The Mike Quirke Podcast

Welcome to Season 4 of the Mike Quirke Podcast, where we dive deeper into the realms of sports coaching, performance, and the psychology of being a sports parent and plenty more. In this episode, we explore an inspiring story of change and resilience. Meet Louise Quill, a remarkable woman from Tralee, County Kerry, recently named Kerry Person of the Year. Her journey began with a vision to create a better future for children in Tanzania. Louise founded the Tír na nÓg Orphanage, a sanctuary that has transformed the lives of countless children in one of Africa's most poverty-stricken areas. This episode introduces you to the incredible work Louise has accomplished, building a sustainable facility that supports children from infancy to adulthood, equipping them with education and opportunities to break the cycle of poverty. Discover how you can contribute to this life-changing cause, whether through child sponsorship or donations, and become a part of a story that continues to make a profound impact. Join us as we learn from Louise's journey and her unwavering commitment to fostering change, one child at a time. Help us support that change by contributing to the fundraiser I've set up for listeners of the podcast; http://bit.ly/4fypLSh   Watch Kilimanjaro Mama on Youtube - https://youtu.be/2IYoOKNVoyw?si=hwjGa8nLBbCpxJxX   Finally, I'd like to sincerely thank MFC Sports who have come on board as main sponsors of the podcast series and look forward to developing a productive relationship moving forward.

In this week's episode, the last of the series, I wanted to provide a recap of some of the brilliant messages shared by all the various guests along the way. I'd like to say a sincere thanks to all of those people who have come on and shared their vast knowledge with us and I'd also like to thank all of you that have listened, shared, and contributed to the fundraiser along the way. I want to say a big thank you to PST Sport for their continued support as title sponsor for this project. Go to pstsport.com for world class delivery of all your artificial grass pitch needs. Similar to both of the previous two seasons, I've set up this podcast with a dual purpose in mind, firstly to provide some thoughtful debate for coaches, but I've also linked up with the Lily Daly Foundation, who are a new charity raising funds for the heart ward in Crumlin children's hospital and Ronald McDonald house. For more info, listen to the podcast about the Lily Daly Foundation. If you found some value in the podcast, it would be great if you could donate any amount, no matter how small to the Lily Daly Foundation through the link here: https://bit.ly/3t9EtfI  If you enjoyed this episode, click on the like button, please share it around, leave a review and follow the podcast. You can also check out Game Sense Coaching who run an online GAA coaching platform that advocates for a games-based approach that is suitable for teams of all ages. www.gamesensecoaching.com Thanks for listening.

Dr. Mark O'Sullivan challenges coaching norms, emphasizing a holistic approach to player development. He discusses the importance of creating a supportive environment, individual variation in technique, and prioritizing functional skills. The podcast also explores skateboarding coaching and the limitations of standardized coach education.

John McGrath is a former GAA player, an international rower, a circus strong man, a world record holder and so on... The 6'6" Irish man lives in Paarl, South Africa and has earned renown as a strength and conditioning coach working with rugby players, the South African women’s tug-of-war team, and, most famously, Olympic silver medal and World Athletics Championship gold medal long jumper, Luvo Manyonga.  Luvo came from a poverty stricken local township, and John tells of the incredible story how the pair struck up a strong bond that saw the young South African athlete kick an addiction to crystal meth and go on to achieve athletic greatness in both the Olympics and World Championships. This is an interesting listen about a fascinating journey. I want to say a big thank you to PST Sport for their continued support as title sponsor for this project. Go to pstsport.com for world class delivery of all your artificial grass pitch needs. Similar to both of the previous two seasons, I've set up this podcast with a dual purpose in mind, firstly to provide some thoughtful debate for coaches, but I've also linked up with the Lily Daly Foundation, who are a new charity raising funds for the heart ward in Crumlin children's hospital and Ronald McDonald house. For more info, listen to the podcast about the Lily Daly Foundation. If you found some value in the podcast, it would be great if you could donate any amount, no matter how small to the Lily Daly Foundation through the link here: https://bit.ly/3t9EtfI  If you enjoyed this episode, click on the like button, please share it around, leave a review and follow the podcast. You can also check out Game Sense Coaching who run an online GAA coaching platform that advocates for a games-based approach that is suitable for teams of all ages. www.gamesensecoaching.com Thanks for listening.

John O'Connor is this week's guest on the podcast - owner of Target Nutrition and head performance nutritionist with the Kerry senior football team.  This episode is slightly different to previous efforts, where we talk all things food and nutrition information and misinformation. As parents, how do we fuel our young sports mad children? As coaches, how do help kids develop positive long-term associations with food, nutrition and hydration. I found this a really informative chat about a subject that can be hugely confusing given the overload of information out there on the subject. I want to say a big thank you to PST Sport for their continued support as title sponsor for this project. Go to pstsport.com for world class delivery of all your artificial grass pitch needs. Similar to both of the previous two seasons, I've set up this podcast with a dual purpose in mind, firstly to provide some thoughtful debate for coaches, but I've also linked up with the Lily Daly Foundation, who are a new charity raising funds for the heart ward in Crumlin children's hospital and Ronald McDonald house. For more info, listen to the podcast about the Lily Daly Foundation. If you found some value in the podcast, it would be great if you could donate any amount, no matter how small to the Lily Daly Foundation through the link here: https://bit.ly/3t9EtfI  If you enjoyed this episode, click on the like button, please share it around, leave a review and follow the podcast. You can also check out Game Sense Coaching who run an online GAA coaching platform that advocates for a games-based approach that is suitable for teams of all ages. www.gamesensecoaching.com Thanks for listening.

I want to say a big thank you to PST Sport for their continued support as title sponsor for this project. Go to pstsport.com for world class delivery of all your artificial grass pitch needs. Niall O'Mahony is this weeks guest - a lecturer and PhD candidate working in the health and leisure department of MTU Kerry campus who is currently coaching the Kerry minor football team. Previously he would have coached the Kerry under 20 side under Declan O'Sullivan, and before that he worked for 3 seasons as S & C coach with the Kerry senior squad.  Niall combines the latest coaching science research with the real-world practical applications and listeners will come away with some fantastic insights on the use of questioning as well as a more nuanced approach to games based coaching. Similar to both of the previous two seasons, I've set up this podcast with a dual purpose in mind, firstly to provide some thoughtful debate for coaches, but I've also linked up with the Lily Daly Foundation, who are a new charity raising funds for the heart ward in Crumlin children's hospital and Ronald McDonald house. For more info, listen to the podcast about the Lily Daly Foundation. If you found some value in the podcast, it would be great if you could donate any amount, no matter how small to the Lily Daly Foundation through the link here: https://bit.ly/3t9EtfI  If you enjoyed this episode, click on the like button, please share it around, leave a review and follow the podcast. You can also check out Game Sense Coaching who run an online GAA coaching platform that advocates for a games-based approach that is suitable for teams of all ages. www.gamesensecoaching.com Thanks for listening.      

Stephen Lavin, a former Limerick inter-county footballer and school principal, dives into his coaching journey and the development of Game Sense Coaching. He shares insights on integrating physical training with technical skills in youth sports and the importance of a games-based approach. Lavin emphasizes personalized coaching plans and collaboration among coaches for greater effectiveness. He also discusses innovative tools for session planning and the significance of community support through coaching, linking it to charitable initiatives.

I want to say a big thank you to PST Sport for their continued support as title sponsor for this project. Go to pstsport.com for world class delivery of all your artificial grass pitch needs. This week's guest is Liam McHale is a household name throughout Ireland for his contribution and prowess both on the football field and particularly the hardwood. Assisted by his brothers Sean and Anthony, brother-in-law Paul McStay and honorary Mayo man Deora Marsh, he helped to catapult his hometown Ballina to the forefront of Irish basketball and indeed Irish sport. Here he discusses those heady basketball days and how he's used the lessons learned along the way to transition into the world of GAA coaching to club and county Similar to both of the previous two seasons, I've set up this podcast with a dual purpose in mind, firstly to provide some thoughtful debate for coaches, but I've also linked up with the Lily Daly Foundation, who are a new charity raising funds for the heart ward in Crumlin children's hospital and Ronald McDonald house. For more info, listen to the podcast about the Lily Daly Foundation. If you found some value in the podcast, it would be great if you could donate any amount, no matter how small to the Lily Daly Foundation through the link here: https://bit.ly/3t9EtfI  If you enjoyed this episode, click on the like button, please share it around, leave a review and follow the podcast. You can also check out Game Sense Coaching who run an online GAA coaching platform that advocates for a games-based approach that is suitable for teams of all ages. www.gamesensecoaching.com Thanks for listening.

I want to say a big thank you to PST Sport for their continued support as title sponsor for this project. Go to pstsport.com for world class delivery of all your artificial grass pitch needs. This week's guest was David Baird who has coached youth football for over 15 years and is currently a UEFA A Licence and UEFA Elite Youth A Licence candidate. He currently works as a Coach Educator and Football Development Officer for the Scottish Football Association. Prior to this he spent time coaching in the United States of America and the United Arab Emirates. David is clearly passionate about increasing participation and performance in youth sport and his creation; scoreboard soccer is a really interesting twist on how to keep kids more engaged during practice and is definitely worth checking out for all coaches out there. Similar to both of the previous two seasons, I've set up this podcast with a dual purpose in mind, firstly to provide some thoughtful debate for coaches, but I've also linked up with the Lily Daly Foundation, who are a new charity raising funds for the heart ward in Crumlin children's hospital and Ronald McDonald house. For more info, listen to the podcast about the Lily Daly Foundation. If you found some value in the podcast, it would be great if you could donate any amount, no matter how small to the Lily Daly Foundation through the link here: https://bit.ly/3t9EtfI  If you enjoyed this episode, click on the like button, please share it around, leave a review and follow the podcast. You can also check out Game Sense Coaching who run an online GAA coaching platform that advocates for a games-based approach that is suitable for teams of all ages. www.gamesensecoaching.com Thanks for listening.    

I want to say a big thank you to PST Sport for their continued support as title sponsor for this project. Go to pstsport.com for world class delivery of all your artificial grass pitch needs. Rob Mulcahy is a native of Kerry but has been the head of athlete development with Clare GAA for nearly 7 years. Initially, he worked under long-serving Clare senior football manager Colm Collins as a strength and conditioning coach, with his time now more focused on developing the physical characteristics of the young players within the county. Rob talks about the 'syllabus' they use within Clare GAA, their use of bio-banding at development squad level, the benefits of kids playing multiple sports, reasons for the drop-out and much more.  Similar to both of the previous two seasons, I've set up this podcast with a dual purpose in mind, firstly to provide some thoughtful debate for coaches, but I've also linked up with the Lily Daly Foundation, who are a new charity raising funds for the heart ward in Crumlin children's hospital and Ronald McDonald house. For more info, listen to the podcast about the Lily Daly Foundation. If you found some value in the podcast, it would be great if you could donate any amount, no matter how small to the Lily Daly Foundation through the link here: https://bit.ly/3t9EtfI  If you enjoyed this episode, click on the like button, please share it around, leave a review and follow the podcast. You can also check out Game Sense Coaching who run an online GAA coaching platform that advocates for a games-based approach that is suitable for teams of all ages. www.gamesensecoaching.com Thanks for listening.