'Utter gentleman': Traitors host Siobhán McSweeney says Leitrim's Donal Casey should be 'very proud'

The Traitors Ireland host Siobhán McSweeney has said she was “very proud” of Leitrim contestant Donal Casey, admitting she was “sad to see him go” from the hit RTÉ series.

The 24-year-old teacher was banished in the series eighth episode, following an emotional period which saw him open up about the personal struggles he had faced before entering the castle.

Reflecting on the series during RTÉ’s ‘Uncloaked’ after the final, Siobhán McSweeney was asked which contestant she would have liked to see more of.

“I would have liked to see more of Donal,” she said. “There was a lot more we could’ve gotten from him.”

Siobhán said she was particularly proud of Donal because of how difficult he found the experience, “there’s a real version of our young men that go inward when they find things stressful.”

“He was an utter gentleman and fantastic player and I think we could’ve gotten more out of him,” she said.

“I was very proud of him and sad to see him go.”

Donal, who works as a construction and woodwork teacher in Carrick-on-Shannon, had already endured a hugely difficult year before stepping into the world of The Traitors.

The former Leitrim county footballer, suffered a broken neck during last year’s Leitrim senior football final, an injury which brought his playing career to an abrupt end.

For someone whose life had revolved heavily around sport, the sudden loss was something he struggled to come to terms with.

“I’m after losing everything that I’ve kind of nearly lived for, for the last while. It was just sport. It took over nearly most of my life, and it was gone all of a sudden,” Donal told the Observer.

It was during that difficult period that Donal decided to take the leap and embark on his Traitors journey.

“I probably needed it in the sense of I needed something different in my life. It’s definitely given me a lot more than I ever wanted out of it,” he said.

His time in the castle ultimately proved to be an intense experience, with Donal later describing the psychological pressure of the game.

“I just couldn’t hold it together any longer, and all that pressure that I’ve held in for such a length of time, it kind of all came crashing out,” he said, reflecting on his tearful exit.

“I’ve never really been involved in something as intense as that. Just mentally taxing to a different level.”

Despite his stay being cut short, Donal became a memorable figure among viewers, with his students in Carrick-on-Shannon also tuning in to support their teacher.

The former Leitrim Gaels player knows plenty about performing under pressure, having played in Croke Park and helped his club to their first county championship last year.

But he admitted that the unique pressure of The Traitors was unlike anything he had experienced on the football pitch.

“Again, you’re in such an intense environment, and it takes a lot of balls to go with your gut in certain areas and to pin certain people,” he said.

While Donal has had to endure some good natured slagging from his students since appearing on the show, he said he was well used to it from his years playing football.

And while he admitted to having some anxiety about watching the series back, the comments from Siobhán McSweeney suggest that his time in the castle left an impression.

“He should be very proud of himself,” she added.