In 2012, Sean O’Leary led a life considered fairly average. Married and with two boys, he worked as a driver to pay the bills, and trained youngsters in Irish hurling a few times a week.
On one such average day at the beach in Cork, he hurt his right heel and thought nothing of it, covering it up with a band aid. Over the span of the next few months, O’Leary’s right foot deteriorated to the point where he was plagued with recurring pain.
A doctor would determine the cause to be an injury wrought by the rough play from his hurling training. However, six months down the line, the pain had become unbearable.
O’Leary could not walk, let alone work. Several more medical tests would later determine that he was suffering from osteomyelitis – a bone infection which had possibly stemmed from the cut on his heel months earlier.
Life for the Irishman for the next six years would comprise of medication regimes, operations, and several hospital visits, each of the latter lasting several months at a time.
In September 2018, doctors advised O’Leary that they would need to amputate his right leg to save his life.
The operation led him down a dark path. By 2020, O’Leary was on a regimen of painkillers and weighed 127 kilograms after turning to a diet of fast food and soft drinks for comfort.
However, a meeting with Straight Blast Gym Cork (SBG) owner and head trainer Liam-Og Griffin would prove to be a fateful pivot.
Griffin introduced O’Leary to Alta MMA training, which proved to be a silver lining in the dark clouds that had enveloped his days.
However, his suffering did not end then. Less than a year later, O’Leary lost his wife Rose to cancer.
Amid all the pain and gloom, O’Leary found relief with martial arts, and more specifically jiu-jitsu.
O’Leary, now 54, made his debut in the ongoing 15th Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship in the para category last Thursday, in which he lost to the experienced Brazilian Mario Edson.
He was back in action in the 85kg blue belt Masters 4 division at the Mubadala Arena on Monday where he suffered a first-round loss to Sattar Gulyev of Azerbaijan by submission. But for him, the journey is more important than the destination.
“It’s my first time in Abu Dhabi and my first trip abroad for a competition. My gym set up a gofundme, and friends and family donated to it,” O’Leary told The National.
“Yes, I lost the contest on Thursday but there are a few things I took from it. I started my preparation about four months before my fight. The drills and rolls I did with [trainer] William Cooper gave me the confidence, knowledge, skills and determination to succeed.
“Also, I felt that my progression from where I was to how I performed during my fight has made me realise that I am progressing in the game.”
O’Leary has two main goals in the sport: to get as many disabled people involved in jiu-jitsu and, personally, to earn a black belt.
“It has changed my life and it would be great to get others that may feel that, because of their disability, it’s not for them. But I want to change that thinking,” he said.
“I will continue to compete in jiu-jitsu until my body won’t allow me,” says O’Leary, who also plans to take part in the European BJJ championship in February 2024.
Whatever O’Leary achieves in life, the memories of his wife of 25 years, who passed away in October 2020, continue to drive him. O’Leary says she was the one who motivated him to make a fresh start after his injury.
“My wife was a major influence in all my training,” he said. “She was very sick during Covid but she was adamant that I train every day.
“I was 125kg with only one leg. She wanted me to lose weight and get healthy. The days I didn’t want to go training she would push me to go.
“I remember distinctly the day I had to bring her to hospital as she was very sick. When doctors told us that she needed to stay in hospital, I told her that I would go home and get her stuff to stay in hospital.
“The doctor informed me that Ireland was at its highest [danger] level for Covid and I wouldn’t be allowed back into hospital. She told me that I had training at 5pm and that I was to go, that I needed to lose weight and to get healthy for our two boys. My wife died five days later.
“I wasn’t allowed in to see her until the last few hours before she passed. So now every time I feel like not training, her last words would ring in my head and I would go.
“I think what my wife would be most proud of is that I stuck with it. I set weight targets and I achieved them. I got healthier both physically and mentally. She would be proud of my determination and consistency."
O’Leary is a fully qualified First Aid Instructor and is currently back in college to get a degree in neuromuscular therapy. His sons Sean, 27, is in Australia and 21-year-old Kyle is studying architecture in college.
“My willingness is to work hard and to keep going," he added. "Also, motivating others that they too can achieve their goals no matter how big they are or their limitations.”
The Sky Is Pink
Director: Shonali Bose
Cast: Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Farhan Akhtar, Zaira Wasim, Rohit Saraf
Three stars
Mica
Director: Ismael Ferroukhi
Stars: Zakaria Inan, Sabrina Ouazani
3 stars
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company Profile
Company name: Yeepeey
Started: Soft launch in November, 2020
Founders: Sagar Chandiramani, Jatin Sharma and Monish Chandiramani
Based: Dubai
Industry: E-grocery
Initial investment: $150,000
Future plan: Raise $1.5m and enter Saudi Arabia next year
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The bio:
Favourite film:
Declan: It was The Commitments but now it’s Bohemian Rhapsody.
Heidi: The Long Kiss Goodnight.
Favourite holiday destination:
Declan: Las Vegas but I also love getting home to Ireland and seeing everyone back home.
Heidi: Australia but my dream destination would be to go to Cuba.
Favourite pastime:
Declan: I love brunching and socializing. Just basically having the craic.
Heidi: Paddleboarding and swimming.
Personal motto:
Declan: Take chances.
Heidi: Live, love, laugh and have no regrets.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
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Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
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The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
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Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
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Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Jiu-jitsu calendar of events for 2017-2018:
August 5:
Round-1 of the President’s Cup in Al Ain.
August 11-13:
Asian Championship in Vietnam.
September 8-9:
Ajman International.
September 16-17
Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, Ashgabat.
September 22-24:
IJJF Balkan Junior Open, Montenegro.
September 23-24:
Grand Slam Los Angeles.
September 29:
Round-1 Mother of The Nation Cup.
October 13-14:
Al Ain U18 International.
September 20-21:
Al Ain International.
November 3:
Round-2 Mother of The National Cup.
November 4:
Round-2 President’s Cup.
November 10-12:
Grand Slam Rio de Janeiro.
November 24-26:
World Championship, Columbia.
November 30:
World Beach Championship, Columbia.
December 8-9:
Dubai International.
December 23:
Round-3 President’s Cup, Sharjah.
January 12-13:
Grand Slam Abu Dhabi.
January 26-27:
Fujairah International.
February 3:
Round-4 President’s Cup, Al Dhafra.
February 16-17:
Ras Al Khaimah International.
February 23-24:
The Challenge Championship.
March 10-11:
Grand Slam London.
March 16:
Final Round – Mother of The Nation.
March 17:
Final Round – President’s Cup.
The squad traveling to Brazil:
Faisal Al Ketbi, Ibrahim Al Hosani, Khalfan Humaid Balhol, Khalifa Saeed Al Suwaidi, Mubarak Basharhil, Obaid Salem Al Nuaimi, Saeed Juma Al Mazrouei, Saoud Abdulla Al Hammadi, Taleb Al Kirbi, Yahia Mansour Al Hammadi, Zayed Al Kaabi, Zayed Saif Al Mansoori, Saaid Haj Hamdou, Hamad Saeed Al Nuaimi. Coaches Roberto Lima and Alex Paz.
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
EMIRATES'S%20REVISED%20A350%20DEPLOYMENT%20SCHEDULE
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Final scores
18 under: Tyrrell Hatton (ENG)
- 14: Jason Scrivener (AUS)
-13: Rory McIlroy (NIR)
-12: Rafa Cabrera Bello (ESP)
-11: David Lipsky (USA), Marc Warren (SCO)
-10: Tommy Fleetwood (ENG), Chris Paisley (ENG), Matt Wallace (ENG), Fabrizio Zanotti (PAR)
Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.
Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.
Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment
But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.
Race card
1.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 50,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
2pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 84,000 (D) 1,400m
2.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,200m
3pm: Conditions (TB) Dh 100,000 (D) 1.950m
3.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 76,000 (D) 1,800m
4pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,600m
4.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 68,000 (D) 1,000m
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
