Belfast Men's Health Group

Podcast with Frank McNally, Prostate Cancer UK, Northern Ireland.

Frank McNally is the Prostate Cancer UK, Northern Ireland Volunteer and Co-ordinator for them. He also looks after the Volunteer Hub.

Frank will provide information on prostate cancer, the risks and how it effects men. He provides action to take and what we can do to reduce our risk of prostate cancer.

Podcast with Paul O'Kane

Make this March the Month to Stop Smoking. To help us move in that direction we have an interview with one of our own members of Belfast Men's Health Group Paul O'Kane. Paul is actually employed as a Stop Smoking Specialist based in Belfast Health and Social Care Trust. The Trust provides a service for patients and staff and he explains how this works. There are other areas to stop smoking and these include contacting your GP or local Pharmacy.

He mentions the work he does for the people who want to give up smoking and the services you receive your GP or local Pharmacist.

If you smoke now is the time give up!!

Podcast with Kerry O'Flaherty

Kerry O'Flaherty is a local runner competing primarily in the 3000 metres steeplechase. She competed at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing and in the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil. Kerry has also competed at two European Championships and one European Indoor Championships. She talks about her life in athletics and some of the mental and physical issues she has had to deal with to enable her to compete at the top level in her sport. She also has two Whippets who run with her and also Alpacas.

Interview with Malachy Cush

Malachy Cush is a local musician and broadcaster who many will remember as a performer on BBC's Fame Academy. He has had an eventful and interesting career to date. Here he talks about his background, the area he lives in and his plans for the future. He also mentions the mental health and well being in the musicians world under the present difficulties presented by Covid 19. 

Interview with Alderman Frank McCoubrey, Lord Mayor of Belfast.

Alderman Frank McCoubrey talks about his role in local Belfast politics and becoming Lord Mayor in 2020. He discusses some of the work he has been doing since his appointment, which has been affected by the Covid-19 outbreak.

He has had a number of health issues over the last number of years and it had a great impact on him. He encourages everyone to keep fit and take exercise. He has been involved with a number of groups in Belfast including Age Friendly and Men’s Sheds and this has been impacted by the City’s Active Belfast Project which aims to promote healthy living.

The Lord Mayor says the people of Belfast are resilient people. He has travelled to all parts of Belfast and has seen the coming together of the people of the City. He has great hope for the future of Belfast and is looking forward his final six months as Lord Mayor.

Interview with John Cantwell

John Cantwell

In our next Podcast John Cantwell from the ‘Sli An Chroi, a Clinic and School of Irish Celtic Shamanism based in Dublin, will talk about his life and some of the work he is involved with men and other groups.

John will discuss some of the therapeutic and health issues he is involved with. He will also take us through some of the impacts of the recent Covid-19 crisis on men and society.

He is a husband, cyclist and an academic/therapist - very much ‘the medicine man.’ We hope you will enjoy this colourful, entertaining, and insightful podcast.

Interview with Dr Mark Davies

Dr Mark Davies, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Belfast Trust has been interviewed by Paul O'Kane. He will give us some advice on how to look after our Mental Health with some good tips!! Mark will also explain what is Clinical Psychology and also talk about where he is from and his interests.

Looking at the current Covid-19 situation, Mark says we have been asked as a Nation to basically switch off. That means ignoring friends and limiting social access etc. This has caused problems, with some experiencing anxiety and other issues etc, however he says we are now improving as we get to better days. It is important now to switch back on again in the safest way as possible.

Interview with Professor Joe O'Sullivan

Paul O'Kane from Belfast Men's Health Group interviews Professor Joe O'Sullivan from the The Northern Ireland Cancer Centre, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust. The interview will focus on Joe's work as a Cancer Specialist, his advice for men and also his interest in music. We will feature some songs from Joe's latest CD Production which is called 'Instead of Many Shades of Blue'.