Tommy Tiernan recap: Boxer Chris Eubank on 'spirituality' leaves some viewers uncomfortable
Chris Eubank joined Tommy Tiernan to chat about his spiritual journey on the Tommy Tiernan Show. Picture: RTE One/Instagram.
Saturday night's episode of the Tommy Tiernan Show discussed spirituality, the trials and tribulations of being a playwright, and one woman's journey from being born in a direct provision centre to advocating for refugees' rights.
Tiernan’s guests on Saturday included former world champion boxer Chris Eubank, playwright Enda Walsh, and inspirational speaker Elizabeth Zion.
In an interview that left some viewers uncomfortable, Chris Eubank spoke to Tiernan about his spiritual journey and attributed his achievements and peaceful demeanor to the spirit within him, which he believes transcends religious labels.
Tiernan inquired about specific practices like meditation or religion, but Eubank said he would prefer not to discuss it further, arguing that the inexplicable nature of his personal journey made it difficult to communicate to an audience unfamiliar with spiritual concepts.
He suggested that the best way to communicate is through example, citing his conduct and social media presence and claimed that the spirit within him guides his actions and ensures they are always inspiring and never offensive.
Eubank recounted his 1991 fight with Michael Watson, where Watson suffered severe injuries that left him in a coma for 40 days.
He described the physical and emotional toll of the fight and spoke of the guilt he felt over Watson's condition following the fight.
Eubank described himself as a wise fighter, not a tough one, and attributed his success in the ring to his connection with the spirit.
When questioned about his ego by Tiernan, Eubank disagreed that he is an egotistical person.
“What have you seen? I want to know, have I in some way said I’m better than you? What are you talking about, ego? What have you seen?”
Pressing further, Tiernan said: “Because you’re telling me how egoless you are, which is an expression of ego.”
In response to Tiernan, Eubank said: “If my ego was still in play, I wouldn’t be here.”
When asked about the badge he proudly donned as part of his outfit and the scarf he carried with him into the studio, Eubank mentioned his role as a deputy marshal in Louisiana, speaking to students in schools about chivalry and righteousness.
When Tiernan referred to the scarf he brought with him in hand as “a blanket”, he was quick to correct him, clarifying that it was a scarf.
People took to social media during the interview to share their thoughts, with some social media users describing how the interview had left them feeling "uncomfortable" and “awkward” and others describing Eubank as “the most evasive guest who has ever been on Tommy Tiernan”.
As viewers at home released their shoulders from their ears following the first interview of the night, Tiernan’s second guest was introduced as playwright Enda Walsh.
Walsh spoke with Tiernan about his career and personal life, sharing a poignant story about his wife, whom he met at a theater, and his play inspired by his father.
Walsh, who lives in London but spends a lot of time in Galway, spoke about starting stand-up comedy and the financial struggles of being a playwright.
He discussed the unexpected success of his play and how it changed his life, from being on the dole to having productions worldwide.
The play had over 40 productions in Germany and was translated into 45 languages.
Speaking about his influences and writing style, he shared how he admires Conor McPherson's work, noting his depth and philosophical approach, and humorously contrasted his own play settings with McPherson's.
He shared his childhood experiences, including a nervous relationship with his own voice and a supportive English teacher.
He also spoke about his chaotic twenties and the support he received from his parents, recounting the typewriter his father bought him.
Walsh spoke about a play called which is based on their relationship with their father.
He described his father's charismatic and pressured life, running furniture shops during recessions, and explained how his father's behaviour influenced his understanding of theater and character development.
“So my dad ran a number of furniture shops and it’s sort of, Ireland every seven years goes through a recession. So, he either had loads of money or he was broke,” he said.
“And having six kids and watching him go through the pressure of that. I think my dad was my introduction to the theatre. He had a shop in Donaghmede, Design Store, and it was an amazing shop, it was huge.
“I used to rock up with my sandwiches from school that I didn’t eat at lunch, and I would sit down watching him sell stuff and watch furniture and all that business. The comedy and the tragedy of the man…he was a shapeshifter and a schmoozer and a charmer.”
He described the shop floor as his father’s stage and recalled how his father would get up on glass tables and dance.
“He was a real Delboy sort of guy,” he said.
He also mentioned his wife and daughter and spoke about the importance of supporting children in their aspirations.
He recounted the story of how he met his wife at a party on the night Princess Diana died, and described his wife as “incredibly bright, beautiful, and supportive”.
Walsh also spoke about his health, and shared his fear of Alzheimer's, having seen its impact on their mother and grandmother, and reflected on the emotional toll of his mother's long illness and death.
He is currently working on a film reimagining of and described the creative process and collaboration with producer Barbara Broccoli.
Tiernan’s final guest of the night was Elizabeth Zion, an inspirational speaker and workshop leader, who shared how her faith has shaped her life and why she feels most connected with a partner who shares her Christian beliefs.
Born in Clifden, County Galway, to a Nigerian mother seeking asylum, Zion shared her journey from being born in a direct provision center to growing up in Dublin.
Her mother, a childcare worker, and her father, who joined them in 2022, faced immigration challenges and Zion experienced moving eight times throughout her childhood.
She explained how her mother left Nigeria due to religious persecution and said that in Ireland, her mother sought freedom to worship and better opportunities for her children, including education and employment.
Zion spoke about how she identifies as a Christian and believes her faith has been a source of strength and support throughout her life, recounting the challenges of growing up in a lower socioeconomic background and how she experienced homelessness for seven months at the age of 14.
She emphasised the importance of her relationship with God and how it has shaped her perspective on life, expressing her commitment to only date Christians, as her faith is central to her life and future plans.
When asked by Tiernan if she could ever date a non-Christian, she said: “I don’t think I could. I think my relationship with the Lord is so important to me. And I think how are we going to raise our kids? I want you to come and enjoy knowing the Lord with me, I want us to pray together, I want us to go to church together.”
She spoke about representing Ireland for UNICEF and her TED talk on family reunification.
She also spoke about advocating for removing bureaucratic barriers to reunification to provide stability for refugees and migrants and shared her strong feelings of empathy for her family members still living in Nigeria and those who have been deported from Ireland.
Zion is currently studying politics, international relations, and social justice at UCD and is pursuing a master's in sustainable development.
She aims to use her platform to highlight issues faced by migrants and to inspire young people to see their potential.
Closing out the show on Saturday night was RÓIS performing Caoine, which won best original Folk track at the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards earlier this week.
