I came to this work through sport, grief and learning to begin again. As an All-Star hurler with Clare, regularly playing to stadiums of 50 to 80,000 people, I knew what it was to perform under pressure. I also came to understand that what happens inside us matters as much as what anyone sees on the outside.
After my father died from cancer, I set off on a 7,000km cycle across Canada and Ireland in his memory. The Ride for the Cure raised funds for cancer care and research. That journey became part of Screaming at the Sky, my memoir about sport, grief and the inner life of an athlete.
The story behind the work
Finding my work with young people
Inspired by Jim Stynes' work with teenagers in Australia, I helped bring that work to Ireland and co-founded the Soar Foundation. At its heart was a simple message: you matter, exactly as you are.
Listening to teenagers changed the direction of my life. Their fears, hopes and stories became the foundation of The Teenager's Book of Life. I wrote it as the wise friend a young person might want in their corner, someone who speaks with them rather than at them.
Working with the adults, too
A teenager doesn't grow in isolation. Parents, teachers, coaches and the other adults around them all have a part to play. Supporting the young person also means supporting those adults: helping them understand themselves, notice their reactions and stay connected through years that can feel uncertain for everyone.
My approach is rooted in conscious coaching and conscious parenting. Awareness comes first. The aim is for young people to know their values, voice and strengths, and to help parents not only weather the storm of the teenage years, but actually flourish and enjoy the journey more than they could ever imagine.
Today, those strands come together in my books, talks for schools, parents and workplaces, and one-to-one coaching for teenagers and parents. Coaching is available online and in person in Ireland. The future runs through our teenagers. Helping them, and all those raising them, build a stronger generation is the work I want to do.
BOOKS
TALKS
