Putting together an agenda for our annual Women & Agriculture Conference presents a challenge within Irish Country Living HQ every year.

We want to educate you, hence the reason we have put together a session with Peter Young, Noel Leahy and Dermot Goode about practically putting money in your pocket. We want to inspire you, so that’s why we have put together a panel of women who have built their businesses through times of deep adversity. We also want to inform you, which is why we have invited psychologist Maureen Gaffney back to be our keynote speaker for our 10th conference.

So when we asked rugby stars and farming brothers Rob and Dave Kearney to take to the stage, it wasn’t just for some fun to break up the afternoon – although that does help – these guys are going to get us off our feet with a key message about exercise; it’s not just quantity of time when it comes to getting fit, it’s quality.

If you only have 30 minutes to exercise, you want to be making use of every second. On top of that, the Kearney brothers have been involved with the National Dairy Council (NDC) for three years and have been communicating a message that sits very well with the two boys; milk as hydration after training.

Sitting in Rob’s kitchen in Dublin, they make it clear that they aren’t just promoting any old product.

“We always drank milk as part of our training,” says Dave, “it’s not just a line we roll out. Even in secondary school it was part of routine and now it’s important for us to refuel, repair and rehydrate.”

While the Kearney’s latest campaign has been focused on “Powered by Dairy”, with a focus on athletes using milk to replenish after training, a new focus for the NDC is on women. With osteoporosis being a concern for many women at our conference, it’s about getting them more involved in consuming dairy and educating people about the importance of drinking milk every day for bone health. This is a message that the Kearneys will be building on at our Women & Agriculture Conference. But it seems, whatever the topic, these lads are always on the same page. With just three years between them, the rugby stars are seemingly inseparable.

They train together, work together, they lived together, they socialise with the same people and they even head off on holidays together.

“What can I say? I’m a pretty sound fella. I’m very easy to get along with,” teases Rob, obviously the cheekier of the two.

“Ah no, to be honest, Dave is horizontal, he is so laid-back.”

Overcoming injuries

In fact, the two are so in sync that they were even on injury leave together this summer. But that was certainly no joke. For Dave, a calf injury kept him off the pitch while Rob suffered two knockbacks with a knee injury as well as surgery on his biceps.

“Yeah, it’s been a rough summer,” says Rob, adding that mentally it can be a challenge to stay positive.

“You’ve worked so hard, you’re at the peak of your powers and then bang, an incident happens and you are back to square one. Look, it’s part and parcel of what we do, it’s in the job spec but you do need a fair bit of mental resilience for it,” Dave adds.

“Look, it goes in circles. Things go right for us and then we get a step back and then we get lucky for a while. You have to be patient and once you get back, it’s luck again.”

Rob is on the recovery table for another few weeks but Dave is back in action with two games in South Africa under his belt.

Leinster faced the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth as well as the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein. So, what are their thoughts on the expansion of the Guinness Pro 14 taking on these new teams?

“It’s something different isn’t it, and it’s nice to get a different trip away,” laughs Dave. “It is good for the development of the game in this part of the world. With the expansion of the league, you are generating more revenue and selling a better product, which ultimately is what we want to be a part of. We want to play the big games in front of the big crowds and with a better product.”

Does this mean potential for more teams to join? “Perhaps, you can’t go much more as we would be playing two teams,” says Rob, “but I’ve heard South Africa is keen on adding a couple more teams and a team from America is interested, so it’s good to open it up.”

Being part of the senior squad doesn’t mean that the Kearneys are even near contemplating retirement but when the time does come, they certainly have a few ventures on the go to keep them occupied, namely their bar businesses. They started with the Bridge in Ballsbridge a few years ago and last year they opened their second bar, Lemon & Duke, just off Grafton Street, with teammates Sean O’Brien and Jamie Heaslip.

“It was something that a few of us have always wanted to do and we built a relationship with a really good publican, Noel Anderson,” says Rob. “After the Bridge started doing really well, we were on the lookout for a second property which led us to Lemon & Duke. I suppose we did it with a view to the future after rugby, but also it’s a nice hobby to have – not that we drink a huge amount in it. We all have made our individual contributions. Jamie has the experience with other businesses in Dublin, Sean O’Brien has a real eye for detail in terms of interior design and Dave is very into the food element of it and the development of the menu. What did I add again?” he laughs, turning to his brother.

“Oh yeah, I was into the whole look and feel of the bar.”

So, with these city centre businesses on the cards, does that mean going back to the family farm in Louth is still an option?

“Potentially,” says Rob diplomatically. “It’s been in the family for a long time.” Dave eyes his brother with a laugh: “He wouldn’t have a clue.”

“Alright,” says Rob. “It is probably past us. Never say never though.”

Do you even help out on the farm, we ask? “Not really,” says Dave. “We did when we were younger. Dad never forced us to do anything and yeah, we enjoyed it but we don’t do much anymore. We can’t really with the rugby and all, in case we get injured.”

“Yeah, you’ve got to mind those ankles of yours,” quips Rob. Although there is obviously good banter between the lads, they haven’t always gotten the best rep at being entertaining. The ‘@boringkearney’ twitter account now has 60,000 followers.

“It started with an interview we did on The Late Late Show with the NDC, where this guy obviously thought we weren’t too entertaining. Ah listen, it’s funny, we both laugh hysterically at it sometimes. We would be rolling around the floor laughing – some of the tweets are just classic.

“Some of our favourites are the references to ‘what a time to be alive’. It does get a little repetitive though, which is ironic in itself.”

A guy in Mullingar is behind the account.

“I’m amazed at how much free time he has,” says Dave, “because he tweets all the time. I’d hate to be his employer, he must do no work.”

“We did think about hunting him down,” adds Rob, “but he has so much fun on it and, you know, what they say, it’s best served cold.”

Whether he is talking about the revenge or the milk, that’s up for debate. CL

Our Women & Agriculture

Conference, in association with FBD Insurance and Sherry FitzGerald, will take place on 25 and 26 of October in Mount Wolseley Hotel in Co Carlow. Get your tickets now. See page 9.