RTÉ presenter Marie Crowe has discussed the challenges and rewards of covering the World Cup while managing a young family, noting that her involvement has earned her new appreciation from her sports-enthusiast children.
Crowe, who also has three sons under 14, welcomed her daughter Jessie with husband Billy Sheehan nearly two years ago, creating a significant age gap. Presenting late-night World Cup coverage has been demanding, but Crowe stated she is accustomed to interrupted sleep schedules with a young child.
Her Dublin home has become a lively hub during the tournament, with frequent sleepovers for more than 10 children. Football is a constant activity in their garden, with play continuing after midnight on their floodlit astroturf.
Crowe mentioned that her children are now more engaged with her work due to the World Cup. She believes her public profile during the tournament has led to increased recognition from her sons' peers, boosting her "street cred" among her children. She noted that her sons are beginning to understand her career beyond her role as a mother. "One night I was saying I wasn’t going to be home till four or half four in the morning, and the question I get back is, ‘And what time do you think you’ll be getting up at?’" she recounted.
The arrival of Jessie has had a softening effect on her older brothers, who, along with their friends, are reportedly "mad about" their baby sister. Crowe observed that her toddler daughter is already exhibiting a strong interest in football.
"All she says all day long is ‘ball, ball, ball, ball’," Crowe said. "I’ve bought her dolls and all the rest, and she just goes around with the ball in her hand all day long."
Little Jessie has accompanied her family to numerous sporting events, including schoolboy soccer grounds, GAA pitches across the country, and youth soccer tournaments in Spain and Portugal, where her brother plays for Shelbourne U14s. "She’s the most well-travelled child to sporting events," Crowe commented, adding that due to their families living in different counties, Jessie often travels with them.
Growing up around so many boys, Jessie now tends to approach groups of boys, mistaking them for her brothers. "She toddles up to little groups of boys all the time looking for her brothers," Crowe explained.
Crowe also reflected on a memorable moment during the World Cup coverage involving Cape Verde's centre-back Pico Lopes. She described the player's live video call to his club manager, Stephen Bradley, after a draw that advanced his team, as an "epic" and "amazing moment."
When asked about the energy levels of her co-presenters during late-night broadcasts, Crowe humorously suggested that former Ireland and Wolves striker Kevin Doyle, who also has three children, likely values his sleep.
In separate comments, Crowe described a viral on-air exchange between hurling legends Joe Canning and Dónal Óg Cusack discussing Cork's semi-final defeat as "great television." She mentioned rewatching the segment multiple times with her family. Crowe emphasized that such robust debates are common in sports punditry and do not necessarily indicate animosity, noting that she spoke with Joe Canning on the radio the day after the exchange and he indicated a normal working relationship.
Crowe drew parallels between GAA and soccer pundits, suggesting that athletes who reach the top of their careers share common traits such as adaptability, resilience, and passion for sport, regardless of the specific discipline. She described the off-air banter among the World Cup punditry team, including Kevin Doyle and Alan Cawley, as "hilarious" and akin to being in a dressing room, filled with constant joking about everyday topics.