In 2013, Alan became the first elite athlete in Ireland’s National Football League to speak publicly about his experience of depression. Since then, Alan has delivered his “Resilience” Keynote to universities, elite sports organizations, and businesses around the world. He has also recently collaborated with the Philadelphia Union and Philadelphia Phillies on this topic.
During this high-impact 60-minute session, Alan combines powerful lessons from his personal mental health journey with practical strategies for performing under pressure. He translates lived experience from his time as an elite athlete, mental performance coach, and head coach into actionable tools, empowering audiences to build collective resilience in both sport and life.
Keynote Overview
- Lived Experience: Key lessons from Alan’s elite athletic career and personal mental health journey.
- Proactive Resilience: Framing resilience as an active mental skill that can be developed in both sport and life.
- Applied Practice: Practical frameworks to reset quickly, rebound from failure, and execute when pressure builds.
- Culture of Care: Normalizing reaching out for help and supporting teammates through adversity.
- Q&A: An open, unvarnished forum for athletes, staff, and leaders to dive deeper.
To book this keynote for your team, athletic department, or organization, please email: alan@realtalks.ie
About Alan O’Mara
Alan is a former elite athlete, an experienced Head Coach, and works as a Team Resilience & Culture Coach in elite sports. He also served as a player welfare leader for Ireland’s largest players’ union, the Gaelic Players Association. In 2013, he became the first active Gaelic games athlete in Ireland to speak publicly about depression. In 2016, he published his best-selling memoir, The Best Is Yet To Come.
Testimonials
“Alan visited our school and instantly struck a chord with our pupils. His openness encouraged more students to come forward and discuss their mental health than ever before. It’s important that we involve vibrant people like Alan to help our young people chart a path through difficult times.”
Mickey Donnelly, Teacher in St. Ronan’s, Lurgan
Organizations 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 & Education, Gaelic Players Association, Gaelic Athletic Association, Gaisce, HSE, Inspire Wellbeing, Jacobs Engineering, Kelly Bradshaw Dalton, Manhattanville University, Monaghan County Council, Philadelphia Union Foundation, Philadelphia Phillies, Pieta House, PJ Hegarty & Sons, SOSAD Ireland, Terenure College, Zeminar