PODCAST · sports
Over The Bar
by overthebar.club
Over The Bar is a brand-new Gaelic Games history podcast hosted by Michael Foley and Ciaran O’Hara. Every week we tackle one big question about the history of Gaelic Games — from the origins of the Association, to the moments, people, and controversies that shaped our national games. Each free weekly episode dives deep into a major story, bringing the past to life for fans in Ireland and abroad. Whether you’re steeped in tradition or just curious about the history behind the games, Over The Bar is your weekly dose of heritage, passion, and insight. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
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Week That Was - Oct 12th to 18th
One of Cork hurling’s great rivalries and an All-Ireland Final from the early days of the GAA feature in this week's journey through the archives. We revisit the fierce city rivalry between Glen Rovers and St Finbarr’s, a pairing that has produced some of the most memorable occasions in Cork…
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Why Did Tipperary Go 16 Years Without Winning A Munster Title? Part 2
Sixteen years of frustration, near misses and fading glory. By 1986, Tipperary's Munster hurling famine seemed endless. But change was coming. A new generation, fresh belief and two extraordinary summers would finally bring Tipp back to the summit of Munster hurling. How did Tipperary turn…
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Week That Was - Oct 5th to 11th
Three decades, three memorable encounters, and three very different chapters in GAA history. This week, Michael Foley and Ciarán O’Hara revisit a dramatic October when All-Ireland glory was still up for grabs, a new chapter in Ireland's sporting rivalry with Australia was unfolding, and another...
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Why Did Tipperary Go 16 Years Without Winning A Munster Title? Part 1
In 1971, Tipperary were Munster and All Ireland Champions. Few could have imagined that it would be sixteen years before they would rule the province again. In Part One of this two-part mini-series, Michael Foley and Ciarán O’Hara trace Tipperary’s extraordinary decline from the heights of 1971...
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Week That Was - Sept 28th to Oct 4th
This week on Week That Was, we revisit three All-Ireland Finals separated by almost a century — but each with a story that has lived long beyond the final whistle. There’s the September afternoon that helped launch one of Gaelic football’s defining rivalries, a replay that produced one of the…
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Why Was The GPA Formed?
By the end of the 1990s, the demands being placed on inter-county players had changed dramatically. Training commitments were increasing, the GAA was becoming more commercial, and yet the players themselves had no independent organisation to represent their interests. In 1999, that changed with…
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Week That Was - Sept 21st to 27th
This week on The Week That Was, Michael Foley and Ciarán O’Hara travel back through the GAA history made between September 21st and 27th. We revisit 1986, when Kerry’s latest All-Ireland triumph saw some of the Kingdom’s greatest names rewrite the record books; go back 30 years to 1956, when a...
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What Happened Between Christy Ring And Galway In The 1953 All Ireland Final?
The 1953 All-Ireland Hurling Final brought Cork and Galway together in Croke Park, with Christy Ring chasing yet another chapter in an extraordinary career. But this was no ordinary final. A fiercely contested game produced incidents that would be debated for decades, with Ring at the centre of a...
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Week That Was - Sept 14th to 20th
In this edition of Week That Was, we head back through the GAA history books to three very different moments associated with the middle of September. We return to the extraordinary 1982 All-Ireland Football Final between Kerry and Offaly and look at the unlikely part played in the drama by the...
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Why Do Mayo Wear The Green Above The Red?
Few county jerseys are as instantly recognisable — or as closely tied to a place — as Mayo’s. Where did the colours come from, and how did the jersey evolve into the one generations of Mayo supporters know today? Michael Foley and Ciarán O’Hara dig into the archives to trace the story of the Mayo...
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Week That Was - Sept 7th to 13th
In this edition of Week That Was, we turn the clock back to three remarkable chapters from GAA history. We revisit the 1947 All-Ireland Hurling Final, when Kilkenny and Cork renewed one of hurling’s great rivalries. Then it’s back to 1926 and the Munster Hurling Final — a championship encounter...
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How Did A Championship Game Lead To A Murder Charge?
How did a Championship match end with a Garda Sergeant standing in the dock on a charge of murder? In 1929, what should have been another summer afternoon of Gaelic football instead set in motion an extraordinary chain of events involving players, supporters, the Gardaí and, ultimately, the…
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Week That Was - Aug 31st To Sept 6th
This week on The Week That Was, we head back through the GAA history books to revisit three memorable moments from the opening days of September. We look at the first All-Ireland final ever played on the first Sunday of September – a date that would eventually become synonymous with the biggest…
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When Did Muhammad Ali Fight In Croke Park?
On 19 July 1972, the most famous sportsman on the planet stepped into a boxing ring in the middle of Croke Park. Muhammad Ali’s fight against Al ‘Blue’ Lewis has become one of the most remarkable nights in the history of the stadium — a world heavyweight superstar fighting at the headquarters of...
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Week That Was - Aug 24th to 30th
In the latest edition of Week That Was we're casting our eyes back to an All Ireland Semi Final on Leeside, an All Munster Semi Final in the the last four of the football championship and establishing why only one Provincial final was played in 1921. For those who want more Gaelic Games History,...
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When Was The First Live GAA Broadcast?
Radio was still in its infancy in Ireland when, in August 1926, the GAA took its first tentative step into the world of live broadcasting. In this episode we tell the story of the first live broadcast from a GAA match. Done with a primitive microphone, a makeshift commentary position and…
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Week That Was - Aug 17th to 23rd
Episode 2 of Week That Was takes us back to some remarkable moments from this week in GAA history. We look at two major championship games that didn’t make it to regulation length, and the very different circumstances that brought them to an early conclusion. There’s also the story of how Kerry...
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What Is The Origin Of The Longford Jersey?
Why do Longford wear blue and gold — and what does the county jersey tell us about the turbulent early history of the GAA in Longford? In this episode of Over The Bar, we explore the origins of the Longford jersey against the backdrop of a county where Gaelic games struggled to establish...
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Week That Was - Aug 10th to 16th
Introducing Week That Was, a new series from Over The Bar – The GAA History Podcast, where we turn back the clock to revisit the games, stories and controversies that made GAA history during this week in years gone by. In our first episode, we look at four remarkable Championship stories from...
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How Did Antrim Qualify For The 1989 All Ireland Final?
Antrim’s appearance in the 1989 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Final remains one of the most remarkable stories in modern championship history. But how did a county outside hurling’s traditional elite find itself walking behind the band on All-Ireland Final day? In this episode of Over The Bar – The...
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Why Did It Take 30 Years To Play The First All Ireland Camogie Final?
Why did it take almost 30 years to play the first All-Ireland Camogie Final? The Camogie Association was founded in 1904, so why did the first All-Ireland Final not take place until 1933? In this episode of Over The Bar, Michael Foley and Ciaran O’Hara unravel the fascinating early history of...
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What Is The Origin Of Kildare's Jersey?
In this episode of Over The Bar, Michael Foley and Ciaran O’Hara uncover the story behind one of Gaelic football's most iconic colour combinations. Why did Kildare adopt the famous all-white jersey, and what events and personalities shaped the county's sporting identity?The lads sift through the...
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Bitesize - Saturday July 25th
It's All Ireland Football Final weekend and Michael Foley and Ciaran O'Hara are taking a glance at the history of Kerry v Mayo games, a broadcasting milestone and a unique opportunity for Paul Geaney. For those who want more Gaelic Games History, you can join our Cairde Club for less than the…
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How Did Mayo Win Their First All Ireland In 1936
How did Mayo win their first All-Ireland in 1936? On the 90th Anniversary, this episode of Over The Bar sees Michael Foley and Ciaran O’Hara revisit the breakthrough campaign that brought Sam Maguire to Mayo for the first time. The lads trace the road to the final, the key figures who drove the...
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Bitesize - Saturday July 18th 2026
As an All Ireland Hurling Final and World Cup Final collide, Michael Foley and Ciaran O'Hara explore what historically has made the difference for Galway and Limerick, how unbeaten records in finals are built, the story of the Limerick Hurler who went on to play for Ireland, and Galway's...
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How Did Galway Win Their Breakthrough All Ireland Against Limerick?
In this episode of Over The Bar, Michael Foley and Ciaran O’Hara revisit one of the defining days in modern hurling as Galway claimed the county's first All-Ireland title in over half a century. Facing a Limerick side chasing glory of their own, Galway produced a performance that changed the...
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Bitesize - Saturday July 11th 2026
It's All Ireland Football Semi Final weekend - so Ciaran O'Hara and Michael Foley are looking at a rare occurrence in a Dublin v Kerry semi final, Ciarán McDonalds record with Mayo in the final four and with Down and Wicklow meeting in the Tailteann Cup Final they run the rule over the Garden...
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How Did Mayo Help Louth Win The 1957 All Ireland?
In this episode of Over The Bar, Michael Foley and Ciaran O’Hara uncover one of the most surprising stories behind one of Gaelic football's greatest upsets. While Louth's victory over Cork is rightly celebrated, the road to Sam Maguire included an unexpected contribution from their Connacht…
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Bitesize - Saturday July 4th 2026
This week on Bitesize, Michael Foley and Ciaran O’Hara uncover the fascinating history behind this weekend's All-Ireland semi-finals. The lads explain why, when Cork meet Galway, history suggests it's better to arrive as the underdog. They also reveal why a championship meeting between Clare and...
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When Did Dunphy And Giles Play Against Galway In Tuam?
When did Eamon Dunphy and Johnny Giles play against Galway in Tuam Stadium? In this episode of Over The Bar, Michael Foley and Ciaran O’Hara uncover one of the most extraordinary cross-code exhibitions ever staged in Ireland, when two of the country's greatest soccer stars lined out against…
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Bitesize -Saturday June 27th 2026
It's All Ireland Football Quarter Final weekend and the lads are looking back at Cork and Mayo's early rivalry, recounting Jack O'Shea's diary from 1986, and seeing what the history of Louth v Monaghan and Dublin v Galway tells us about their opportunities in Croke Park. For those who want more...
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How Did The GAA Respond To Italia 90?
How did the Gaelic Athletic Association respond to 1990 FIFA World Cup?In this episode of Over The Bar, Michael Foley and Ciaran O’Hara revisit the summer when Ireland came to a standstill. As Republic of Ireland national football team captured the imagination of the nation in Italy, the GAA…
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Bitesize - Saturday June 20th
The biggest championship weekend of the year so far see's Michael Foley and Ciarán O'Hara reflecting on the Kingdom's record in Killarney, the centenary All Ireland final rematch we never expected, Down's dominance in the Tailteann Cup and how timekeeping altered Mayo and Meath history for ever...
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Who Was The First Player To Play In An All Ireland Final And An FA Cup Final?
Who was the first player to appear in both an All-Ireland Football Final and an FA Cup Final? In this episode of Over The Bar, Michael Foley and Ciaran O’Hara tell the story of Kevin Moran, the Dublin footballer who scaled the summit of Gaelic Games before forging a career at the highest level of...
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Bitesize - Saturday June 13th
This week on Bitesize, Michael Foley and Ciaran O’Hara uncover the historical nuggets hidden in another packed weekend of championship action. The lads examine Mayo’s remarkable record against Tyrone, explain why Galway might be turning green with envy at a feat achieved by Westmeath, and reveal...
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Where Does The Sligo Jersey Come From?
In this episode of Over The Bar, Michael Foley and Ciaran O’Hara set out to answer a seemingly simple question about the origins of Sligo’s colours. What follows is a journey through local history, sporting tradition and a series of unexpected twists that take the story far beyond the boundaries…
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Bitesize - Saturday June 6th
This week on Bitesize, Michael Foley and Ciaran O’Hara delve into the history behind three of the biggest games on the Hurling calendar. As Dublin and Galway meet in the Leinster Final, the lads uncover the historical threads linking the counties. There’s also a look at the latest chapter in the...
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How Was Mayo GAA Plunged Into A Murder Mystery?
What happened in Kiltimagh in 1922, when the brother of one of Mayo’s most famous footballers became entangled in one of the most controversial episodes of the Civil War? In this episode of Over The Bar, Michael Foley and Ciaran O’Hara examine the killing of two men in Kiltimagh and the...
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Bitesize - Saturday May 30th
This week on Bitesize, Michael Foley and Ciaran O’Hara dig into the stories and statistics hiding behind another huge weekend of championship action. The lads look at the historical edge to Armagh in the qualifiers, revisit the intriguing championship relationship between Mayo and Ulster…
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What Did Mackey Say To Ring?
What did Mick Mackey say to Christy Ring in one of the most iconic photographs in GAA history? In this episode of Over The Bar, Michael Foley and Ciaran O’Hara dig into the story behind the famous image of two hurling giants locked in conversation — a photograph that has sparked curiosity and...
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Bitesize - Saturday May 23rd
In the latest episode of Bitesize, Michael Foley and Ciaran O’Hara dig into the historical threads hidden within this weekend’s big fixtures. As Kerry prepare to face Donegal, the lads examine Jack O'Connor’s fascinating record against Ulster opposition. There are also some remarkable and unusual...
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Where Did Kilkenny's Black And Amber Come From?
How did Kilkenny come to wear black and amber? In this episode of Over The Bar, Michael Foley and Ciaran O’Hara uncover the remarkable story behind one of the most iconic jerseys in Irish sport. From its origins and how it became a unifying symbol across the county, to its unexpected role in what...
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Bitesize - Saturday May 16th 2026
Episode 2 of our bonus series as Michael Foley and Ciaran O’Hara uncover the hidden historical stories behind the weekend’s fixtures. In this episode, the lads explore Armagh and Monaghan's history in Ulster Finals, how rare a Clare and Tipp clash in Thurles is, just where Wexford's rivalry with...
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What Ground Almost Broke The GAA Twice?
What ground has almost broken the Gaelic Athletic Association — twice? In this episode of Over The Bar, Michael Foley and Ciaran O’Hara tell the dramatic story of Páirc Uí Chaoimh, a stadium whose ambition, scale and cost brought the GAA to the brink on more than one occasion. From its original...
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Bitesize - Saturday May 9th
Welcome to Bitesize, a brand-new bonus series from Over The Bar, where Michael Foley and Ciaran O’Hara uncover the hidden historical stories behind the weekend’s fixtures. In the first episode, the lads explore the unwanted record the Cork footballers are hoping to avoid, why there’s something...
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How Did The Meath Team Of The Eighties Catch Dublin?
In this episode of Over The Bar, Michael Foley and Ciaran O’Hara chart the rise of a Meath side that transformed itself from contenders into champions during one of Gaelic football’s most intense rivalries. From a hardened mentality and relentless physical edge to key figures and defining…
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What Is The Origin Of The Derry Jersey?
In this episode of Over The Bar, Michael Foley and Ciaran O’Hara dig into the history of Derry’s distinctive colours — and the surprising truth that, in many ways, their exact origin remains unclear. Tracing early records, changes over time and the evolution of the county’s identity, the lads...
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How Did The Sunday Game Begin?
In this episode of Over The Bar, Michael Foley and Ciaran O’Hara trace the origins of the GAA’s most iconic television programme — from its early days as a highlights experiment to becoming a central part of the summer for generations of supporters. The lads explore how RTÉ and the Gaelic…
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Why Do London And New York Play In The Connacht Championship?
Why do London and New York play in the Connacht Championship? In this episode of Over The Bar, Michael Foley and Ciaran O’Hara explore how teams based outside Ireland — one just across the water, the other across the Atlantic — became part of the western province’s championship structure. For…
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How Many Members Of The GAA Took Part In The 1916 Rising?
In this episode of Over The Bar, Michael Foley and Ciaran O’Hara explore the deep and often overlooked links between the GAA and the 1916 Rising. From players and officials who became Volunteers to the broader role the Association played in shaping national identity, the lads piece together the...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Over The Bar is a brand-new Gaelic Games history podcast hosted by Michael Foley and Ciaran O’Hara. Every week we tackle one big question about the history of Gaelic Games — from the origins of the Association, to the moments, people, and controversies that shaped our national games.
Each free weekly episode dives deep into a major story, bringing the past to life for fans in Ireland and abroad. Whether you’re steeped in tradition or just curious about the history behind the games, Over The Bar is your weekly dose of heritage, passion, and insight.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
HOSTED BY
overthebar.club
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Over The Bar have?
Over The Bar currently has 80 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Over The Bar about?
Over The Bar is a brand-new Gaelic Games history podcast hosted by Michael Foley and Ciaran O’Hara. Every week we tackle one big question about the history of Gaelic Games — from the origins of the Association, to the moments, people, and controversies that shaped our national games. Each free...
How often does Over The Bar release new episodes?
Over The Bar has 80 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Over The Bar?
You can listen to Over The Bar on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Over The Bar?
Over The Bar is created and hosted by overthebar.club.
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