Episode 6: John Leonard (Sober Paddy)

The Breifne Earley Show

This week's guest John Leonard joins Breifne Earley to talk about his experiences dealing with the highs and lows of life. Despite being abused as a child by convicted child molester Fr. Ivan Payne he emerged through his school days as a athlete of some potential. Flirting with the idea of a professional soccer career he emerged as the most talented goalkeeper of his generation for his beloved Dublin, representing his county at Under 21 level and winning a Dublin senior football championship with his club St. Sylvester's in Malahide. The next five years of his life revolved around alcohol, drugs, casual sex and experiencing any substance which he could get his hands on anywhere in the world before writing three life goals on a beach in Goa. Returning home to spend time with his dad, play for Dublin and write a book saw him complete a turn around which took him to the substitute bench in Croke Park & building bridges with his father. Falling off the wagon again after losing his place in the Dublin squad saw two more years before hitting rock bottom, finding love and writing again would lead to the establishment of SoberPaddy, his teetotal blog and led ultimately to the release of his first book, the award winning bestseller "Dub Sub Confidential".