2 weeks Ago By Vincent Whelan
RTE viewers enjoyed seeing a different side to Martin O’Neill in his interview with Tommy Tiernan compared to his many post-match interviews while Ireland manager.After the initial success of guiding the Boys in Green to Euro 2016, a hallmark of the latter part of his tenure became increasingly tetchy chats with the likes of Tony O’Donoghue.@RTEOneThe 73-year-old won two European Cups in 1979 and 1980 with Nottingham Forest[/caption]@RTEOneIt was obvious Tiernan immensely enjoyed meeting him for the first time[/caption]So it was refreshing to see him in this relaxed setting without feeling like he had to constantly defend his record.
Instead, this conversation only briefly touched on his spell with Ireland as it meandered across his whole life from his early days playing Gaelic football for Derry’s minors to hitting the big-time under Brian Clough.Other topics broached included how he fell immediately head over heels in love with his wife upon their meeting and still having regrets for not maximising every ounce of his potential despite having achieved so much in that great Nottingham Forest side.A scan of the social media reaction to it showcased that viewers found him engaging and entertaining listening in this more free-wheeling format.
John Adams hailed: “I don’t care what anyone says Martin O’Neill is a class act and unreal manager.“He’s one of the main reasons, along with Henrick Larsson, that I began supporting Celtic. Legend.
”Finlay Brannon added: “Top lad. He was great as a pundit too, vastly better than the kids nowadays.”Ronan felt: “I thought he came across well.
Would have been more interesting if Tiernan focused on his GAA years and sense of Irishness. “The football stuff was just lifted from the after-dinner circuit.”Lastly, someone else tweeted: “Fantastic interview with Martin O’Neill a genuinely humble man who understands the value in listening as much as he’s speaking.
“Both men having the intelligence to give the other enough space to speak.”There has been a slew of sporting guests on the comedian’s impromptu chat show across the month of March.First boxing legend Chris Eubank made an appearance, albeit he earned far more mixed reviews for that often bizarrely incoherent conversation.
Then on March 8, double Olympic gold medallist Kelly Holmes wowed people nationwide with her candid reflections on her life’s ups and downs.That particular interview was labelled ‘brilliant, deep and open’ by fans.And then last week was the turn of GAA historian Dr Siobhán Doyle, author of ‘A history of the GAA in 100 objects’.
The feedback to her slot on the show was all positive with viewers succinctly explaining why they’d enjoyed it so much.Martin Maguire wrote: “The best guest tonight by a country mile. Well done Siobhán.
”Meanwhile Aisling Prior reckoned: “She was brilliant – she should be headhunted by RTE to host her own show. A totally natural communicator. Fascinating.
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