Ian McClure and Chris Mulholland kick off a festive two-part Christmas and New Year special, featuring one of Ireland’s most accomplished international bowlers, Gary Kelly.

The hosts begin with celebratory coverage of the World Bowls Junior International Series held at CAIBC, where Ireland crowned another world champion as Lara Reaney captured the women’s singles title. The triumphant theme continues with coverage of the Atlantic Senior Fours event in Cyprus, where the Irish ladies returned home with gold medals. The hosts also discuss the inaugural Mixed Pairs competition before turning their attention to Gary Kelly’s recent success on the World Bowls Series.

Gary Kelly joins the podcast to discuss his remarkable recent achievements, including the outstanding performance of Warilla at the UBC. The conversation then rewinds to explore Kelly’s extraordinary early career, revealing how he first discovered bowls and achieved success at an incredibly young age - winning the British Isles U25 Singles at just 14 years old and making his international debut at 16.

The interview traces Kelly’s impressive journey through the ranks, from his roots at Ballymoney through Provincial Towns representation and onto the Ireland senior team, culminating in Commonwealth Games bronze in Delhi. His progression to elite level showcases the dedication and talent that has defined his career.

In a candid and emotional segment, Kelly opens up about the challenging lows of his career - the disappointment of not being selected for the 2012 World Championships and missing out on the 2014 Commonwealth Games. These setbacks tested his resolve and passion for the sport.

The conversation then celebrates Kelly’s inspiring comeback to the international scene in 2015, highlighted by success at the Atlantic Rim competition. This resurgence led to selection for the 2016 World Championships in New Zealand and the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

Throughout the interview, Gary and Ian share entertaining stories and memorable moments from these international trips, with Kelly emphasizing his immense pride in representing Ireland on the world stage. His passion for wearing the green shirt comes through as he reflects on the honour and responsibility of international competition.

This Boxing Day special offers listeners an intimate look at the highs, lows, and triumphs of one of Ireland’s finest bowlers before his journey to live in Australia – which follows in Part 2 on New Years Day.