"You just have to be so grateful for the races that go according to plan and where you do set a dream goal and achieve that dream goal. Nobody's written anybody's future—it's not scripted, so you have to make the most of the moments that you have in running. That can be true in any era, at any age, at any stage, and any talent level and accomplishm…

We're on holiday! So please enjoy this classic episode of the podcast first recorded back in 2018. We'll be back soon with all new episodes and Halfpint extra content. == The most popular sports in Ireland are the Gaelic games: uniquely Irish sports with an ancient history and a dramatic political backstory that are finding increasing international…

It was a HUGE honor to host and share this live convo from Grandma's with rockstar Olympian and 2X Grandma's Champ, Dakotah Lindwurm! We discussed Dakotah manifesting her Paris Olympic dream, what it means to be called an Olympian, her buildup for Orlando & plan for Paris, and why Grandma's is so special and will ALWAYS be on her race calendar! Dak…

In the fourth episode of our Conquest miniseries, we take on of the most defining moments in the history of Ireland: the mass-plantation of Ulster. We'll see how the arrival of thousands of colonial settlers in this erstwhile Gaelic stronghold transformed the geopolitical dynamics of Ireland, Scotland, and England alike. We'll look at how the Ulste…

It was a HUGE honor to host and share this live convo from Grandma's with marathon LEGEND, Dick Beardsley! We discussed his iconic 1982 'Duel In the Sun' with Alberto Salazar, his co-win in the 1981 inaugural London Marathon with Inge Simonsen, and his 2:09:36 course record at Grandma's in 1981 that stood for a remarkable 33 years! Dick is a great …

We have made this halfpint bonus episode freely available to all our listeners. If you want to access more than 100 extra-content episodes just like this, you can sign up to support the continued making of the podcast at www.patreon.com/theirishpassport. In this edition of halfpints, we answer questions about the recent EU and local elections in Ir…

In February 2024, Michelle O'Neill assumed the position of first minister of Northern Ireland, making her the first person of an Irish-identifying, Catholic background to hold this most high-profile post in the devolved government. And yet, the difficulty O'Neill faced when trying to take her seat at Stormont highlighted the fact that, for a minori…

We're talking ALL things Sydney Marathon in this IG Live Convo with 2X Olympian Eloise Wellings, Race Director Wayne Larden, and Digital Marketing Manager James Constantine. The Sydney Marathon is a candidate race, poised to become the seventh of the Abbott World Marathon Majors. We broke it all down—way too many topics to list. The stoke level is …

The most expensive, most all-consuming war in Elizabethan England was not waged against France or Spain, but against Ireland. In the third instalment in our Conquest series, we see how the great clan chiefs of Ireland united under the banner of "Arch Traitor" Hugh O'Neill to stage a momentous uprising against the colonial English state. From Gaelic…

London Marathon tips with one of my running besties, Kelly Brown Willis, fellow 3X Six-Star finisher and inspiring former guest (Episode 64). This episode is a deep dive into all things London! Weekend logistics, fun events, shakeouts, fueling, course strategy, mindset tips, and more. Please share with anyone running London on Sunday! We hope you e…

This episode is for anyone running the 128th Boston Marathon and everyone who has it on their long-term radar. Coach Brendon O'Leary of O'Leary Racing Team joined me on an IG live and we took a deep dive into all things Boston. Race logistics, the Expo, weekend activities, shakeouts, fueling, and, of course, we dug in on course strategy and how bes…

In this political update, Naomi and Tim sum up the background of the incoming new Taoiseach Simon Harris and discuss the sudden resignation of Leo Varadkar and the different factors behind it. One of them was Ireland's two recent referendums aimed at changing some of the more Catholic-influenced conservative language in the 1937 constitution, which…

Part two of our Conquest mini-series explores the violent occupation of Gaelic Ireland by Elizabethan adventurers between 1560 and 1590, heralding an age of terror and genocide that would ultimately lead to a full-scale war between the Gaelic clans of Ireland and the English crown. From the demise of the Old English Lordships to the tentative plant…

We've got tons of Tokyo tips & questions answered from yesterday's IG Live convo with Naomi. Big thanks to all who joined—we look forward to seeing you in Tokyo! Naomi was a great co-host and is running for her Six-Star, like so many others. She asked me her top-of-mind questions and we answered many more from our engaged audience, as well. We cove…

In the period from 1534 to 1653 Ireland was profoundly transformed. At the start, it was almost entirely Gaelic, ruled by Gaelic clans with an ancient way of life, and unique legal and political system. A hundred years later, Ireland was unrecognisable. In this first part of our new mini series, Conquest, Tim and Naomi set the scene for the profoun…

In one of the most inspiring running stories of the year, Tammy Hsieh ran 2:37:00 at CIM and hit the OTQ standard on the number to qualify for the US Olympic Marathon Trials in Orlando, FL on Feb 3, 2024! When Tammy turned the final corner, the finish line clock read 2:36:50 and she kicked for home with everything she had left and crossed the line …

Every year the Irish government and national media lend their full attention to the arrival of Santa Claus on the island of Ireland, and discuss the various logistics of his visit to every child in the country. In this mini bonus episode, we bring you this most important news story of the year, and explain how, for a few days every December, Santa …

Meet Polly Moody, mom of two, full-time teacher, and 2:46 marathoner! Polly tore her ACL and meniscus two years ago when her running had been on an upward trajectory. She tackled a long, difficult rehab where she faced a number of setbacks and had serious doubts about whether she would make it back to her previous form. Polly injected more long run…

Meet Simone Carniglia, Six-Star finisher, and Guinness World Record holder as the fastest runner with Type One diabetes—with an amazing average time of 2:42:30 per race! Simone started his running journey to lose weight and was inspired by Stefano Baldini, the great Italian marathoner who won the gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Running thes…

Tim published a book! How does nobility work as a power strategy, why does it bear so many curious similarities to the construct of race, and what does all of this have to do with Ireland? We delve into Tim's book, "Nobility and the Making of Race in Eighteenth-Century Britain", published by Bloomsbury Academic this autumn, and uncover the intricat…

We're catching up with Jereny Rivera on her recent training in the Florida heat and delving into her experience with ferritin iron deficiency. I really enjoyed having her back to share insights on her transformational journey to inspire runners and how she perseveres in the face of challenges and channels the haters. I'm rooting for Jereny to crush…

This episode is from an IG Live covering a course breakdown of the New York City Marathon with 19th place finisher in the 2017 NYC Marathon, Kate Pallardy. Kate is a rockstar and was my episode 100 guest, which we recorded the night before last year's race. Topics we covered include: -Expo & race weekend -Race day logistics -Race plan -Fueling -How…

Meet Rob Dalto, Six-Star finisher, Abbott ambassador, and running community builder. When Rob's dad was battling cancer in 2017, running marathons with his sister, Nicole, became a way for his family to bond together. His dad enjoyed watching them race and they made him a big part of their Six-Star journey. And though he didn't make it to their fin…

As the world reels from the horrific Hamas attack on Israel and its deadly retribution on the Gaza Strip, Ireland has emerged as a prominent player in the European response to the worsening conflict. In this episode, Naomi and Tim sum up the current situation and explain some of the historical context that explains why Ireland has traditionally bee…

Meet Natalie Dau, best-selling author, ultra runner, and travel/lifestyle content creator extraordinaire! We discussed the origin of 'Run Like a Woman', why it's such an important topic, and the amazing response it has received. We also dive into Natalie's drive, energy, and upcoming passion projects that fuel her fire, as well as her 'why', and ho…

We're back and diving straight into breaking politics, as Naomi explains the chilling implications of the UK government's new "Northern Ireland Troubles Legacy Bill". This controversial new law has provoked outrage from across the communities of Northern Ireland, uniting unionist and nationalist political parties against it. But what does this law …

Meet Teddy Levarda, Licensed Acupuncturist at Morningside Acupuncture M.S., L.A., Dipl. O.M. (NCCAOM) Teddy joined me for a FUN and informative IG Live RunChat, where we discussed the value of utilizing dry needling, acupuncture to treat chronic pain, running, and sports injuries. Teddy & Morningside are well known in the NYC running community for …

Sara Girotto on mindset, learning, and working with her coach Steve Hranilovich to accept "I Belong" in the American Development Corral—along with CRUSHING a 2:55 Chicago Marathon and winning her Age Group in a World Marathon Major. For every runner out there that has gotten a late start, Sara's inspiring journey is for you! After moving to the US …

Meet Dr. Gaby Go, sports & performance physical therapist, run & injury prevention coach, Boston Marathon qualifier, and founder of Go Run Stronger. Gaby joined me for a FUN and informative IG Live RunChat, where we discussed the value of adding PT and strength training to your running to be the strongest, best version of yourself. We had a well-en…

Hi everyone, Naomi here. Like many people I've been reeling since the news of the death of Sinéad O'Connor. I took a moment to share some of my thoughts and a little about Sinéad and who she was - the girl with towering musical gifts who broke out of a Magdalene Laundry to busk on the streets of Dublin and achieved worldwide fame while never losing…

Meet Lauren Hagans, the 2024 Grandma's Marathon Champion, who made a sensational marathon debut, scorching a 2:25:55—running the fourth-fastest U.S. debut of all time! Though Lauren has coached many marathoners—and is surrounded by strong, NAZ Elite rockstar marathoning teammates who shared helpful nuggets—this was truly uncharted territory. "You n…

Ireland's strict libel laws and onerously expensive legal system is stacked against journalists and in favour of wealthy people who abuse the situation to censor reporting about them. That's when Naomi discovered in her research for a recent report for press freedom organisation the International Press Institute. She discusses what she found out, w…

Meet Angela Maciocia, an inspiring elite Canadian Masters runner from Montreal. "You're Built From Hard Things" is the title of this episode and it perfectly personifies Angela's fire, drive, and spirit. She was in severe pain running the Chicago Marathon and her husband and coach, Bruce Raymer, pulled her off the course at 29K—where she left on cr…

Meet Anna Rohrer, former 8x All-American for Notre Dame and 5x high school national champion whose running has been on fire of late. In the Boston marathon, Anna finished first among the masses, clocking a sensational time of 2:30:52—a personal best of nearly 6 minutes—and placed 22nd overall. Just 19 days later, she shattered the course record and…

What's in a gene? We wade into the world of genetics, to find out all about an extensive DNA mapping project called the Irish DNA Atlas and to see what it can tell us about the history of Ireland. We also take a look at the phenomenon that is at-home DNA ancestry tests, which have exploded in popularity in the past few years, as well as exploring t…

2x 5000M Olympian and former podcast guest (Episode 71), Kim Conley returns to RunChats to discuss the launch of Next Best Run. Kim and her coach/husband Drew are building an exciting, personalized online coaching service and community for runners. This conversation is from an IG live I hosted with Kim. We focused on the positive community they're …

Meet Sydney Devore, 2x OTQ and 7th American in Boston in the strongest field ever assembled in the storied race's 127-year history. Sydney set a goal of top 10 and showed up big time, rocking a 2:31:08—closing strong in the hills to get it done! Sydney has overcome a lot of adversity to get to this point and is just starting to scratch the surface.…

In the second part of our episode on Ireland's lost forests, Naomi travels to the Beara peninsula in Co. Cork to speak to sculptor and author Eoghan Daltun. Eoghan's award-wining book, An Atlantic Rainforest: a Personal Journey into the Magic of Rewilding, recounts how he has brought a sector of ancient Irish woodland back to life by simply making …

This episode is from my IG Live convo with renowned coach James McKirdy of McKirdy Trained on the exciting upcoming Bakline McKirdy Micro Marathon & 10K on 10/14/23 at Rockland State Park, NY. The Why: to provide the greatest opportunity for athletes to achieve the Olympic Trials qualifying time and faster. We discuss: bottle support for all partic…

Andrea Pomaranski grew up idolizing Lisa Fernandez and dreamed of one day pitching for the US Softball Team. On March 12th, she set a Masters American Record, scorching a 3:07:48 50K at 6:03P per mile, and won her first USATF National Championship! It was the 2nd fastest US 50K time behind the great Des Linden and 3rd fastest for any woman at any a…

A rich political, social and economic history of Ireland can be told by an analysis of its landscape, and specifically through the history of its trees. In this episode, Naomi and Tim delve into the history of deforestation and its tangled associations with colonialism and agriculture, and whether the 'green' image of Ireland is all that it seems. …

"I pledge to be a role model and inspire others to always think beyond their limits to achieve things they never dreamed were possible." -Lisa Weightman, Associate Partner at IBM Australia, Olympian, and High-Performance Coach Meet Lisa Weightman, business leader, badass mom, 4X Olympian, and one of the fastest, most inspiring humans I've been bles…

"After I had my first child, I suffered from postpartum depression. It was really sad, dark, and scary. Running literally saved me—along with medication, therapy, and help from friends and family. Ever since then, I have never been the same and I still struggle with mental health issues... But because I had to dig myself out once, I know what to wa…

Beannachtaí na féile Pádraig oraibh! To celebrate Ireland's national day, please enjoy this classic St. Patrick's Day episode from our archives, originally released in 2018.By Naomi O'Leary and Tim Mc Inerney

Meet Jenny Hitchings, Masters running icon, 2022 USATF Masters LDR (Long Distance Runner) Athlete of the year, and USATF Hall of Fame runner. In her 50s, Jenny started running faster than ever, breaking barriers for herself and her age that she never thought possible. She holds FIVE (55-59AG) American Records—5k, 10k, 10-mile, 1/2 marathon, and mar…

After years of deadlock, EU and UK leaders have declared a historic reset in their relations as they reach an agreement on Northern Ireland called the 'Windsor Framework'. Naomi and Tim unpick the details of what is in the deal on Northern Ireland's post-Brexit arrangements, intended to resolve the dispute over the so-called Protocol that came into…

Meet Jereny Rivera, who has been on an inspirational, transformational journey from a childhood in poverty where she learned grit and developed her toughness and fire from watching her mom in the most challenging of circumstances. Jereny struggled to connect with others in college. She was inspired by watching a True Life episode of a girl who comp…

Meet Allan Dias, former real-life rock star, bass guitarist, and songwriter for Public Image Ltd (PiL). After twenty years of touring, the performing, partying lifestyle had taken a big toll on him—and he finally stepped away for health reasons. He came back stateside, walked into a bike shop, bought a bike, started riding again, and reconnected wi…

On the 27th of August 1979, the Provisional IRA assassinated one of the best known members of Britain's royal family as he holidayed in County Sligo. But this was just one of 25 killings that took place that day. The events of that afternoon soon came to represent a watershed in the history of Anglo-Irish relations, and a landmark moment of escalat…

Meet Amelia Rivera-Wong, DPT by day, badass endurance athlete, wife to Andy, and new mom to her beautiful son Cameron all the rest of the time. Amelia's competitive drive was forged as a kid doing crunch competitions with her twin before bedtime and spending long hours at their town community pool. Her mom ran 3 NYC marathons—one for each of her da…