Coach Sally Batley and mum Deirdre Slevin on how best to support outstanding teenage athletes like Ireland’s top gymnast Emma Slevin, especially when they face challenges. Coaches and parents never make the podium but no athlete gets there without great ones. Their relationship is even more important in individual sports so we asked Sally and Deirdre how they make it work.

Coach Sally Batley and mum Deirdre Slevin on how best to support outstanding teenage athletes like Ireland’s top gymnast Emma Slevin, especially when they face challenges. Coaches and parents never make the podium but no athlete gets there without great ones. Their relationship is even more important in individual sports so we asked Sally and Deirdre how they make it work.

To celebrate International Women's Day, Off The Bench spoke to the wonderful Ruth Bolton. Ruth overcame many odds to become a WNBA star and Olympic champion but her biggest battle of all was with domestic abuse. Basketball Ireland and the Jr NBA recently launched a four-part ‘Her Time To Play’ documentary series featuring two-time Olympic gold medallist and two-time WNBA All-Star Ruthie Bolton. The topics discussed in this interview coincide with the Social, Personal and Health Education...

To celebrate International Women's Day, Off The Bench spoke to the wonderful Ruth Bolton. Ruth overcame many odds to become a WNBA star and Olympic champion but her biggest battle of all was with domestic abuse. Basketball Ireland and the Jr NBA recently launched a four-part ‘Her Time To Play’ documentary series featuring two-time Olympic gold medallist and two-time WNBA All-Star Ruthie Bolton. The topics discussed in this interview coincide with the Social, Personal and Health Education...

For the first Off The Bench of 2021, we have a rugby special about postponement of women's Six Nations. Our guest is Alison Donnelly, editor of 'Scrum Queens' and renowned expert on the women's game who juggles that voluntary role with working full-time for Sport England. She argues that separating women's Six Nations from running parallel to the men's could actually be a good thing and the best way to grow it further. Included also is a discussion on how the postponement impacts Ireland's...

For the first Off The Bench of 2021, we have a rugby special about postponement of women's Six Nations. Our guest is Alison Donnelly, editor of 'Scrum Queens' and renowned expert on the women's game who juggles that voluntary role with working full-time for Sport England. She argues that separating women's Six Nations from running parallel to the men's could actually be a good thing and the best way to grow it further. Included also is a discussion on how the postponement impacts Ireland's...

Cliona Foley speaks to Irish Olympic rower Frances Cryan about her success at Moscow 1980. Frances competed in Russia, where she just missed a place in the single sculls final by 1600th of a second. She was only 20 at the time and actually trained with Steve Redgrave and the Americans in subsequent years yet, despite going to Dublin to get her Olympic uniform in 1984 - she wasn't sent to the Los Angeles Olympics! The decision on Los Angeles was made only six weeks beforehand and made...

Cliona Foley speaks to Irish Olympic rower Frances Cryan about her success at Moscow 1980. Frances competed in Russia, where she just missed a place in the single sculls final by 1600th of a second. She was only 20 at the time and actually trained with Steve Redgrave and the Americans in subsequent years yet, despite going to Dublin to get her Olympic uniform in 1984 - she wasn't sent to the Los Angeles Olympics! The decision on Los Angeles was made only six weeks beforehand and made because...

On Off The Bench this week, Connacht Rugby president Ann Heneghan joins Cliona Foley to discuss her role and her hopes for the province. Heneghan is the first female president of a provincial rugby body, making history in the sport, and Cliona looks into all manner of the sport - it is well worth your time. Download the brand new OTB Sports App in the Play Store & App Store right now! We've got you covered! Subscribe to Off The Ball's YouTube channel for more videos, like us...

On Off The Bench this week, Connacht Rugby president Ann Heneghan joins Cliona Foley to discuss her role and her hopes for the province. Heneghan is the first female president of a provincial rugby body, making history in the sport, and Cliona looks into all manner of the sport - it is well worth your time. Download the brand new OTB Sports App in the Play Store & App Store right now! We've got you covered! Subscribe to Off The Ball's YouTube channel for more videos, like us...

We are joined this week by rugby player Sorcha MacLaimhin, who tells us why her support group 'Mama Loves Sport' is so badly needed by sporty mums. Sorcha discusses why 'snapping back' - the desire to get back to a pre-pregnancy body shape - is a misplaced pressure on new mothers, and the information vacuum that sporty mums face going back to sport. She also talks about why it is much harder for ordinary mums to get back into sport than professionals like Serena and Jessica Ennis. Is...

We are joined this week by rugby player Sorcha MacLaimhin, who tells us why her support group 'Mama Loves Sport' is so badly needed by sporty mums. Sorcha discusses why 'snapping back' - the desire to get back to a pre-pregnancy body shape - is a misplaced pressure on new mothers, and the information vacuum that sporty mums face going back to sport. She also talks about why it is much harder for ordinary mums to get back into sport than professionals like Serena and Jessica Ennis. Is...

Cliona Foley is joined by Paula Doran of Athlone Town, one of two new teams in the Women's National League (WNL). Athlone Town is the oldest town in League of Ireland, now 133 years old but this is the first season they have had a women's team in the WNL. Paula pent five years playing soccer in America, and is only back in this season. She is one of only 17 players in this year's WNL who took part in inaugural season 10 years ago.

Cliona Foley is joined by Paula Doran of Athlone Town, one of two new teams in the Women's National League (WNL). Athlone Town is the oldest town in League of Ireland, now 133 years old but this is the first season they have had a women's team in the WNL. Paula pent five years playing soccer in America, and is only back in this season. She is one of only 17 players in this year's WNL who took part in inaugural season 10 years ago.

Former Killester and Belfast Rockets basketball player Mimi Troy joins Cliona Foley this week on Off The Bench. Mimi went to America on scholarship, but opted not to take a sports one because her mother was diagnosed with cancer just before she left. When she returned in 2016,  Mimi's mother took a very bad turn and was particularly bad before the 2017 Cup finals, where Mimi was playing for Belfast Rockets in Division 1. Mimi was literally checking her watch during the final to check if her...

Former Killester and Belfast Rockets basketball player Mimi Troy joins Cliona Foley this week on Off The Bench. Mimi went to America on scholarship, but opted not to take a sports one because her mother was diagnosed with cancer just before she left. When she returned in 2016,  Mimi's mother took a very bad turn and was particularly bad before the 2017 Cup finals, where Mimi was playing for Belfast Rockets in Division 1. Mimi was literally checking her watch during the final to check if...

Off The Bench speaks to WGPA chairperson Maria Kinsella on return to play, as she exclusively reveals 32% of polled players do not want to return to play because of health fears. Cliona Foley discusses a range of topics with Maria, among which: 'Disappointing' engagement with the LGFA The findings of polling of their members Have women's associations missed a trick not attempting to start before men's sport resumes? Potential damage to the women's inter-county game Download the brand new...

Off The Bench speaks to WGPA chairperson Maria Kinsella on return to play, as she exclusively reveals 32% of polled players do not want to return to play because of health fears. Cliona Foley discusses a range of topics with Maria, among which: 'Disappointing' engagement with the LGFA The findings of polling of their members Have women's associations missed a trick not attempting to start before men's sport resumes? Potential damage to the women's inter-county game Download the brand...

On Off The Bench this week, Cliona Foley speaks to Republic of Ireland star Denise O'Sullivan, on the line from North Carolina. Denise will be among the first Irish footballers to return to competition in late June, and is already back in restricted training with the North Carolina Courage. The Courage are the reigning two in-a-row American NWSL champions. The NWSL has scrapped its usual league for 2020 but is running a tournament instead - the NWSL Challenge Cup - and is flying all the teams...

On Off The Bench this week, Cliona Foley speaks to Republic of Ireland star Denise O'Sullivan, on the line from North Carolina. Denise will be among the first Irish footballers to return to competition in late June, and is already back in restricted training with the North Carolina Courage. The Courage are the reigning two in-a-row American NWSL champions. The NWSL has scrapped its usual league for 2020 but is running a tournament instead - the NWSL Challenge Cup - and is flying all the...

Children's author Emma Larkin joined Cliona Foley to chat about her book 'Izzy's Magical Camogie Adventure', which is inspired by her Cork grandmother who won three camogie All-Irelands in a row. 

Children's author Emma Larkin joined Cliona Foley to chat about her book 'Izzy's Magical Camogie Adventure', which is inspired by her Cork grandmother who won three camogie All-Irelands in a row.

Off The Bench this week is joined by Meathwoman Ruth Nugent, a recent winner of Ireland's Class 2 Rallysprint series! Ruth is also an active mountain biker and BMX rider, despite suffering from Crohn's Disease, and joins Cliona Foley to discuss her career.

Off The Bench this week is joined by Meathwoman Ruth Nugent, a recent winner of Ireland's Class 2 Rallysprint series! Ruth is also an active mountain biker and BMX rider, despite suffering from Crohn's Disease, and joins Cliona Foley to discuss her career.