About Alan O’Mara
Alan’s perspective is built on a life spent competing in elite sports. As a former inter-county goalkeeper in Ireland’s National Football League, he lived the highs of championship wins and the lows of high-stakes pressure. That lived experience, combined with an MSc in Sports and Exercise Psychology, allows him to translate complex psychological evidence into practical tools that work in real-time. The blend of experience and educations has helped him become the successful head coach and mental performance coach that he is today.
Perspective
What sets Alan apart is his ability to see the “Performance Puzzle” from every angle:
- The Performer: A former elite athlete who knows what it feels like when the game is on the line.
- The Leader: A championship-winning Head Coach who understands the isolation and complexity of management.
- The Specialist: A consultant and author dedicated to the science of performance, resilience and mental health.
Beyond the Field
Alan is the author of the best-selling memoir ‘The Best is Yet To Come’ and the founder of Real Talks. Through his podcast and keynote speaking, he has reached hundreds of thousands of people, sparking vulnerable and vital conversations about mental health, leadership, and what it truly means to be a “high performer.” Back in 2013, he became the first active athlete in Ireland’s Gaelic Football league to go public about experiencing depression. You can see that interview on national TV below.
Based in Philadelphia with his wife Mary Kate, Alan is committed to empowering people to live happier, healthier, and more successful lives both on and off the pitch.
Helpful Links
- Alan’s Book – The Best is Yet to Come
- Alan’s work as a head coach
- Alan’s work as a Mental Performance Coach
- Alan’s journey with with depression as an athlete
- Developing mental skills in others
Organisations Alan has collaborated with include…
Aer Lingus, Allied Irish Bank, Athlone IT SU, Barnardos, Blackrock College, Cavan GAA, Cavan County Council, Cornmarket, Cycle Against Suicide, Donegal Sports Partnership, Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation, Gaelic Players Association, Gaelic Athletic Association, Gaisce, HSE, Inspire Wellbeing, Jacobs Engineering, Kelly Bradshaw Dalton, Monaghan County Council, Pieta House, PJ Hegarty & Sons, SOSAD Ireland, Terenure College, Zeminar
