VIRGIN Media star Tommy Bowe has opened up about feeling dad guilt and admitted it’s “not really spoken about”.
The Ireland AM host is married to former Miss Wales Lucy and the couple share two kids together, Emma, 7, and Jamie, 4.
Tommy juggles early starts on the popular morning show with a busy work schedule, all while raising two kids with his wife.
The pair tied the knot on June 14, 1015, in Lucy’s home country during an intimate ceremony at the Corran Resort and Spa in Camrathenshire.
They will be celebrating ten years of marriage this month and Tommy has said they packed a lot into the past decade.
In an interview with RSVP Magazine, he said: “It’s amazing – we’ve packed an awful lot into that decade between rugby, retirement and starting in television.
“Obviously having two kids as well and so many other things. It’s been a mad 10 years. We’ve enjoyed that time, it’s been exciting and fun for us as a family. We’re looking forward to the next decade.”
Three years after marrying, Tommy would hang up his boots in favour of a microphone as he began a career in television.
The 40-year-old host has been presenting Ireland AM since 2020 after being a rugby pundit.
Speaking about life at home, Tommy has said the couple make it work thanks to mutual respect.
He said: “The respect between the two of us, that’s the most important thing. Lucy respects that I’m up and gone every morning. And I fully respect her, she’s a nurse and she’s at home with the kids. She’s got a much more difficult job than I have.
“I’m living the life going off and catching up with friends, whereas she has to get the kids up and out every morning. I don’t envy that. The respect we have for each other is so important.”
The dad-of-two also also opened up about feeling dad guilt, which is a topic he thinks isn’t talked about enough.
He said: “It’s not really spoken about and it’s real. I spend a lot of time away from home and I’m very busy.
“We keep having to tell the kids, when my daughter is complaining that I’m not home, that you have to work hard to do nice things and to be able to celebrate nice things. Being away is difficult at times.”
He also revealed that it’s something many athletes and rugby players face.
He added: “People see the players representing Ireland and doing well at World Cups or Olympics, but they’ve been away from their families for weeks at a time. That’s not easy for their partners or their kids. But you have to make sacrifices sometimes.”
AWKWARD!
Tommy recently made a major blunder while interviewing a guest last week.
Gerard Jordan, who’s best known for his role as Steo Nash in the hit soap, sat down with Tommy and Karen Koster.
However, the hosts had their wires crossed and mixed up some of the Dubliner’s credentials with an English actor with the same name.
When introducing Gerard to viewers, Karen mentioned some shows that she thought he had acted in.
She said: “He has overcome the carnage of Carrigstown, faced down the White Walkers in Game of Thrones and survived the criminal underworld of Blue Lights…”
During their chat, Tommy also spoke about the hit series saying: “Obviously you’re involved in Fair City, Derry Girls, Game of Thrones.”
The 34-year-old pulled up the presenters on the incorrect information saying: “I wasn’t on Derry Girls or Game of Thrones. I think you’re getting me mixed up there with another Gerard Jordan.”
