The Mike Quirke Podcast

Feb 27 2025 45 ep. 55 mins 66

The Mike Quirke Podcast artwork

Insightful conversations about all things coaching, leading and developing a positive culture from the world of sport.

Sports Education

Copy RSS

Subscribe on Podcast Addict

Exploring the Challenges of High Performance with AFL's Nick Walsh

Feb 27 2025 60 mins

In this insightful episode, we delve into the world of sports coaching with Nick Walsh, a former Gaelic football player turned AFL high-performance expert. We explore the unique challenges athletes face when transitioning from Gaelic games to Australian Rules Football and discuss the importance of mental health support for both players and coaches. Nick shares his experiences in de

Skill Development Unlocked: A Conversation with Dr. Ed Coughlan

Feb 20 2025 64 mins

Listen in to this insightful episode as we delve deep into the world of coaching with Dr. Ed Coughlan, an expert in skill acquisition. Discover how to create the optimal environment for players to develop their skills effectively, beyond the traditional drills. Dr. Coughlan shares his expertise on the importance of practicing skills in context, under pressure, and with decision-mak

Unlocking Youth Sports Success: Insights from sports psychologist Dr. Ciara Losty

Feb 13 2025 46 mins

Welcome to an engaging episode where we delve into the psychological intricacies of coaching youth in sports. After a brief hiatus, we're back to explore how parents and coaches can create a nurturing environment for young athletes. Joining us is Dr. Ciara Losty, a lecturer in Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology. Dr. Losty shares valuable insights from her experience of working w

Unveiling the Gaps: PE Challenges in Irish Schools

Jan 09 2025 61 mins

In this thought-provoking first episode of 2025, we delve into the current state of physical education (PE) in Irish national schools, highlighting the challenges and opportunities for improvement. Host Mike engages in a compelling discussion with Stephen and Peter Lavin, the passionate educators behind Game Sense Coaching, renowned for their contributions to coaching. Throughout t

Building Champions: Youth Development, Coaching, and Collaboration with Des Ryan

Dec 12 2024 67 mins

In this episode, I'm joined by Des Ryan, a renowned expert in youth athletic development and coaching, with a career spanning elite roles at Arsenal, Irish Rugby, and now as Director of Sport and Physical Activity at the University of Galway. Des shares his wealth of knowledge on developing young athletes, fostering effective coaching practices, and navigating relationships between

Searching for balance between the AFL and the GAA - former Kerry & Sydney Swans footballer Tommy Walsh

Dec 07 2024 49 mins

Kerry's Tommy Walsh is both an All Ireland winner and former professional Aussie rules player with both St Kilda and the Sydney Swans. Following commentary by Kerry GAA county chairman Patrick O'Sullivan recently about the need for the GAA to become more proactive about putting structures in place to help keep more of our young players at home, Tommy was generous enough to share hi

Unlocking the Secrets of High-Performance Coaching: A Deep Dive with Jason McGahan

Nov 28 2024 67 mins

Jason McGahan is the high-performance manager with Kerry GAA, and shares his journey from playing football in Armagh to managing performance for one of Ireland's top GAA counties. He provides valuable insights into building high-performance structures within sports teams, illustrating how clubs can improve their operations without hefty financial investments. In a compelling discus

Declan Quill - Raising standards and driving success with Kerry ladies football

Nov 22 2024 60 mins

Join us in this episode as we delve into the world of coaching with Declan Quill, former joint manager of the Kerry Ladies football team. Hear inspiring stories and insights from Quill on how he and his team transformed the coaching approach, leading the Kerry Ladies to All-Ireland glory. Discover the challenges, triumphs, and lessons learned along the way. Whether you're a coach,

Speed matters with Hall of Fame sprint coach Tony Holler

Nov 14 2024 61 mins

In this episode, I’m thrilled to introduce Tony Holler, a Hall of Fame sprint coach from the United States and the mind behind the revolutionary “Feed the Cats” training philosophy. Known for challenging traditional approaches to speed training, Tony has transformed the way coaches think about developing sprint performance. Today, he’ll share his insights on prioritizing sp

Unleashing the power of coaching and the role of the sports parent with Wayne Goldsmith

Nov 07 2024 58 mins

In this insightful episode, we delve deep into the world of coaching with the legendary Wayne Goldsmith. A highly respected Australian coach, Wayne has spent over 30 years revolutionising sports coaching across various disciplines, including swimming, rugby, triathlon, and cricket. Join us as Wayne shares his innovative approach to coaching, focusing on athlete development, high pe