FOUNDERS

Tadhg Kennelly

  • I am a proud father to 3 kids and a loving husband. I hail from a small country town on the West Coast of Ireland, Listowel, County Kerry. Listowel is a small farming community of about 4000 people. I had a rich childhood where sport dominated, Gaelic football, soccer and athletics, and being from Kerry I was surrounded by many characters including poets and writers.

    I am the middle child of 3, with an older brother, Noel, and younger sister, Joanne. My father Tim is his hero. He was a devoted father driving me all over the country for soccer, athletics and gaelic but he himself won 5 All Ireland medals. In 1999, aged 18, I had the carrot of professional sport dangled in front of me and I grabbed it with both hands, emigrating 17,000km away to Sydney, Australia.

    I was blessed to have a successful AFL and GAA career, and the only holder of both an AFL Premiership medallion (2005) and a Senior All-Ireland Championship medal (2009). However, on that road to success, challenges were always hiding around the corner - from dealing with home sickness, loss of form and coping with injuries. However, this formed the backbone of who I am today, a man of resilience, determination, strength of character and strength of mind.

    Post career this is why I have co-founded WNOW. Throughout life I always thought I was connected and supported, until the moment I really needed it post retirement, and those networks were not there in the numbers or depth I expected. I realised that as men we often make ourselves an island and do not have the connections we think we have.

    That is why I am driven to help men drop the body armour, be their unique selves and challenge toxic masculinity. In turn this will make men be better husbands, better fathers, better sons and better mates.

    I want WNOW to be a movement for men to be men, to be better men and make a difference to everyones lives.

  • My family is my life and I love nothing more than time with my 3 kids, Maggie, Jake and Hughie, and my wife Nicole. We are blessed to live on the beach in Sydney so a lot of life revolves around there or at sport. I love being a father, and learning about what it means to be a father. I try to always be non-judgemental to my kids, and always there to love and support, no matter what way they go.

    I am still actively involved in sport and when not with family can still be found commentating or coaching AFL, having a beer with mates watching it, or getting back on the pitch with mates to play soccer.

    I am also passionate around education and developing kids. I have a Bachelors degree in Arts, just completed my Masters in Education and reside as the head of sport in the education system for an all-girls school in Sydney.

  • The impact it has for men and seeing them when they drop their body armour. Seeing men happy about being themselves, after all there is only one you so be the best you can be, love your life like no one is watching. Its ok to be you and you are enough.

  • Despite being a proud County Kerry man and Gaelic/AFL footballer, I am in fact born in Cork and before moving to Australia was recruited by Blackburn Rovers in soccer.

 

Dave Eccles

  • A doting father of 3 amazing kids, Riley, Harper and Arlo and husband to my beautiful wife Cynthia. I am fortunate to live a wonderful outdoor life in Sydney, a city I am proud to call home since 2008.

    Born in the North of Ireland in the early 80's where 'The Troubles' were still ongoing. A carefree, playful childhood where sport was every minute from dawn to dusk. My home town of Omagh unfortunately witnessed what could be considered the final incident of 'The Troubles', a bombing in 1998, which my family were all within 1km of the incident. This moment shaped my life and I quickly learnt the values that still guide me to this day - the importance of connection, community and family but also resilience, mental toughness and compassion.

    I am blessed to have been shaped by a strong mother who had limitless determination, focus and caregiving and my father who was the life and soul of any room, a leader in the community and saw the best in everyone.

  • The childhood love for sport has never left me so can still be found running, kayaking, playing sports whenever I get a chance (not as much as my childhood). A lover of music and my vinyl collection is my treasure chest.

    But my main interest is trying to be the best father and husband I can be.

    I love spending time with my kids whenever and wherever I can and think they are my mentors ... they teach me to be present, to slow down, to engage, to have a sense of wonderment and ultimately have fun.

  • Its 100% the men!

    They give me the confidence to continue to drop my body armour, be proud of my unique self and ultimately live like no one is watching.

    I get a huge cheesy smile though when I see the moment when someone new to the group gets welcomed, realises it is a group like no other, and zero judgement, and then they come out of their shell and feel comfortable and confident to share their stories.

  • Not interesting but possibly unique - I live in an Irish/Argentinian house (my wifes background is Argentinian) and we don't eat meat or drink alcohol!! There are not many Irish and Argies that can say that!!