BBC sports presenter Thomas Niblock has opened up about the heartbreak he and his wife Kirstie have experienced through multiple pregnancy losses.
The popular broadcaster revealed the couple have suffered three miscarriages.
He shared their emotional journey during an episode of the GAA Social Podcast alongside co-host Oisin McConville and guest Johnny Glynn.
The conversation spurred former Galway hurling star Glynn to reveal that he also shared his own fertility struggles.
Gynn, who is based in New York, revealed that his wife Serena has endured failed IVF rounds and miscarriage heartbreak of their own.
Glynn initially retired from inter-county hurling in 2020 after he had had enough of commuting from New York to play for the Galway senior hurlers.
He briefly returned for Galway 2024 under Henry Shefflin, before returning to represent New York.
He also represented New York in the Connacht football championship in their first-ever championship win against Leitrim in 2023.
The 31-year-old captained New York to Lory Meagher Cup success at Croke Park, but just days earlier the couple had received devastating news that their latest IVF attempt had not worked.
Former Armagh star Oisin McConville described the episode as a “privilege” to be part of as both men spoke candidly about loss and grief.
Before Glynn shared his experiences, Niblock opened up about nearly losing his wife during a pregnancy complication.
He stated: “It is not an exaggeration – my family and friends would know this – we were very close to losing Kirstie.
“That shapes you. When you go through something like that, your priorities change. You still want to have children, of course, but when you come that close to losing the person you love, that becomes everything.”
He explained that while IVF might be a future option for them, they’re still on the path of trying to figure things out with wife Kristie.
He revealed: “She’s a strong person with a good head on her shoulders,” Niblock said. “But it’s still heavy. I’d feel like a hypocrite not putting myself out there, even if it’s a bit weird to talk about.”
Glynn’s experience echoed those sentiments.
“We’ve had miscarriages. We’ve had an ectopic pregnancy. We’ve done multiple rounds of IVF.
“We’ve just finished our fifth round of IVF transfers and they’ve all failed so far. Honestly, I don’t know how we’ll get there – but I know we will.
“If one day we have healthy kids, I’ll take all these tough years. We’ll be fine because we’ve got each other.”
He added that further heartbreak was watching his wife in pain.
Glynn adeed: “It’s the one thing I can’t fix. And that’s a f*****g killer.”
The pair also reflected on moments where people casually asked them when they were having children.
Niblock recalled that he fronts up about the past heartbreaks.
He added: “To be honest, we’ve had three miscarriages.”
“Their face just drops. But I think that’s important.”
“When you’re in the middle of it, and you don’t have kids – you’re in a very different place. And the truth is, we don’t talk about this enough. It’s not normalised. And I include myself in that.”
He ended with an emotional message as he revealed some different paths that he and his wife may take.
“We’re still clinging on to hope – and hope is a powerful thing. If that was gone, we’d start looking at other paths, maybe adoption or fostering, or accepting life without children.
“But whatever happens, me and Kirstie will have a brilliant life. As long as she’s there – that’s what matters.”
