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CRAIG GILROY

Ulster and Ireland rugby player

1. What do you love most about your job?

The best part about my job is running out at the Kingspan stadium in front of a big crowd! This is something I really miss with fans not being allowed back in the stadium due to COVID. Ulster fans are special and the buzz they give me when I’m on the pitch is euphoric.

2. What has been your career highlight to date?

To date I would have to say scoring a hat-trick for Ireland in Italy on my last outing in green! I have many memorable moments with Ulster also, hitting milestones like 100th appearance and 150th appearance is always special too.

3. What are your favourite hobbies/ activities outside of work?

I enjoy listening to podcasts and taking my dogs for a walk, or watching a movie with my girlfriend, that’s about the height of what we can do over lockdown! I also have a big interest in property, I recently fi nished a development with Roskyle building company and Colliers international, and have another property project in the pipeline. I love seeing what potential a house or a site can have.

4. What is your daily routine?

Each day can be diff erent, Monday and Tuesday are very busy days at training with Ulster where we get a lot of our work done. Wednesday is usually a down day or a recovery day, where you can relax a bit more, let the body rest and maybe take care of some things outside of rugby… or as Andrew Trimble always called them, admin days!

5. Do you have a specifi c fi tness regime?

The fi tness regime I have is luckily taken care of by the S&C department at Ulster Rugby who are brilliant at setting out what we have to do be it from a speed, weights, fi tness or power perspective. There is also nutritionists there who help with the diet and nutrition side of it.

6. Do you have any tips for staying positive during this time?

I think at this current time in our lives with everything going on it can be a struggle, it could be fi nancial problems, relationship probems or just really not feeling in a good headspace. Everyone is diff erent and everyone has their own struggles. I think most importantly if you have good health you are already winning, as they say your health is your wealth. For me I fi nd if I’m not in the best headspace I try and put my phone away, get some fresh air or talk to a friend or family member. We are in it together and there is light at the end of the tunnel.

7. What do you think is the best thing about living in Northern Ireland?

I love Northern Ireland because I grew up here, I went to school here – it is a place with a lot of history and some amazing places to visit. The people are very friendly and I’m proud to call myself Northern Irish!

8. What is your mantra or favourite quote that you live by?

The Time is Short… it is written on a church tower in Ballygowan, my dad showed it to my brother and I when we were little, I think about it sometimes and how life is precious and can go by fast so we must enjoy and savour it.

9. Who has been your biggest infl uence?

My parents, they both work extremely hard in their work lives and also in raising fi ve kids! They also supported us all in pursuing our own goals and we couldn’t have done it without them.

10. FAVOURITE

Movie: Troy Band/Musician: Biff y Clyro or Mac Miller

Book: That was then, this is now

Restaurant: Zen Holiday Destination: Dubai or Portugal Drink: Coke Zero