Derry Fleming: 'Losing three friends to cancer made me realise you have to live while you can'

Irish Examiner

2 days ago

Comedy duo and proud Irish men, Tadhg and Derry Fleming, have a family holiday to New York booked, and will be waving the tri colour, supporting Katie Taylor in her upcoming fight next month. If their last trips to Vegas, Nashville and Japan are anything to go by, we'll be in for a treat on social media.
Tadhg will be delivering another best man speech in August for his cousin, with whom he won Ireland's Fittest Family. Derry's wardrobe is overflowing and the dogs have Tadhg's daughter Rae all set for her new role as big sister.
The pair are known on TikTok since their hilarious 'Catch him, Derry' bat video went viral. Though Derry winces at being called an influencer, claiming to 'barely know how to use TikTok'.
Tadhg insists, 'Don't mind him he loves it. He has more dresses than Broadway at this stage, and loves coming up with new ideas.'
Tadhg jokes that his father was fired from his day job, but Derry assumes a more serious tone for a moment, telling how he retired from the job he loved at the credit union.
The loss of 'three comrades' to cancer, he says, shifted everything. Their passing was a wake-up-call, a painful reminder that life is very fragile. 'It made me realise, you have to live while you can, day to day.'
Each of his former colleagues, whom he so affectionately calls his 'comrades', sadly lost their battle with cancer aged only 57, 47 and 41. The sobering tone is not what we're used to from Derry.
'Losing three friends, who were far too young, really made me think. Especially the 41-year-old.
'I'm at retiring age anyway but after that it was definitely time to go.'
Tadhg then lightens the tone, telling me they love what they do, and are just 'winging it'. He describes their comedy as 'pure Irish. It's like sitting in someone's front room, chatting about the mad stuff that happens in everyday life. It's familiar, it's real, like the clip of the aul lad giving out to his son about the driving test. People like the honesty.'
And these two are definitely that. Life is now remarkably different for both Kerrymen, and it changed almost overnight.
'It was mad, we never could have expected it,' says Tadhg. Before things went bat crazy and their lives completely derailed, he had 'taken the scenic route' through college. Then spent ten years working in social media for businesses. It had been a solid career, though a far cry from what they are involved in now. Derry admits he is still in awe of the phenomenal response they've received. Now with millions of views and a loyal following, he describes the whole thing as mind blowing. While life may have changed overnight, Tadhg had actually been 'plugging away at material on Facebook and Vine for about ten years previous.'
Tadhg Fleming and Alannah Bradley with their dogs Otis and Boo. Pictures: Black Diamond Photography
It's definitely been a whirlwind - and it's about to get even busier, with baby number two on the way for Tadhg. Still, taking it in his stride, he's confident Rae, the apple of his eye, will adjust just fine to becoming a big sister.
'She's already used to the dogs,' he laughs. He's gushing, though, when he adds 'it'll be chaos but I wouldn't change it for the world.' Fatherhood is something he clearly cherishes. Rae, who turned one in May, makes occasional appearances on his Instagram, usually to document a milestone or share a heartwarming moment. His video of Rae, perched proudly on his wife
Alannah's childhood horse, having her first riding lesson, was adorable.
There are snapshots of her flashing a gummy smile when her first tooth came through, and a video that melted hearts: her very first steps, wobbly but determined, as she made a beeline for him. His captions strike the perfect balance of doting dad and playful banter. He's dubbed her 'troublemaker' and 'Mischief Queen' in his hashtags.
Small glimpses into his life away from the camera has resonated with their audience just as much as their comedy. They're just a normal family.
Hannah O' Riordan and Olaf Sorenson from Ballinora Scouts Group, joined by TikTok sensations Tadhg and Derry Fleming, as they celebrate being awarded €2,000 from Re-turn.
Last week, the lads took to the road to visit all ten finalists of the Re-turn Scheme: Small Town, Big Difference, 'and no better buachaills'. They brought their trademark energy and humour along the way. The banter was flowing in the car as they documented their journey on social media stories, much to the delight of their fans. Indeed, Tadhg's easy rapport with children was on full display during a football session with Buncrana Hearts Football Club.
Derry joked after: 'they really put this fella through his paces. It was like he'd been sitting in a sauna. There was sweat dripping off him.' Tadhg however insists he fully intends to lace up his boots again in a few years, when he thanked the Meath Camogie Senior Ladies for 'Rae's first hurl.'
As I interviewed the lads on the phone while they travelled, their genuine enthusiasm was clear. They were thrilled to be using their platform to shine a light on community-led initiatives across Ireland.
They often share GoFundMe pages and other worthy causes on their social media. Derry was especially moved when they stopped by Carrigaline Special School in Cork, for young people with autism. 'There were kids aged 4-18, watching the interaction and how they learn life skills and claim independence was uplifting. Great bunch of kids!'
'Irish people are storytellers,' Derry says. 'Getting out and meeting people is what it's all about. It's an education for us, learning about these great projects. Seeing communities come together benefits us all. That spirit of community, the social interaction, is what I love about my shop' he tells me. 'Derry's Purties' is a knickknack haven in county Kerry. When I told them I'd love a root around the shop myself, Tadhg jumped in with: 'It's Aladdin's cave, if you go in, you won't get out!'
Derry quipped back at him, 'you're barred!' Even over the phone, their signature wit shines through. As our conversation wrapped up, Tadhg couldn't resist one last shout: 'Kerry for the All Ireland!' (Though, as I speak with them from a coffee shop in Mayo, I quickly lower my phone volume.) After visiting Ballinora Scouts Group last week, they'll be well able to pitch a tent if they run into bother with accommodation in New York.
Aoife O' Riordan, Ryan McDonnell, Luca Busst and Penny Sorenson from Ballinora Scouts Group, joined by TikTok sensations Tadhg and Derry Fleming, as they celebrate being awarded €2,000 from Re-turn.
The Re-turn Scheme: Small Town, Big Difference is a campaign to highlight initiatives across Ireland that are using the Deposit Return Scheme to fundraise for their local community initiatives. People were asked to share their stories. An overwhelming 340 entries were received, from which were selected the ten finalists Tadhg and Derry visited.