As much as he does his best to ignore it, Peter O’Mahony is well-aware of the criticism that has been aimed at him over the years.
Social media, so often a cesspit, told him as much, which is why he no longer uses Twitter. Experience has taught him that it’s better to live in the real world, rather than one where faceless trolls have their say.
O’Mahony won’t be the last player to become a lightning-rod for those who want the bright new thing selected in the Ireland team instead of the veteran.
Rob Kearney experienced the same thing towards the end of his career, while O’Mahony’s Munster team-mate Conor Murray has also regularly been caught in the cross-fire. The one thing the trio have in common is they invariably delivered on the big days.
That’s why Joe Schmidt described O’Mahony as a “big moments player’” because even though his important role on the blindside may be under-appreciated, at 33, he is still part of Ireland’s first-choice back-row. He also recently signed a one-year central contract extension to take him beyond the World Cup.
“Look, it’s been something most players have to deal with,” O’Mahony tells the Irish Independent.
“It’s come easy enough to me because the people that are important to me are the ones that I go look for an opinion from. The coaches that I have huge respect for or players. People that I know understand the game and understand me.
“I’ll let their opinions sit with me, but I don’t really take opinions from people that aren’t in the middle of what I’m doing. People that don’t really know the game.
“I left Twitter seven or eight years ago because people pretty much have your mobile number and can text you.
“I’m not engaged in a huge amount of social media. I know it’s an important tool but I don’t engage like I used to.
“I’ve a great support group around me who I can always pick up the phone to and chew the fat on different things.”
Even if he was tempted to get caught up in the social media echo chamber, family life demands that when O’Mahony is not in camp, he is spending his time with his wife Jessica, their daughter, Indie (six), and sons Theo (four) and Ralph (two).
The kids are at an age now where they have a greater understanding of their dad’s unique job, but that doesn’t stop the difficult questions at home.
“They’re getting a bit of a handle on it,” O’Mahony smiles.
“They’re still asking me why all the other school kids’ daddies drop them to school and I’m not, which is a tough one to answer. But hopefully they’ll understand down the line.
“It’s a lovely sense of satisfaction. You get funny comments from them saying ‘A fella arrived in with your sticker today in school. What’s going on there, like?’
“You have a bit of craic with it. They’d be handing out stickers of me to the teachers, it’s like ‘Jesus, you can’t be at that kind of stuff!’ But it’s all innocent.”
Since he made his debut in 2012, O’Mahony has always had a deep appreciation for what it means to represent his country. Nowadays he cherishes it that bit more, with his kids watching on.
“If you don’t get that fizz, you’re in the wrong place,” O’Mahony, who is set to win his 93rd cap against Scotland in Murrayfield tomorrow, insists.
“It’s a huge honour to be able to pull on a jersey for Ireland and if you’re taking that for granted, there’s something up because there isn’t a bigger honour.
“For me growing up as a young fella coming up through (Cork) Con, and seeing the lads play for Munster and Ireland when I was only small. And then to be here now, it’s hard to put into words.
“Dream come true sounds like a s**tty cliche but I went from having posters of these guys on my wall in my room to having to take them down because I was training alongside them.
“Sitting here, 12, 13, 14 years later, and having a big game like this, it is a dream come true.”
That sense of responsibility is not lost on O’Mahony. Last week, at the Aviva Stadium, Ireland had an open session in front of a crowd of a couple of thousand, mostly made up of kids. Afterwards, the players took time so sign autographs and take photos. The way O’Mahony sees it, it’s part of the position he’s in.
“It’s so important for us to be role models for the young people out there like guys were to me,” he says.
“I remember Keith Wood signing my jersey at an open session in Musgrave Park. I was wearing a Con jersey and he buried the pen into my back because I was wearing the Con jersey! It’s a memory that stands out to me.
“Someone met me last week and hopefully the little conversation we had will stand to them over time and who knows where they’ll end up?”
When O’Mahony lines up for the anthems at Murrayfield tomorrow, he will be in the zone, and likely looking like he is ready to go to war. Behind the steely exterior, however, he will be gripped by nerves.
The proud Cork native admits he was moved by the recent guest speakers in Ireland camp, as they relayed tales of what it meant to play for the country, and the significance of Ireland’s Call.
“It has made me think very differently about it, 100pc. It was always something that I would have felt strongly about, that we represent the whole country.
“We’re the full island and it’s a big responsibility for us and it’s something that’s very important to us. It certainly has been to me for a long time but after that, it just means that little bit more and it’s a little bit different when you get the background of what guys really sacrificed to play for the entire country of Ireland. It was incredible really.
“The anthems are very important to me, definitely. You’re thinking about family and stuff, and how the game ahead is very important for them to look back on or look at and be very proud of you.
“You’re in your own head, well I certainly am. I know there are guys who look up to the stands and find people, but that would probably send me over the edge to be honest!
“It would just be too emotional for me. It’s already emotional as it is. I look up to the top of the stadium and close my eyes, I find that easier.”
With a Grand Slam at stake in Edinburgh, tomorrow will be no different for O’Mahony, who is relishing the prize at stake, even if he knows he will have to control his emotions during the anthems.
“It’s such a big occasion every time it’s happening,” he adds.
“Not many people actually get to sing the national anthem when you think about it, for any reason.
“Maybe if you’re in an auld rural pub down in West Cork or Kerry, but to sing it in front of a crowd of your home fans or away, is very special. I’m very lucky.”
