Richard Mullins is an ICA member from Ireland originally from Limerick and now living in Cork. He’s been an active member of the Spinning® community online, traveling to many of the Spinning events around Europe. Richard works for McAfee in Cork, in business development for the UK and Ireland. He teaches six classes a week and attended the ICA Mini Conference in London last November when Tom Scotto and I were there. Richard’s passion for teaching is contagious! Who better to create an Irish-themed profile than a blue-blooded Irishman with passion?!
Introducing Richard’s Irish themed interval profile called If You’re Lucky Enough to be Irish, You’re Lucky Enough. He built the profile around events that catapulted Ireland to the global stage, including many sporting references, the Riverdance phenomenon, and the building of the Titanic. In addition to the ones he used in his profile, he’s added a few other Irish sporting events for you to include as well. Some of them you may be very familiar with, some may be unknown to you. Most of the songs are Irish bands (or as he says, they ‘sound Irish’, like the British group Mumford and Sons). You can also use other songs from the ICA Irish playlist of 101 songs.
Richard mentions several Irish athletic events on the global stage. Here are some Youtube videos to gain some more insights into these Irish athletes.
- Dan Martin’s exciting win at the Liege-Bastogne-Liege classic in 2013
- Stephen Roche loses the yellow jersey to Pedro Delgado at Alpe d’Huez in the Tour de France
- Stephen Roche’s comeback against Pedro Delgado in the 1987 Tour de France in the Pyrenées
- 3-hour video about the 1987 Tour de France, interview with Roche is at 2:52.
- Sean Kelly, the greatest Irish sportsman ever?
- Sonia O’Sullivan at the Sydney Olympics and her career highlights from Barcelona to Sydney.
- Ireland wins against the Italians in the 1994 World Cup Soccer
- Italy-Ireland World Cup Finals 1990
- 1992 Olympics, Ireland wins gold in boxing thanks to Michael Carruth
- 2012 London Olympics Katie Taylor wins gold in women’s boxing
Here is an article about the top 20 classic riders in history. Sean Kelly is listed as #5.
For other Irish history noted in the profile, the town of Cobh has a Titanic Experience museum built in 2012. Here is a little about the Irish connection to the Titanic. (Looks like you have to visit to get much more information!) Here is some more history of the Titanic, including its construction in Belfast, Ireland.
And if you want to sprinkle your profile with Irish proverbs, toasts and quips, then check these out! My favorite is:
well done Richard great work, sorry I didnt see this before Paddys days..
Great class, Richard. Thanks for all the information. My classes will really appreciate it. Here in Halifax we have a connection to the Titanic so that part will be special.