Latest news with #StrongerStartsCooks
Sunday World
4 days ago
- Health
- Sunday World
Donncha O'Callaghan on why he's embracing the ‘dad bod' after 20 years as an athlete
'Like, who gives a s**t that you're PB-ing at 46?'' The former rugby star is now better known as a radio and TV presenter after retiring from the game in 2018. And the father-of-four says he's loving his more laidback diet and exercise regime after 20 years as an elite athlete. Donncha O'Callaghan with Maverick Hernandez Sanchez, Alicia Ottun and Katie and Ellie Talbot 'It's not sustainable,' Donncha reflects on his sporting prime. 'I'm gone the other way totally with that — I'm fully embracing it. 'Within professional circles, it's very easy to be on top of things — your nutrition is looked after, all your physio and deep tissue massage. 'It isn't until you come away that you get an appreciation for how difficult it is. 'From rugby, it's mad, you don't see, like, a chicken breast — that's 40 grams of protein. You see two scoops of rice or pasta as 50 grams of carbohydrates. Rugby legend turned TV personality Donncha O'Callaghan News in 90 Seconds - May 30th '[You're] looking at the nutrients as opposed to, 'Oh my God, that tastes amazing!' 'To be fair, it's quite enjoyable, because there's no accountability, there's no DEXA scans, there's no millimetres and skin folds of fat, so you can be a bit looser,' he continues. 'I look at some of my teammates and they're in better condition now than when they were playing. 'What a waste that was … like, when we needed you to be in incredible shape, you weren't!' Munster legend Donncha shares four children with engineer wife, Jenny Harte: Sophie (14), Anna (12), Robin (11) and Jake (9). Donncha with his family So he's thrown his towering 6ft 6ins support behind Tesco Ireland's new Stronger Starts Cooks initiative, a free six-week programme aimed at supporting children's health and wellbeing, which is set to be delivered to almost 3,000 pupils across 42 primary schools this year. 'Looking at this research, 92 per cent of parents felt they'd love more cooking within the curriculum,' he quotes a survey conducted by the store, 'and we feel the same. 'It isn't until you go into secondary [school] that you start to pick up Home Economics, if you're into it. 'Other than that, there isn't a whole lot of knowledge about it. So I think it's a good thing if you can do it, and family-wise, get around. Donncha runs out of Ireland 'The big one we do is, if we're doing a roast on a Sunday, everyone gets involved with different things. So Robin, my little girl, makes the best stuffing in the world, and Anna is a dinger at mashed potato. But then, honestly, it's like something you'd see with Gordon Ramsay — if the mash isn't good, everyone's telling her!' The popular host is now also home for breakfast after leaving RTÉ 2FM after five years on the air last year. And the 46-year-old, who quit just weeks after co-host Doireann Garrihy, maintains it was the right call. 'I don't miss the early hours, it was really cruel,' says Donncha, who was also flanked by Carl Mullan on the Breakfast Show. 'If I was in Dublin, I was up at three. 'But I do miss that team, and obviously Doireann and Carl I love to bits, so I do miss hanging around with them. 'I actually do miss presenting a little bit as well, I didn't think I would… but I think it's something you have to enjoy doing. Donncha on Ireland's Fittest Family 'With breakfast radio, you can't bullsh*t it — you have to be a morning person.' On TV, Donncha also joined the Ireland's Fittest Family line-up as a coach back in 2017. But the Cork native reveals how he'd secretly love to take part in another reality TV hit as a competitor. 'We love The [Great British] Bake Off, genuinely,' tells the star, who watched Tommy Tiernan's turn on the recent Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer on Channel 4. 'Like, we're addicted to it. 'I'd certainly love to give something like that [a go]. But, then again, I can't cope when it goes wrong. 'The kids all love baking, and they're good. 'I wish I was better at sticking with the process, but I'll always come up with some way of [taking shortcuts] — if the cake's ready in 20 minutes at 180C, if I crank it up to 200C, it'll be done in ten.' Read more Although he still weight trains, as much for mind as body, the Ireland rugby great laughs that he hasn't succumbed to the Hyrox craze: 'I slag a few of my friends that do it. 'If I could still do stuff like that, I'd be playing. But I do an awful lot of what I like doing. 'I train with a few buddies of mine — I'm actually training with [former Ireland rugby international] Tomás O'Leary at the moment. 'One thing I learned is I don't need to go to the well all the time. 'Whereas rugby, you finish empty — no matter what you do, you max out. 'It happened me on holidays, I was lifting weights, and I tried to go after a few weights that I hit on before and threw out my back, and I was no good for a week on the water slides. 'Like, who gives a s**t that you're PB-ing at 46?'
Irish Examiner
27-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Irish Examiner
Tots to Teens: Inspiring a lifelong love of food and cooking in primary school children
A lifelong love of food Tesco Ireland has launched a new educational programme to inspire a lifelong love of food and cooking in primary school children. 'Stronger Starts Cooks' is a free six-week programme prompted by research that found 69% of parents think their children don't know where their food comes from and 92% would like to see more food education in the school curriculum. Developed in consultation with teachers and dietitians, the programme includes hands-on cooking workshops to show children how to prepare a hot meal. It also includes lessons in food science, food safety, and healthy eating. Children also visit a local supermarket, where they take part in a budgeting challenge, sample different foods, and see behind the scenes of a busy shop environment. Stronger Starts Cooks will be delivered to approximately 3,000 pupils in fourth, fifth and sixth classes in 42 primary schools this year. Blooming lovely Dublin-based Jo Leggiero struggled to find clothes that suited her changing body from the limited range of maternity brands available. The experience inspired the mum of two to set up an online shop selling a curated collection of preloved maternity and breastfeeding clothing. You'll find dresses, jumpsuits, jeans, leggings, and loungewear for sale here, all of which have been worn before but still have plenty life left in them. Keepsake journal 'Hello Baby' is a beautiful keepsake journal. A baby's first years are filled with precious milestones. From their first little kicks, giggles, teeth, and the moment they take their first steps, all are memories you will want to cherish forever. 'Hello Baby' is a beautiful keepsake journal allowing you to do just that. Inside its premium linen cover are sections designed to help you capture every special moment from pregnancy onwards. There's space for photos, hand-painted illustrations and prompts to help you write your own reflections. The book was created by Naomi Edwards, the graphic designer and mum-of-one behind It costs €54.95 and its gender-neutral design makes it an ideal gift for all expecting or new parents. Comfort crochet Maddie Mouse: Loveys cost from €42, and the full range is available at Many babies and young children have so-called 'blankies' they cuddle for comfort while they fall asleep. Others prefer to snuggle up with a stuffed animal. Wicklow-based crochet artist Nicole Taylor has created a fusion between the two. Her handmade Loveys have proven to be a hit with children of all ages. Maddie Mouse is a perfect example. Her head is stuffed, but her body isn't, so she combines the softness of a blanket with all the character of a toy. Loveys cost from €42, and the full range is available at Teen talk Adolescence can be difficult for teens and their parents. If you're the parent of a preteen, an event taking place in the Skibbereen Community and Family Resource Centre from 11am to 12.30pm on Tuesday, June 17, aims to arm you with insights and skills that could make those years easier for everyone. Hosted by psychologist and parenting coach Anne Crossey, the workshop will focus on building stronger bonds with your preteen children. Topics to be discussed include: Different parenting styles and themes such as managing screentime and online influences, discipine, boundaries, the impact of bullying, and neurodiversity. Tickets €12.50 at
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.'
