The Ironman accountant: Meet Ireland's fittest managing partner
E ndurance athletes love war stories: tales of physical adversity overcome, mental limits exceeded, emotional barriers crushed. It is part of the lore of their subculture. They also love the kind of understatement that separates them somewhat from mere mortals. It's 'just' a marathon. I'm going for a 'spin' up the Wicklow Mountains. An Olympic triathlon? Try an Ironman.
John O'Callaghan, managing partner of professional services firm S&W Ireland, is two days off the Cork City Marathon, where he finished a commendable 17th in the men's over-55 category with a time of 3hr 37min 26sec. He has clearly done this before. If you've ever seen someone the Tuesday after their first marathon, for instance, walking with a normal gait is a serious challenge, stairs are nearly impossible. But O'Callaghan is moving around his Sandyford office in Dublin like nothing unusual took place over the weekend. He can even lower himself into an office chair without wincing.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BreakingNews.ie
25 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Tipperary's Aishling Moloney suggets possible rule changes to help Ladies football
Tipperary forward Aishling Moloney has suggested the idea of possible changes to Ladies Football similar to those seen in the men's game this season. After years of defensive football dominating the men's game, new rules that have freed up space across the pitch have led to high-scoring matches across the country. Advertisement This season in Ladies Football, defences have been on top in a number of games, which contrasts with the attacking style seen in previous years. Speaking to BreakingNews, the Tipperary forward says changes could be on the way to make the sport more exciting. "I think the LGFA are going to have to look at bringing in a few rules like the men's to make the ladies' game more exciting again. "For years, people were tuning into the ladies' game instead of the men's because of the exciting brand of football. But in recent times, it has gone a bit dull. Advertisement "In terms of being a forward, it has changed; it's not like the usual role it was years ago. Trying to change up the forward line, playing different roles in the team – I'll be happy to contribute to that. "When you used to get the ball years ago, it was one-on-one, but now it's different; you often have an entire team in front of you. "You are never defending one-on-one, and a forward is never taking on a back one-on-one. You're beginning to lose the skills of the game. "You see, when you actually go to take on defenders, or you're defending one-on-one, girls are beginning to lose the skills of how to do that, which is a pity. Advertisement "It also means I have to change my way of playing as well. We have seen in the men's game this year how exciting and enjoyable it has been to watch." One rule that Moloney would like to see introduced into the women's game is the advanced mark. This allows a player who catches a kick from outside the 45-metre line cleanly inside the 20-metre line to claim a free kick. She says it would encourage quicker ball into the forward line. "Maybe bring in the mark to start it off. It would encourage more kicking into the forward line and keep somebody up the pitch like the men have as well. It might encourage more fluidity in the game." Advertisement Moloney's comments come at a very exciting time for Tipperary, who are still in contention in hurling, ladies football, and camogie. For the footballers, victory over Donegal means they are now preparing for an All-Ireland quarter-final against Meath. After years of battling against relegation, the Premier County can now look forward to a huge day against Meath. Tipperary finished second in their group, behind Galway and ahead of Donegal. Advertisement For Moloney, who has been crucial to Tipperary's progress over the years, finally getting out of the group stages has lifted the monkey off their back. "When you have spent nine years losing games and battling relegation, the psychological effect then comes into the team. You begin to self-doubt, and there is a lack of confidence. "Not only are you going out to win a game on footballing ability, but you also have that monkey on the back of your head telling you that you aren't good enough. "I think for us, the confidence that came from beating Donegal and being in the All-Ireland quarter-finals has given us a big boost. "These days don't come around too often, as we know. We have never been here before, and it may not come around again for another few years."
Telegraph
43 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Our experts pick their Lions Test team – how many changes have they made?
Andy Farrell still has plenty to ponder despite the British and Irish Lions dispatching Western Force in a morale-boosting victory on Saturday. There were flaws in the Lions performance, but rookie Henry Pollock dazzled and the win was a tonic following defeat by Argentina in Dublin. Now the Lions depart for Brisbane with just four more tour matches to play before the first Test against the Wallabies. Based on what we saw on Saturday, we have asked our team of rugby experts who they would pick in their Lions starting XVs, and who they would have on the bench. We also included their post-Argentina selections to show how their thinking has, or has not, changed. Three changes to my starting XV seem essential after a demolition exercise in Perth. While it might seem harsh on Blair Kinghorn, yet to be able to showcase his talents on tour due to Top 14 final duties with Toulouse, Elliot Daly produced an exceptional display, applying pressure through his booming left boot and deservedly scoring two tries. Joe McCarthy surely has to be a Test lock ahead of Tadhg Beirne in the wake of an extraordinary shift against Western Force, featuring 15 carries and 17 tackles, while Garry Ringrose displaces Huw Jones as a reflection of the discipline he brought to the midfield. I am sorely tempted to back Henry Pollock as the Test No 8 but Jack Conan, a highly effective three-Test Lion on the 2021 tour, is likely to prove difficult to dislodge. Welcome to knee jerk city! In come Elliot Daly, Joe McCarthy and Van Der Flier off the basis of the eight-try win over the Force, out go Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry and Blair Kinghorn. Daly brings so much nous and structure to the attack while McCarthy has lived up to his billing as the monster of men. Van Der Flier takes the openside temporarily but that position feels wide open. The midfield too feels very much in flux. Kinghorn's ability to cover fly half and Daly's versatility gives you the ability to go 6-2 on the bench so in comes Henry Pollock who looks ready made to be the Lions' Test match winner. Elliot Daly is the big winner from the victory over Western Force. He was sublime and with Hugo Keenan still struggling for fitness and Blair Kinghorn only arriving in Australia on Monday, the Saracens man has forced himself into the box seat for the full-back position. Josh van der Flier also reminded us all of what a quality open-side flanker he is and edges into the back row ahead of Tom Curry. With the Lions scrum struggling, it seems that Tadhg Furlong is lacking match fitness, so Finlay Bealham, who was one of the stand-out performers against Argentina, starts at tighthead prop. There were enough glimpses of magic from Finn Russell to edge him ahead of Fin Smith for the fly-half berth, while Henry Pollock is now pushing hard for a place on the bench ahead of Ben Earl. Nothing witnessed on the field in Perth did enough to change my mind from last week. Daly looked impressive and could muscle his way into the 23 - but is he really a Test starter at full-back - and ask expected McCarthy and Chessum gave the pack some real oomph. Gibson-Park has the nine shirt sewn up as long as he's fit and I'd love to see that midfield of Jones-Tuipulotu-F Smith get some game time before the Tests. I fear this exercise is going to twist me in knots and expose my fickle nature. Perhaps that is the point. The back five of the pack is particularly difficult, and I have swapped in Josh van der Flier, in the starting side, and Henry Pollock, on the bench, for Tom Curry and Ben Earl. Maro Itoje must impress in his next outing because I am very tempted to deploy Jack Conan at blindside flanker to start Pollock. In the backline, meanwhile, the Blair Kinghorn call supposes that the Scotland man can settle immediately. Elliot Daly can have done little more and Mack Hansen has caught the eye as well. Bundee Aki and Sione Tuipulotu have stayed in my 23 together because the Lions need thrust throughout the 80 minutes.
BBC News
3 hours ago
- BBC News
Dunne second in Austria but loses F2 standings lead
Ireland's Alex Dunne finished second in the Formula 2 feature race in Austria but slipped to second in the standings behind race winner Richard development driver Dunne had started in seventh place but worked his way through the order after an early pit stop for soft 19-year-old put pressure on Verschoor in the closing laps but the Dutch driver held a margin of 1.1 seconds at the chequered flag and took the championship lead by six points.A strong recovery drive brings to a close a weekend to remember for Dunne, who impressed on his Formula 1 debut by setting the fourth fastest time in opening practice for the Austrian Grand Prix. In driving for McLaren in that session, Dunne became the first Irish driver to compete on a Formula 1 weekend in 22 is back in action in Formula 2 at the British Grand Prix from 4-6 July. Dunne's weekend started with his impressive Formula 1 debut, which he described as "definitely the best day of my life".Just an hour after his Formula 1 commitments, the Offaly driver jumped back into his Rodin F2 car and set the seventh fastest time in qualifying.A grid penalty for a rival promoted Dunne to third on the grid for Saturday's sprint race but a poor start saw him drop down to eighth and, to add insult to injury, he was handed a five-second penalty for a false had dropped to tenth but a last-lap crash took out four cars ahead, which promoted Dunne to sixth and allowed him to keep his championship lead by one point. Dunne rebounded with better pace in the feature race on Sunday and carved his way through the order after an early pit he could not overhaul Verschoor, who is in his fifth season of F2, and the 24-year-old won to take a six-point advantage into sitter Leonardo Fornaroli was third ahead of GB's Luke Browning, while Red Bull Junior driver Arvid Lindblad ended the race out of the points after a late penalty. Formula 2 standings After round 7/141. Richard Verschoor (NED) 1142. Alex Dunne (IRL) 1083. Jack Crawford (USA) 854. Leonardo Fornaroli (ITA) 835. Luke Browning (GBR) 81 6. Arvid Lindblad (GBR) 79
