Cork sporting legends chat with Tánaiste Mícheál Martin in latest podcast episode

TWO of Cork’s sporting legends are featured in the latest episode of Tánaiste Mícheál Martin’s podcast series, In Conversation With, which is now available on all major podcast platforms.

Rena Buckley and Jimmy Barry Murphy joined in the chat with the Fianna Fáil leader — and long-time Cork and Nemo Rangers fan — in the fourth episode of the series, which was launched during the summer.

This is the first episode to be recorded in Cork city at the new Take Nine studio, and the conversation centred around the contribution of Cork’s sporting heroes to the life of the county.

Former Cork dual star Jimmy Barry Murphy said he was interested in all sports as long as Cork sportspeople were involved.

“I’m very, very parochial. I love all Cork sportspeople. I take great pride in them all,” said the star of a number of All-Ireland winning performances for the county.

“When they’re featuring both at team level, like the ladies football or camogie, I’d be just as interested as the senior hurlers or footballers, it’s the same to me,” Barry Murphy said.

He said the pride is especially great when Cork people, such Roy Keane, Denis Irwin, Sonia O’Sullivan and Ronan O’Gara, achieve so much abroad.

The holder of a total of 18 All-Ireland winners’ medals, Rena Buckley told An Tánaiste what she would do if she were minister for sport and described Sonia O’Sullivan as her sporting hero.

“She was from Cork, she was a top international athlete. That was brilliant for me as a young person.”

The episode is available on all major podcast platforms, Apple and Spotify.