Tommy Bowe turned to UK TV experts for training and advice before becoming Ireland AM anchor

The Virgin Media Television presenter opens up about four years on Ireland AM, commuting from Belfast to Dublin, and being slagged off by his former rugby teammates

Tommy Bowe turned to TV experts from the UK for training and advice before becoming the anchor of Ireland AM.

Following his retirement from club and international rugby, he became a sports presenter and then went on to land a role on the Virgin Media breakfast show in September 2020.

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Tommy told RSVP Live: "I went to two people in the UK, Rob Nothman and Matt Curtis, from ITV and BBC. I was so used to standing in front of the camera answering questions about rugby, stuff I know.

"Asking questions and trying to open up a conversation and reading the autocue were alien to me.

"When I finished rugby the option to get into punditry was there for me, but I wanted to crack the presenter side of it because there is more longevity in it. Being a presenter requires a completely different skill set."

However, Tommy has no plans to leave Ireland to work with ITV or BBC.

He said: "I did quite a bit of work rugby wise in the UK after I retired and I enjoyed it. With the business and my family, everything is based in Ireland.

"My wife and I live in Belfast with our two kids and we are very happy there. I don’t see myself going to the UK, no."

Tommy fronts Ireland AM alongside Muireann O'Connell and Alan Hughes.

He said: "I am in my fourth year of the show. I started in 2020, in the middle of Covid. Coming from rugby, I never thought I would be presenting TV, never mind the institution that is Ireland AM.

"It is probably the next biggest Irish TV institution after Ireland AM. I love it.

"Some of the lads I played rugby with go into teaching or business after they retired, a lot of them struggle to get the buzz that rugby brought. Live telly gives you that adrenaline buzz."

Tommy commutes daily from his home in Belfast to work in Dublin, so his weekends and afternoons are very important to him.

He said: "I would say the weekends are very important, but my wife would tell you that I am at rugby matches every weekend. The weekends are so important to us, but, also, the beauty of morning TV means that I am home by 1 or 2pm, so I can do the school pick up and take my daughter Emma to Irish dancing or swimming.

"I can put the time in with the kids during the week because I am fairly busy on the weekends too."

Tommy got some slagging from his former Ulster and Ireland rugby teammates when he first appeared on Ireland AM.

He said: "They couldn’t believe it. They would have seen me in the changing room and known I had never read a newspaper before, so they would have asked what the hell I was going to talk about. I had to be a quick learner, and that is the beauty of Ireland AM."

The father of two added: "There was some slagging alright, they couldn’t believe it when I started the clothes and shoes. But once they got a few pairs they were very happy."

Ireland AM is celebrating 25 years on air and it airs from 7am – 10am on Virgin Media One and Virgin Media Play Monday to Friday and from 9am - 12pm on Saturday and Sunday

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