #GAASocialPodcast
Irish Daily Mirror
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Oisin McConville opens up on 'selfish' inter-county management role
Oisin McConville has expressed doubts over his future in the 'selfish endeavour' of inter-county GAA management after his stint with Wicklow footballers came to an end. The Armagh icon wrapped up a three-year spell with Wicklow as they bowed out of the Tailteann Cup at the semi-final stage, losing their lead against Limerick in what McConville termed a 'capitulation'. Reflecting on the match, McConville told the GAA Social Podcast on BBC: "I don't think we played well first half at all but found ourselves only a point down at half time which, to be honest, was a bit of a result,". Despite being seven points ahead, Wicklow's grip on the game slipped away, leading McConville to say, "We were in complete control, seven points up. Unfortunately, from that point we capitulated. Things construed and went against us." Describing the aftermath, he said, "It's pure devastation. You put yourself in such a good position to win and then on top of that you just know that's the end of your season. It's not like you can repair it next week. So I literally just came straight up the road. I was home about 5.45pm.", reports Belfast Live. McConville also shared his post-game routine: "I watched the game back. I felt that angry that I wanted to see if watching it gave me some sort of closure on it quickly in my mind. I wanted to get a few things clear in my own head about decisions and what happened during the game. "I couldn't sleep last night. I try, in the really dreadful moments, to get through it with a lot of episodes of Only Fools and Horses. I probably watched it to 3am or 3.30am. The last episode I watched was the chain gang, the 250 gold chains. I don't feel tired or anything (this morning), I just have that sick feeling in my stomach but look, there's worse things in life, I'm sure. "It takes a bit of getting over, the fact it's the last game of the year. I think there was just a bit more in us, just feels like finality, you know." McConville isn't certain about continuing his role as manager and mentioned the significant impact the job has on his family life. The journey from Armagh to Wicklow is at least a four-hour round trip for training and matches each week. Even though he has a commendable 50 percent victory rate, McConville emphasises that staying on isn't just up to him. "Look, my term is over. That's the first thing to say. The next thing is, I understand that me being an inter-county manager is one thing. Me being an inter-county manager in Wicklow is a completely different thing because it's a pretty selfish endeavour on my part I think. "Tha really strikes home because you miss quite a bit of what is going on with the kids and (wife) Darina. She picks up a lot of slack. "Honestly, if I was to say I was going back to Wicklow for the next 10 years, they would back me up in the morning. That's not my decision and also, I'm going to give it a week and see if it's even a possibility from home first. "There's obviously conversations to be had after that. I'm probably more aware than ever that my dreams, we can't follow my dreams all the time as a family. Everybody has their own individual things that they're doing there. "That's the biggest dilemma of the whole lot, to be honest. It's a big chunk of my life but it's a big chunk of everybody else's too. "I have to decide here, am I part of the solution here (with Wicklow) or part of the problem."
Sunday World
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Sunday World
GAA star shares heartbreak of fertility journey amid fifth IVF attempt
Johnny Glynn and his wife Serena have suffered numerous miscarriages GAA star Johnny Glynn has shared his heartbreaking fertility journey amid his wife Serena's fifth attempt to conceive via IVF. The Galway native recently captained the New York GAA team as they won the Lory Meagher cup in a win against Cavan at Croke Park in May. The 31-year-old married his long-term love Serena Walsh in 2021. Johnny Glynn News in 90 Seconds - June 11th Opening up about their journey to parenthood, Glynn told the GAA Social Podcast that 'nobody in the world deserves a child more' than his wife. 'Unfortunately, we've had few miscarriages. We've had an ectopic pregnancy. We've done a few rounds of IVF and it's a heavy thing.' 'We're after finishing our fifth round of transfers and they've all been unsuccessful so far. 'So to be honest with you, where we're at, I don't know exactly, but I do know we're going to have kids,' he added. 'I don't know how we're gonna get there, yet we're gonna get there.' The hurler said their struggle has been 'very tough' on his wife 'For me, the whole thing is like, I'll be fine as long as Serena's fine. 'I will be okay as long as she's okay, and the toughest thing of the whole thing for me is just not being able to sort this out for Serena,' he said. 'Over the last two years, what upsets me is seeing her so upset, like I can do everything else, we can go on all the holidays in the world. 'We can do whatever else, but this is the one thing that is out of my control that I can't do for my wife.' 'That's the hardest thing. It's a f**king killer,' he said. Johnny said he firmly believes that the couple will become parents one day. 'I think it was actually when we had the ectopic pregnancy a few people heard. 'And obviously you get nice messages and different things, but there was one message, it was out physio for the senior footballers. 'She sent me a message and she just said 'kids won't pass deserving parents', and I do believe that,' he continued. 'I firmly believe that me and Serena are meant to be parents, and it's going to happen. 'Might be taking a little bit longer, but it's going to happen.' Johnny said he's been left stunned by the kindness they've received amid their pain. 'One of the lads in New York, he'd a bad enough reputation – gets in a row here or there – he handwrote me and Serena a letter after hearing about our journey, gave us miraculous medals,' he explained. 'He dropped it to the house. If you knew the lad you'd say 'no way', but when you talk about this stuff, people surprise you. 'There's some great people out there.' Johnny and his wife Serena got engaged in 2018, and tied the knot during a festive ceremony in December 2021. If you've been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can contact Féileacáin, The Miscarriage Association of Ireland or Eptopic Ireland for support and information.
Wales Online
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
BBC Sport presenter bravely opens up on miscarriage heartbreak
BBC Sport presenter bravely opens up on miscarriage heartbreak The GAA Social Podcast with Oisin McConville and Thomas Niblock spoke to former Galway All-Ireland-winning hurler Johnny Glynn about his and his wife Serena's fertility issues Thomas Niblock opened up about the miscarriages his wife Kirstie has had to go through (Image: thomasniblock/Twitter ) BBC Sport presenter Thomas Niblock has opened up about the personal anguish of miscarriage and fertility complications following his revelation that his wife Kirstie tragically lost three pregnancies. In an emotive segment on the GAA Social Podcast, Niblock and fellow host Oisin McConville invited ex-Galway hurling champion Johnny Glynn to share his harrowing experiences. Living in New York with his wife Serena, Glynn faced similar sorrows in his journey to parenthood. Only recently, after steering New York to victory in the Lory Meagher Cup at Croke Park, Glynn learnt that their latest IVF attempt had failed. During the podcast, McConville described it as a "privilege" to hear such candid and heartfelt discussions about the struggles of fertility, pregnancy loss, and ectopic ruptures, reports Belfast Live. Niblock laid bare the trials he and his wife Kirstie have endured. "It is not an exaggeration in any way - my family and friends would know this - we were very close to losing Kirstie," he disclosed. "So that shapes you. You go from your fertility after that and I am thinking, it would be amazing and I'd love to have kids, like most people would. "Not all - but certainly most. But at the same time when you nearly lose your wife that's the game changer for me and that's the priority. That shapes you as well. Article continues below Johnny Glynn joined Oisin McConville and Thomas Niblock on the BBC's GAA Social podcast "Then time passes by and you definitely do want kids. So that's where we're at, at the minute. We haven't tried IVF. That may be coming down the pathway. My wife is very lucky. She has a great set of friends - been really supportive towards her. She's a very strong person. "She doesn't take things too seriously whereas everybody I would find would be quite different in this scenario. She has a good head on her shoulders. But it still is heavy stuff. I just feel it would be hypocritical if I didn't put myself out there, even though it's a bit weird to be talking about it." Glynn's experience echoed similar sentiments, as he disclosed: "Unfortunately we've had a few miscarriages. We've had an ectopic pregnancy. We've done a few rounds of IVF. "We are after finishing our fifth round of IVF transfers and they've all been unsuccessful so far. To be honest with you, where we are at I don't know exactly. I don't know how we are going to get there yet but we are going to get there. Thomas Niblock opened up about the fertility issues he and his wife Kirstie have endured (Image: thomasniblock/Twitter ) "When we do have kids and if they grow up to be healthy and fine, do you know what I'll take these two years. I'll take this tough time because it's only going to be for a little bit of time. We are going to get over it. We are going to be fine. "Not to sound soft or anything, but as long as myself and Serena have each other, we'll be okay. What upsets me is seeing her so upset. I firmly believe, I will be ok, if she is ok. It's not being able to fix this for her, it's the one thing that is out of my control, that I can't do for my wife. It's a f*****g killer." The pair opened up about their fertility journey, including sperm testing and confronting the discomfort caused by questions about starting a family. Niblock shared an anecdote of common enquiries he faces: 'No kids yet Tommy?' before adding: "I would have known, even not going through our experience, if someone is married a year or two and they are in their 30s and there's no kids, there might be a wee issue there. Don't maybe say something to them. "So I push back and say: 'To be honest, we've had three miscarriages' and the face just drops. But I feel that's important to say that. It's not me being guarded. It's just maybe more: 'you should have a wee think about that.' I am grand with it and it doesn't bother me, but I definitely know of other people it does. The BBC presenter revealed his wife had gone through three miscarriages (Image: thomasniblock/Twitter ) "I am always amazed by the response of so many people. Once you tell people you've had a miscarriage, they'll say: 'Tommy, know all about it, one or two myself.' "Now their stage is different. This is what I think, my whole thing is if you have two or three kids and you have two or three miscarriages before, I'd be 100 percent with that. "It's not mitigation against what happened in the past but your journey is a past tense one. But I think if you are in the midst of it and you don't have any kids and your story to tell is - in my case three miscarriages - you are in a very different place. Article continues below "Not in a mean way but because so many people have no history of talking about it. It is bit weird for me even talking about this. In my life I'd say this is the most I've ever put myself out there so I am at fault as much as anybody else, because it's not talked about. It's not normalised and people don't really know what way to deal about it. "We're still clinging on to hope and hope is a very powerful thing. If hope was gone, then you're realigning yourself - adoptions, fostering, no kids whatsoever. Me and Kirstie will have a brilliant life, no matter what way that goes, as long as she's there." The full podcast is available on BBC Sounds here.
