Aisling O’Reilly: Risk, Resilience & The Road to the Top of Irish Sports Broadcasting
The Sporting Club Ireland PodcastShow Notes
Aisling O’Reilly is now one of the most recognisable faces and voices in Irish sports media. Getting there was anything but straightforward. In this episode of The Sporting Club Ireland Podcast, Aisling joins Mark Brandon for a brilliant and incredibly open conversation about the years of graft, rejection, nerves, big decisions and calculated risks behind the career people see today. From growing up obsessed with sport and playing football and camogie, to spending time in New York and eventually finding a way into sports media, Aisling takes us through a journey that very nearly went in a completely different direction. She talks about becoming Off The Ball’s first full-time female reporter, being terrified of press conferences in the early days, learning to handle the pressure of live broadcasting and covering some of the biggest sporting occasions in the world. Aisling also opens up about one of the biggest decisions of her career: leaving Newstalk and the security of a full-time role to back herself as a freelancer. We get into what life behind the camera is really like, preparing for major broadcasts, the nerves that never completely disappear, dealing with criticism and the lessons she has learned from working alongside some of the best people in Irish sports media. There’s a fascinating conversation about the changing landscape for women in sports broadcasting, the people who helped Aisling when she was trying to establish herself and the responsibility that comes with becoming someone the next generation can now look up to. She also speaks brilliantly about Michael Lyster, what makes a great interviewer, why making the person beside you feel comfortable matters so much and how her own approach to broadcasting has developed over the years. And, of course, we talk ambition. After fighting for years to get her opportunity, what does success look like now? What does she still want to achieve? And how different is the person sitting in front of the camera today from the young woman who once wasn’t sure there was even a route into the industry? A really enjoyable, funny and honest conversation with one of the leading figures in Irish sports broadcasting. 🎧 Follow The Sporting Club Ireland Podcast on Spotify 📱 Download The Sporting Club Ireland App https://apps.apple.com/ie/app/the-sporting-club-ireland/id6788445806 🌐 Website https://thesportingclub.ie ▶️ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@TheSportingClubIreland 📸 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thesportingclub_ireland 💼 LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-sporting-club-ireland/ If you enjoyed the episode, follow the podcast, leave us a rating or review and share it with someone who loves their sport. Every follow, rating, review and share genuinely helps us reach more people and grow The Sporting Club Ireland community. The Sporting Club Ireland Where sport opens doors to business.
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