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Irish Examiner
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Derry Fleming: 'Losing three friends to cancer made me realise you have to live while you can'
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.
Irish Examiner
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Wedding of the Week: 'When we met, I had a black eye and his ear was stitched together'
Photogenic Limerick couple Kristine Reidy and Keith Lacey were the ultimate chic traffic-stoppers on their big day. Kristine, from Kilmeedy, and Keith, from Dromcollogher, were married at St Mary's Church, Feohanagh, Co Limerick. Kristine Reidy and Keith Lacey. Pictures: Black Diamond Photography En route to their reception at Fitzgeralds Woodlands House Hotel & Spa, Adare, they posed at a busy roundabout for Kaspars Sarovarcenko ( 'The plan was to have photos taken in St Nicholas's Church in Adare, but when we arrived, there was another wedding there, so we ended up taking them at the nearby roundabout,' says the bride. Kristine Reidy and Keith Lacey. Pictures: Black Diamond Photography 'Kaspars did an incredible job; passing cars were beeping at every picture taken — and it was all great fun.' The pair had also sported head-turning looks on their initial encounter 16 years before, on Keith's local GAA pitch. Kristine Reidy and Keith Lacey. Pictures: Black Diamond Photography 'When we first met, I had a black eye from a football game and he had just got his ear stitched together from a hurling match!' says Kristine, a secondary school teacher. Keith, a social care worker, proposed on Ballycotton Cliff Walk, Cork, on January 21, 2023. 'I didn't want to go on the walk that day — I had new runners on, I didn't want to dirty them, and the weather wasn't great. Keith was behind me, and when I turned around, he was down on one knee,' says Kristine. Kristine Reidy. Pictures: Black Diamond Photography The bride exchanged her Feohanagh-Castlemahon and Limerick GAA colours for a Mozart gown by Suzanne Neville, sourced in Kadee Bride in Athlone, and the groom was dapper in a suit purchased at Red Church, Cork City. The bridal hairstyling was by Anne Marie Fitzgerald, Tie The Knot, with Lauren Sexton as makeup artist. Kristine Reidy and Keith Lacey and Loretta Hanley. Pictures: Black Diamond Photography Krisine's lifelong friend Loretta Hanley was maid of honour, and her college pals Laura O'Neill and Sara McQuinn were bridesmaids. Keith's brothers Alan Lacey and Damien Lacey were his best man and groomsman, respectively, and his friend Liam Murray was groomsman. Kristine's cousins Ellie and Grainne Collins presented guests with the Mass booklets. Kristine Reidy and Keith Lacey. Pictures: Black Diamond Photography Claire Heffernan provided the church music, and the couple's friend Cathal Murphy performed Bradley Marshall's 'Perfect For Me' during the Mass. 'Cathal sang incredibly, got the biggest round of applause you could imagine, and his moving performance reduced many guests to tears,' says Kristine. Kristine Reidy and Keith Lacey. Pictures: Black Diamond Photography The newlyweds travelled in style in a 1960 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II, supplied by Bentley Wedding. 'Keith had organised for pick-and-mix sweets from our sweet cart to be in the car for after the ceremony. We had those with a bottle of prosecco.' Meanwhile, Kristine treated the nine brides-to-be among their guests with personalised special goodie bags at the reception. Kristine Reidy and Keith Lacey. Pictures: Black Diamond Photography All table numbers were in the day's gold and navy colour theme. "They were written in French (because I'm a French teacher) and supplied by Katelyn @Prettyglamcreations,' says the bride. Enchanted Flowers, Macroom, created the décor and content creator Ellie-May of @Thecontentclub captured special moments also on camera. As guests had entered the church, snapped their photo for a keyring which was featured in keepsakes left on each table. Kristine Reidy and Keith Lacey. Pictures: Black Diamond Photography Entertainment for the drinks reception was by Sax Appeal and wedding band The Pearls, and DJ Paudie Walsh kept the dance floor full. The newlyweds' first dance was to Justin Bieber's Anyone. Kristine and Keith enjoyed a mini-moon in Monart. 'We are building our forever home (on my land in Kilmeedy) so no big honeymoon plans yet,' says Kristine. 'Maybe we'll plan something for 2026." If you would like your wedding featured in Weekend email
