An Irish boxing podcast that fans of all sports will love. No one gets to the top without overcoming adversity, in sport or in life. But as Rocky Balboa said, ‘it ain’t how hard you hit; it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward’. Every week on The Rocky Road, host Kevin Byrne and producer Simon Maguire will bring you the distance on some of the wildest journeys the sport has to offer. Pain, pride, passion and politics, the world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It's about how much you can take, and keep moving forward.
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Guest co-host Sinéad Kehoe (East Coast FM) joins us to unpack the true impact of Katie Taylor’s legacy - from opening gym doors for a new generation of female fighters to the harsh funding realities facing grassroots boxing on the ground. We hear from Brendan Fitzpatrick, former fighter and now coach at West Finglas Boxing Club on the constant battle for physical space and how the sport saved him, and young boxer Niamh on stepping into the ring inspired by Katie, her hero. Lecturer in social sciences of sport Conor Heffernan breaks down structural funding inequities and talks reform, while criminologist Trina O'Connor explores how sports transform working-class communities and whether historical stigmas still hold boxing back.
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30 Sept 2026
Brendan Kelly - Before Hollywood Came Calling
Actor, fighter, and storyteller Brendan Kelly sits down with Kevin Byrne on the Rocky Road Boxing Podcast for part one of a wide-ranging, raw conversation. Brendan reflects on his early years growing up in a fighting family, stepping into the ring as a 16-year-old at Chino State Prison and his time boxing on the Irish team out of the Drimnagh Boxing Club alongside Joe Egan and Billy Walsh.
Brendan shares incredible first-hand stories about what it was really like to spar a prime, terrifying Mike Tyson before the Spinks fight - no headgear, no ref, and no safe spaces. Plus, he discusses his surreal pivot into high fashion modeling for Giorgio Armani in Milan, the tragedy and toughness of 80s boxing legends like Evander Holyfield and Roberto Durán, and how his real-life experiences working security alongside New York’s notorious Westies gang shaped his book, Occupation Gangster.
Stick with us for Part 2 - when Brendan hits Hollywood to star in movies such as Con Air and The Rock, and HBO drama Oz, before becoming a bounty hunter amd advocate for at-risk kids.
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24 Sept 2026
Kieran Molloy - My Time To Shine
Undefeated IBF European welterweight Champion Kieran Molloy returns to The Rocky Road. Four years on from his first appearance as a 3-0 prospect, the Galway southpaw joins Kevin Byrne to reflect on his rise to 15-0, overcoming pro ring adversity, honoring his Connemara roots, and where that talked-about domestic super-fight with Paddy Donovan stands today in light of Tyson Fury v Anthony Joshua finally being made. We also talk about how he overcame his agonising first knockdown in a fight, why he'll never enter the ring injured again and in-ring trash talk and why it gives him a buzz to go out there and shut his opponents up.
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Who has been a guest on The Rocky Road
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Sinead Babington
Dave Hannigan
Barry McGuigan
Andy Clarke
Paddy Donovan
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
6,701
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
26 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 62 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
61
Social presence
0
YouTube
68
Engagement
90
Contact The Rocky Road
Guest appearances
Books guests
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