Rugby ace Donncha O’Callaghan said he’d give up all his sporting achievements in return for his kids thinking he is a good father.
The former rugby international, 41, has another title to add to his name this week, having been crowned RTE Guide’s first ever Celebrity Father of the Year.
And despite racking up an impressive two European Cups, three Celtic Leagues with Munster as well as a Six Nations Grand Slam throughout his 20-year career, he gushed that fatherhood is his biggest achievement.
Commenting on his accolade, the proud dad of four said: “This is a mad thing to say and I should be embarrassed but I’m incredibly flattered to win this.
“Personally, you could have all the achievements you want in rugby but being a good dad I swear is top of the pile for me.
“I’d honestly swap all of the accomplishments to have Sophie, Anna, Robin and Jake say, in time, ‘he was a good dad’.
Donncha, who lost his own father Hughie at only 40 years old when he was just six, added that his loss makes him treasure the precious moments of parenthood even more.
“I’m 41 now and my dad was only 40 when he died, so you just want to make sure all the moments and all the memories with your own kids are brilliant,” he told the RTE Guide.
But the retired sporting legend admitted that leaving the sport behind paired with lockdown has given him a wake up call as to how much work his wife Jenny was putting in while he was away.
The Cork native said: “It was probably something I didn’t have right from the start - sport can make you really, really selfish.
“I was probably the biggest guy for that. But lockdown, especially, had been good for me to take stock.”
He added: “I’ll be honest, i’m a complete chancer, Jenny is an absolute rockstar aroound the house, she’s all over it.
“I’m sort of Fun Bobby who comes in and has the craic.”
Meanwhile, recalling becoming a dad for the first time ever with his eldest daughter Sophie, the pundit who presents 2fm show Game On with Marie Crowe and Ruby Walsh admitted it has been the hardest but most rewarding job he’s ever had.
“I’ll never forget it; you think you’re prepped and you think you’re ready but the moment the door closes behind you and you’re home with this newborn - no one can prepare you for that responsibility.”
