Sporting Lunch

Join us for our Sporting Lunch in association with Arachas to hear from sporting game changers.

Our panel will discuss the parallels between the world of sport and business, how to overcome adversity, the qualities needed to succeed and inspire the next generation.

Our panel will include:
Rory Best, former Irish Rugby Captain

Earning 124 caps for Ireland, Rory has had a long and successful career in the green jersey. In 2018, history was made in the world of rugby as he led Ireland to a Grand Slam victory. As captain, Rory's leadership and resolve inspired his teammates to deliver some of the most breath-taking performances ever seen on the rugby pitch.

Later that year, he also captained the Irish rugby team to their historic victory over the New Zealand All Blacks. It was the first time that Ireland had ever beaten the All Blacks on Irish soil, and Rory played a pivotal role in the game, leading his team with determination and skill. These successes culminated in Ireland being named the World Rugby Team of the Year.

Damien Cahalane, Cork Senior Hurling Team

Damien is a Cork hurler and dual player at club level with St Finbarr’s and Castlehaven. He began his inter-county career at minor level and continued to play U21 and senior level with dual status.
 
His career has been marked by success at both the club and county levels winning multiple county championships and three Munster titles with Cork.
 
Damien is part of the Cahalane sporting dynasty with his father Niall winning All-Irelands at every grade as a Cork footballer, his uncle John Cleary is the Cork Senior Football Manager and four of his siblings are currently lining out for Cork.

Emily Hegarty, Irish Rower & Olympic Medallist

Emily is a High Performance athlete with Rowing Ireland. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics she won a bronze medal in the Women's Coxless Fours. Having begun her rowing career in Skibbereen Rowing Club in West Cork, Emily has reached huge successes at the World Rowing stage, from junior right up to senior level.

She went on to study Biomedical Sciences in University College Cork and continues to row with UCC Rowing Club.
 

Shane Walsh, Gaelic Footballer, Kilmacud Crokes Club and Galway Senior Football Team

Shane is a highly decorated footballer with multiple All-Star Awards, the most recent coming in 2022 after an outstanding season including scoring nine points in the All-Ireland Senior Football Final. He was a prolific underage talent in Galway where he played for Kilkerrin-Clonberne and won an All-Ireland u21 title. Success followed him as he moved to the senior ranks, winning three Senior Connacht Titles with the county and captaining the Galway Senior Football team for two years.

Professionally, Shane had a career in retail before deciding to change career paths and study Physical Education (PE). In 2022 he decided to switch clubs, while he was living and working in Dublin, and joined Kilmacud Crokes where his success continued on the pitch winning a Dublin, Leinster and All Ireland title in his first season along with a number of player of the match awards.

MC: Marie Crowe, Sports Journalist and Broadcaster