The Pat Kenny Show Jackie McCarthy O’Brien’s new memoir ‘We Made It Kid’
Oct 30, 2025
Jackie McCarthy O’Brien, a trailblazing former Irish international in soccer and rugby, shares her inspiring journey in her memoir, 'We Made It Kid.' She discusses her early life in an industrial school and the struggles of growing up mixed race in 1960s Ireland. Jackie reveals how her father's support fueled her passion for sports as a path to identity and acceptance. She reflects on coming out, the challenges of starting her own business, and her thoughts on evolving Irish identity and racism. This captivating conversation highlights resilience and self-discovery.
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Hidden Saturday Visits
- Jackie describes Saturday visits from her mother to the industrial school when she was a baby and couldn't be told the visitor was her mother.
- She recalls feeling shy and resentful then, and realises later how painful that restriction must have been for her mother.
Childhood Rules Shaped Eating Habits
- Jackie recalls harsh industrial-school rules where bedwetting cost breakfast and children gamed the system to get food.
- She links that childhood experience to adult habits, saying she still typically eats one meal a day.
Returning Home Was Terrifying
- Jackie recounts being brought home from the industrial school at Christmas and feeling terrified in her new family home.
- She stayed wary for two years until her mother and stepfather insisted she remain with them.
