The Mike Quirke Podcast
Insightful conversations about all things coaching, leading and developing a positive culture from the world of sport.
Insightful conversations about all things coaching, leading and developing a positive culture from the world of sport.
Episodes

Sep 28, 2023
What is the Lily Daly Foundation?
Sep 28, 2023
Sep 28, 2023
15 min
It's great to be putting out a third series of the coaching podcast and I'm delighted to link up with the Lily Daly Foundation to help raise much-needed funds for the heart centre in Crumlin's childrens hospital as well as Ronald McDonald house.
Here, I chat with Lily's mom Caroline about her heartbreaking story and the promise she made to her daughter.
The Lily Daly Foundation
The Lily Daly Foundation (LDF) was set up in Memory of Lily Daly with the aim to support and helpas many families as possible in hospital who have kids with Heart related issues. The LDF goal isto raise funds to provide supports and services to the families with loved ones in hospital withheart related issues by running public fund-raising events which the LDF plans to run over the coming years.
The Lily Daly Foundation is currently at an early stage but the aim is to support families going through similar challenges and journeys Lily and her family went through.
Lily’s parents know what it’s like to be in the hospital and to hand your child over to the medical team. It’s the most traumatic experience a parent can go through and that’s why The Lily Daly Foundation was established to assist and support similarly affected families.The Lily Daly Foundation plan to run events over the next few years to build on the foundation and to support families in hospital with heart related issues. The first of these events will be “Lily’s Pink Challenge” where all proceeds raised will be directed to both the Heart Centre in Crumlin Childrens Hospital and Ronald McDonald house two facilities which Lily and her family have a strong association with.

Feb 15, 2023
Feb 15, 2023
44 min
For this episode, the final one of the season, we take a look at some of the questions that you have asked during the series about different episodes or specific parts of the various conversations.
(3.00) – Why developing people skills is so important
(7.15) – Specific advice for coaching underage sport
(12.15) – Another look at biobanding
(29.50) – Skill acquisition
Similar to season 1, 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 Recovery Haven in Tralee, who provide free cancer support services for the people of Kerry and beyond.
If you found some value in the podcast, it would be great if you could donate any amount, no matter how small to Recovery Haven through the link here: https://bit.ly/3tfsxWw
If you enjoyed this episode, click on the like button, share, leave a review and follow the podcast.
My thanks also to PST Sport for their support with this project. Go to pstsport.com for world class delivery of all your artificial grass pitch needs.
Thanks for listening.

Feb 15, 2023
Feb 15, 2023
42 min
With nearly 130 caps for the Irish rugby team, a British and Irish Lion, Munster’s all-time leading points scorer - Ronan O’Gara is one of Ireland’s sporting icons.
From Munster to France, to New Zealand and back now as coach of LaRochelle, O’Gara talks with great honestly and openness about his experiences and lessons learned from the many different professional coaching environments he’s been a part of.
(3.30) – A confidence player
(11.11) – Good people make better players
(17.00) – Consistent buy-in
(24.24) – The importance of fun
(35.07) – Developing personal relationships
Similar to season 1, 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 Recovery Haven in Tralee, who provide free cancer support services for the people of Kerry and beyond.
If you found some value in the podcast, it would be great if you could donate any amount, no matter how small to Recovery Haven through the link here: https://bit.ly/3tfsxWw
If you enjoyed this episode, click on the like button, share, leave a review and follow the podcast.
My thanks also to PST Sport for their support with this project. Go to pstsport.com for world class delivery of all your artificial grass pitch needs.
Thanks for listening.

Feb 15, 2023
Feb 15, 2023
1hr 6 min
Kieran Donaghy will be well known to listeners for his exploits as an All-Star player both on the football pitches and basketball courts of Ireland for the bones of nearly 20 years. In this episode he takes us through his fledgling coaching career having coached and managed Tralee IT in Sigerson cup football, as a performance coach with the Galway hurlers and currently as a forwards coach under Kieran McGeeney with the Armagh senior football team.
He also has an interesting perspective on children’s sport given his involvement in running hugely popular basketball / football camps for hundreds of kids each year. That crossover between basketball and football is a recurring theme through this episode with some interesting takeaways for coaches off all ages.
(19.50) – Basketball influencing Gaelic football
(29.00) – Developing better communication
(32.00) – Camp coaching
(43.28) – Parenting and coaching
(51.33) – Working with Kieran McGeeny
Similar to season 1, 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 Recovery Haven in Tralee, who provide free cancer support services for the people of Kerry and beyond.
If you found some value in the podcast, it would be great if you could donate any amount, no matter how small to Recovery Haven through the link here: https://bit.ly/3tfsxWw
If you enjoyed this episode, click on the like button, share, leave a review and follow the podcast.
My thanks also to PST Sport for their support with this project. Go to pstsport.com for world class delivery of all your artificial grass pitch needs.
Thanks for listening.

Feb 15, 2023
Feb 15, 2023
55 min
Paddy Tally is currently coaching the Kerry senior football team, having previously started his 15 years of inter-county football experience with Tyrone back in 2003. There have been plenty of stops along the road, including Sigerson success in St Mary’s Belfast, as well as stints in Down and Galway.
As a lecturer in the PE department in St Mary’s for 25 years, he shares some of the gems he has picked up along the way in a lifelong journey through coaching, teaching and learning.
(10.00) – lessons learned over 15 years
(20.00) – how do you motivate players
(30.30) – teaching games for understanding (TGFU)
(36.00) – developing your own culture
Similar to season 1, 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 Recovery Haven in Tralee, who provide free cancer support services for the people of Kerry and beyond.
If you found some value in the podcast, it would be great if you could donate any amount, no matter how small to Recovery Haven through the link here: https://bit.ly/3tfsxWw
If you enjoyed this episode, click on the like button, share, leave a review and follow the podcast.
My thanks also to PST Sport for their support with this project. Go to pstsport.com for world class delivery of all your artificial grass pitch needs.
Thanks for listening.

Feb 15, 2023
Feb 15, 2023
1hr 5 min
Phil Kearney is a lecturer in Skill Acquisition, Coaching and Performance in the Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences in the University of Limerick. His research has examined human motor behaviour; that is, how humans control their movements and develop their skills across their lifespan. His recent research has concentrated on youth sport, in particular within the context of track and field athletics.
(20.00) – What is skill?
(32.40) – How long does it take for skills to stick?
(37.27) – Fast-tracking your learning
(54.40) – Developing life-skills through sport and coaching
Similar to season 1, 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 Recovery Haven in Tralee, who provide free cancer support services for the people of Kerry and beyond.
If you found some value in the podcast, it would be great if you could donate any amount, no matter how small to Recovery Haven through the link here: https://bit.ly/3tfsxWw
If you enjoyed this episode, click on the like button, share, leave a review and follow the podcast.
My thanks also to PST Sport for their support with this project. Go to pstsport.com for world class delivery of all your artificial grass pitch needs.
Thanks for listening.

Feb 15, 2023
Feb 15, 2023
54 min
Alan Keane is the Irish man carving out his own coaching path on foreign soil since leaving his home town of Tralee, and found himself coaching his way through UK basketball, from professional level in Reading, to working his way up to coaching England and Great Britain under 16, under 18 and under 20’s to European championships competing in the top A division and winning a silver medal in 2017.
Alan is also co-founder of a company called MVMT Movement Sports, which is a mission-driven business for difference-maker coaches by providing training for organisations who use sport to create social impact.
He has also coached England in the Common Wealth Games, he’s a qualified school teacher and is currently completing his PhD.
(2.15) – Kerry connections
(5.35) – What is self-regulated learning
(12.45) – How has coaching changed in the last 15 years
(32.45) – The use of questioning as a coaching tool
(46.00) – Reflective practice
Similar to season 1, 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 Recovery Haven in Tralee, who provide free cancer support services for the people of Kerry and beyond.
If you found some value in the podcast, it would be great if you could donate any amount, no matter how small to Recovery Haven through the link here: https://bit.ly/3tfsxWw
If you enjoyed this episode, click on the like button, share, leave a review and follow the podcast.
My thanks also to PST Sport for their support with this project. Go to pstsport.com for world class delivery of all your artificial grass pitch needs.
Thanks for listening.

Feb 15, 2023
Feb 15, 2023
58 min
Frank Dick has done most everything that can be done in the world of coaching. From being the British Athletics Federation’s director of coaching to becoming the high-performance director with the South African Olympic committee while helping to deliver several medals along the way. In 2016 Frank was invited to become a strategic consultant with England rugby’s leadership team ahead of the rugby World Cup in 2019.
He is the author of four major publications including; ‘Winning Matters’ and ‘Wining Lines’ and his contribution to coaching was recognised by being awarded an OBE in 1989, as well as being honoured with doctorates from the national sports academy of Bulgaria and Loughborough University for his contribution to coaching and coach development in Europe.
Frank is a hugely engaging motivational speaker and works with various organisations to enhance the capacity of the people within them. Here, he shares some of the tricks of the trade he’s picked up along the way during a life spent coaching.
(1.35) – The essence of coaching
(6.00) – Ownership
(21.45) – Language matters
(34.25) – Satisfaction seduces
(52.10) – The transferability of skills from sports coaching to business
Similar to season 1, 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 Recovery Haven in Tralee, who provide free cancer support services for the people of Kerry and beyond.
If you found some value in the podcast, it would be great if you could donate any amount, no matter how small to Recovery Haven through the link here: https://bit.ly/3tfsxWw
If you enjoyed this episode, click on the like button, share, leave a review and follow the podcast.
My thanks also to PST Sport for their support with this project. Go to pstsport.com for world class delivery of all your artificial grass pitch needs.
Thanks for listening.



