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The Irish Sun
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Inside Lee Chin's life including day job as Wexford forward even stars during RTE GAA ad breaks with Johnny B
LEE Chin has been a constant presence in the inter-county season so far - with that even extending to seemingly every ad break too. The Wexford talisman exposes himself to acting in an amusing advert with one half of Advertisement 4 In it he shares a candlelit bath with Johnny B Credit: Bord Gáis 4 Not a combination or setting we'd have automatically concocted but it works Credit: Bord Gáis 4 Arriving suited and booted at the 2024 GAA All-Stars bash at the RDS in Dublin 4 He's arguably the best hurler in the country this year The concept behind it is that Johnny B is trying to save money on his heating bill by hopping in the bath with an unsuspecting Chin as he's trying to unwind on the eve of a big match. In the full version below there's even a cameo at the end from Johnny Smacks. Whatever the Faythe Harriers clubman is doing in the lead-up to games is clearly working as he's having one of his best-ever seasons in the purple and gold. After his Advertisement Read More On GAA The four-time All-Ireland winner hailed: "When Wexford needed the scores the most, it was their three most experienced players who delivered between Lee, Rory O'Connor and also Conor McDonald off the bench. "Lee probably would've been disappointed with a couple of his frees today but here he is in his own half-back line striking one over the bar. That takes a huge amount of guts and courage to step up but that's the leader that Lee is." Here, SunSport delves into his life away from the GAA pitch: Advertisement Most read in GAA Hurling Comment Comment What is Lee Chin's day job? According to his LinkedIn page, he currently works as a Sales Director at Clearwater Construction. They specialise in building all-weather pitches and synthetic grass surfaces as well as complementary facilities so he's very much working in the sports industry. Dublin GAA legends reunite in Germany after taking part in gruelling sporting phenomenon The company has two offices with one in Wexford Town along with another in Grange Con, Wicklow. He's previously been refreshingly open about how he was able to mostly live off brand deals. Advertisement Back in 2018, He explained: "I don't like when people ask me or refer to me as a professional, ask me am I living as a professional athlete - I'm not, I'm far from that. "I mentioned before that I'm trying to live as much of a professional lifestyle as possible with diets and recovery and sleep; obviously just working on my game every now and then. "Other than that, most of my training is done with the team collectively. Advertisement "I'd do my bits on my own but the rest of the Wexford panel that I know do the same thing." How old is Lee Chin? The 2019 All-Star is 32. His birthday falls on October 8. Over the winter he After his first game back on February 24, he detailed: 'I took a break away. Advertisement "It's been a long enough career and I thought it was time that I took a bit of time for myself and took a mental break and a physical break at the same time. 'I heard a few bits and pieces but I knew what I was doing and the lads here at home knew what I was doing. That's Ireland for you. 'We're all like one big family and everyone hears everything. We're all so close, in the GAA community especially, but it was just an extended holiday for me and I was happy to be home. 'There were times when you'd question it but hopefully it'll stand to me later in the year. I'm enjoying being back, training with the lads and working hard. Advertisement "It's not too long away until the summer and that's what I wanted to do, shorten the winter for myself." Chin returned to a different Wexford dressing room in 2025 as old pals Matthew O'Hanlon, Diarmuid O'Keeffe and Liam Óg McGovern
Irish Independent
27-04-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
John Mullins obituary: Cork businessman and Fine Gael politician who was head of Bord Gáis, stood for election and proved a great supporter of the GAA
He became CEO of Bord Gáis in December 2007, a position he held until the end of 2012. During those five years, Bord Gáis set up an electricity unit and developed significant renewable and conventional power-generation assets. After finishing his time at the company, Mullins and Alain Desvigne co-founded Amarenco, a company in the PV (photovoltaic) sector focused on the use of solar panels to convert sunlight directly into electric power. He became executive chairperson of the company, which promotes the development, financing and ownership of solar PV assets in Europe, the Caribbean, the Middle East and Asia. In a wide-ranging career, Mullins held senior management positions with the ESB and its global energy engineering consultancy ESB International, the accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (UK) and the renewable energy group NTR. He chaired the Port of Cork Company from 2013 to 2021 and was a director of the Cork-based Tyndall National Institute, a European research centre focused on integrated ICT (Information and Communications Technology) hardware and systems, cooperating with industry and academia to turn research into products. He was also a director of Páirc Uí Chaoimh as well as Wisetek Solutions Limited, also Cork-based, which specialises in IT asset disposition, data sanitisation and re-use, and was acquired by the Boston-headquartered company Iron Mountain in a major deal last year. Born in March 1968, John Mullins grew up in the Cork city districts of Knocknaheeny and Bishopstown, and attended the North Monastery Secondary School. He went on from there to University College Cork and acquired bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering, followed by an MBA from the UCD Smurfit Business School. A Fellow of Engineers Ireland and the Irish Academy of Engineering, he was awarded a Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur by the French government in 2015 — the country's highest civilian honour — for his role in developing the solar energy market there. He joined Young Fine Gael in the early 1990s, serving as its national president from 1993 to 1995. In 1994, Mullins put his name forward as a Fine Gael general election candidate for Cork North-Central. He fell short of getting the nomination by a single vote. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more He was a Fine Gael candidate last year for the European Parliament in the five-seat constituency of Ireland South, hoping to succeed the party's retiring MEP, Deirdre Clune. He told the Irish Examiner that, if elected, his priorities would be to achieve a 'new rural contract' with farmers in Ireland, the creation of 'pragmatic transitional environmental policies' and a 'fair but firm' approach to immigration. A visionary entrepreneur and a passionate climate protection advocate He finished in eighth position on the first count with 33,281 votes and was eliminated on the 17th count. John Mullins served as president of the Cork Chamber of Commerce from 2011 to 2013. He was also a member of the One Cork fundraising committee, dedicated to the promotion of Gaelic games in the county. He was a founding chairperson of the Anam Cara charity for bereaved parents, and he also chaired Energycloud, a charity for people facing fuel-poverty. In a statement, Amarenco described him as 'a visionary entrepreneur and a passionate climate protection advocate. John held executive roles within Amarenco until the end of 2024, driving the business forward in the face of many challenges. 'His dedication, vision and values have left a lasting mark and will continue to guide our company into the future. John will be greatly missed by all within our business, and our industry, for his leadership and friendship.' Cork GAA said: 'John represented everything our organisation stands for — a volunteer, a community man, a proponent of our games, and someone willing to go the extra mile for the benefit of others.' John was a wonderfully gregarious character who had a huge impact in Cork and across the country The manager of the county's senior hurling team, Pat Ryan, said: 'John Mullins was a great supporter of Cork GAA and especially the Cork senior hurlers.' Mullins's friend from his college days, Gary Murphy, now professor of politics at DCU, wrote in his Sunday Times column: 'Ultimately, Mullins simply wanted to make Ireland a better place for its people and it is a tragedy for the country, as much as his family, that he will not get the chance to continue his work of the past three-and-a-half decades. May he rest easy.' Tánaiste and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris said: 'It was an honour to know John, to soldier with him in politics, to canvass with him. I always found it a joy to be in his company. 'For Fine Gael, he was a proud friend of so many and a party activist to his core. The Fine Gael family, especially across Cork, mourns his loss. 'He was kind, witty, intelligent, fundamentally decent and someone who always wanted to do right by his community and his country. His loss is immense and will be felt deeply by so many.' Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said: 'I am deeply saddened at the passing of John Mullins, someone who made such a distinguished contribution to public life, business, sport and politics. John was a wonderfully gregarious character who had a huge impact in Cork and across the country. 'John had a particular interest in sport, with his beloved Bishopstown GAA and as director of Páirc Uí Chaoimh, and I often enjoyed great banter with him over sporting rivalries. 'John fully realised his potential in public service and in business, but he could just as easily have realised his promise in politics with his deep and abiding interest and involvement with Fine Gael. A great strategist, you would see John at all the election counts over the years.' John Mullins died suddenly after taking ill at his home on April 14. He is survived by his wife Siobhan, children Michael and Sarah, his parents Pat and Maureen, brothers Jim, Pat, Kieran and Brian, other relatives and a wide circle of colleagues and friends. A ceremony in the Church of the Holy Spirit at Dennehy's Cross was followed by removal to the Island Crematorium in Ringaskiddy.
Irish Examiner
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Kilkenny retirement allows Walter Walsh to fulfill dream of lining out for Leinster rugby
This wasn't exactly how Walter Walsh envisaged retirement panning out, swapping the black and amber of Kilkenny for the blue of Leinster Rugby. For the guts of 15 years he was Eoin Murphy's bus partner on Kilkenny team journeys to here, there and everywhere. But Walsh's winter retirement means that Murphy will have a new partner for this Sunday's trip north to play Antrim in Belfast. "I wonder who is after replacing me," smiled Walsh. "I'll have to check that one out." Not that Walsh will be sitting at home with his feet up. The three-time All-Ireland SHC medallist has put his powerful, towering frame to good use since hanging up the hurl, jumping back into competitive rugby. The 33-year-old married father of young twins trained last weekend at Gorey RFC with a selection of Leinster junior players who are currently preparing for their interprovincial series opener against defending champions Ulster this weekend. "It's something completely different," said Walsh. "I got to pull on a Leinster jersey recently and it's nice. We played the Defence Forces in a game and it's something I always wanted to do, to pull on the Leinster jersey. "I've been playing rugby since I was five years of age. Obviously I had a 15-year break between 18 and last year when I was 33 and got to play again." Walsh impressed enough whilst playing with New Ross, whom he rejoined in October, to gain the call up for interprovincial duty. "I play second centre, I would always have been a back in rugby," he said. So what if he'd stuck with the oval ball from a young age, would full honours with the Leinster firsts have even been a possibility? "Ah no, no, no," insisted Walsh, already seeing the potential headlines. "I wouldn't even begin to speculate there." After over a decade of partnership, the Bord Gáis Energy Legends Tour Series of Croke Park returns once again for 2025 and includes a star-studded line up of Gaelic Games players. For a full schedule of the Bord Gáis Energy GAA Legends Tour Series of Croke Park and details of how to book a place on a tour, visit Booking is essential as the tours sell out quickly. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile There was no turning back for Walsh after bursting onto the hurling scene as an U-21 in 2012, a wildcard pick by manager Brian Cody that paid out a huge dividend in Kilkenny's All-Ireland final replay win over Galway. He shot 1-3 that day and fired the exact same tally on the same pitch a dozen years later when powering his club, Tullogher-Rosbercon, to All-Ireland junior success in early 2024. It was a full and wholesome career then and Kilkenny could do with another phenom bursting through now. It's four years since Jackie Tyrrell suggested that Kilkenny haven't had a 'wow' player emerge since Richie Hogan and TJ Reid broke through, and things haven't changed much in the meantime. Martin Keoghan, 26 now and on the panel since 2018, has arguably been their best player this year. "They still maybe haven't found a player like Tipperary have found in Darragh McCarthy," said Walsh. "I don't think Kilkenny have. But there's still time in the Leinster championship games to find that player. "There are players that have come up through the Kilkenny ranks that are very talented, the likes of Harry Shine or some of these lads, he could have a really good year with Kilkenny yet. "He's very talented. He seems to have a lot of the skills to operate at that level. There will be chances for players because there are five round robin games, so lads will get their chances. It's about taking your chance when you get it and holding onto it." Tyrrell did acknowledge in 2021 that Eoin Cody had the potential to develop into a 'wow' player and with 1-5 against Galway in their Leinster SHC opener last weekend, the 2023 All-Star will be a marked man again this weekend at Corrigan Park. The bigger picture for Kilkenny is that if they don't win the All-Ireland this year, it'll be 11 years since their last MacCarthy Cup success, the longest in the county's history. The departures of Walsh, Buckley and Fogarty hardly helped their cause with only three players - TJ Reid, Murphy and Richie Reid - left from the All-Ireland winning panel of 2015. Walsh isn't overly concerned on that front. "The last few years, Kilkenny has been in an All-Ireland semi-final and two All-Ireland finals," he said. "So they are knocking on the door. It is extremely hard to win an All-Ireland as well. I can't pinpoint why it is that they haven't won one since (2015) but Kilkenny will always be competitive in hurling and if they can win Leinster again this year, then they're into an All-Ireland semi-final. "There's only two games to win after that. Kilkenny have a great chance." * Walter Walsh was speaking at the launch of the Bord Gais Energy GAA Legends Tour Series of Croke Park for 2025. See for bookings.
