The ‘energised’ circle session Caelan Doris had with 18 Irish prison inmates after missing out on Lions tour
Ireland skipper Caelan Doris in Scotland last February
Caelan Doris could have been the player handed the British and Irish Lions series trophy last Saturday in Sydney.
The Ireland captain had been tipped to lead the 2025 tour to Australia, but a serious shoulder injury sustained the weekend before the squad selection last May ruled him out and resulted in England’s Maro Itoje being named as Lions skipper by Andy Farrell.
It was May 12, nine days after the injury was sustained versus Northampton, when Leinster, Doris’ club, confirmed he had undergone an operation that would “keep him out of action for between four to six months”.
There has been no update since then on this potential return date. However, away from his rehab, the forward has been keeping busy, and it has now emerged that his activities included a recent prison visit to talk to inmates.
“All were struck by how he showed up that day…”
The location of the prison visited on July 10 wasn’t named by Ronan Conway in his LinkedIn post about Doris, but the team and self-development facilitator shed light on the circle session that the Ireland No.8 conducted with 18 inmates.
Conway began: “Not often do the worlds of professional sport and prison rehabilitation meet in the same room, but recently they did. Caelan Doris sat in on a circle session with 18 lads on their rehabilitation journey.
“As per usual, the lads delved into their past, present and future. They had questions for Caelan, as he did for them. Some were surprised that someone of Caelan’s status would care enough to come to a prison, especially in the midst of his injury rehabilitation journey.
“By him being there, there was a real sense that they mattered. While some were aware of his accolades or his warrior-nature on the field, all were struck by how he showed up that day – present, open and with a deep sense of humanity.
“All left energised and more committed to making positive choices and changes. At the end, one man turned to Caelan and said: ‘When you go over the try line, the landings erupt with noise. That helps. Thank you.’
“A knock came on the door for the lads to return to their cells. After some hugs and fist pumps and goodbyes, Caelan and I stood in the silence for a bit, letting it all sink in. Interestingly, we were left with a similar feeling to what would be had following a team development session with the likes of Leinster.
“Since then I have reflected on a few things:
- In any given room – to various degrees – people will be living a range of universal human themes like adversity, triumph, fear, resilience, potential, gratitude, loss, love, hope, redemption, belonging. When it is safe to share and be heard, real alchemy takes place.
- I have often wrestled with whether connection is a wellbeing enhancer or a performance enhancer – for the individual or for the group. It’s both. It’s the glue that binds us to do great things. It’s what nourishes us emotionally and spiritually to keep going.
- Wherever and however it may be, the value of having spaces to be our full human selves, in all its messiness. To check in with ourselves and those around us. To make sense of the complex and often challenging journeys we are all on, together.
“Cheers, Caelan Doris, for coming in and showing up as you do. Thanks to Spéire Nua & Damien Quinn for ongoing support to do this work, and to the Irish Prison Service for facilitating.”
