Latest news with #Kerryman
The Irish Sun
2 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Party piece helped me become voice of Irish racing – Jerry Hannon on iconic Roaring Bull moment & best box in Ireland
THE Galway Races are in full swing - with thousands of punters flocking through the turnstiles each day to get in on a bit of the action. Ballybrit Racecourse Advertisement 4 Racing icon Jerry Hannon is the man behind the mic 4 Jerry is at the helm to capture all of the twists and turns at Ballybrit Credit: PA With €2.17million in prize money, everyone is hoping to go home with a little more in their pockets than they came with. One man who is crucial to the festival is, of course, the race commentator. From the first thundering gallop to the photo finishes, commentator Jerry Hannon really is the voice of the Galway Races. Advertisement Eloquently capturing the drama of each race and celebrating wins with the punters, the Kerryman brings the festival alive. Commentator Jerry has the inside track on everything that goes into calling the big races in Galway and he says preparation is key. He revealed: 'Some races can be frantic, especially on the flat. Things can change so quickly. You don't get a second in the flat. 'Jump races, you're always waiting for something to happen. A horse could fall at the last, it could be a knock-on effect, bring down an oncoming horse and one of them has to swerve. So you have to be prepared for every eventuality.' The racing maestro revealed he prepares for big races like the Galway Plate and the Hurdle 'all on the day'. Advertisement He explained: 'I'm usually on site an hour, an hour and a half before the first race, and I get into the 'zone', as it were - marking up my card with non-runners, if there's jockey changes etc. 'And then I just head upstairs for the race. It's race by race. There's a touch of a 'last minute dot com' merchant about me. Always was! 'The later I leave it, I find the fresher it stays. There's declarations now 48 hours in advance. I might give her a run down through the race just to see what is declared to run.' EARLY DAYS After performing a party trick mimicking a commentator, Jerry suddenly found himself on his new career path. He said: 'The late Michael O'Hehir was renowned for his call on the 1967 Foinavon Grand National. Advertisement 'Would you believe that when I was asked to do that party piece it was either under the table or behind the door. 'I could never stand up in front of people - or else I had to be inebriated to do so. 'It was that party piece. Of course it helped being born and raised in a town that had racing — Listowel in Kerry. That whetted my appetite from a young age as well.' The Kerryman recalled his first ever commentating job after that. He said: 'My first commentary was at Athea Pony Races, 17th of October, 1999. That was my very first commentary in public. Advertisement 'Luckily enough, it stepped forward from there. I gave 16, 17, maybe 18 years at point-to-point races up and down the country every Sunday, which were such a great foundation. 'Then I progressed on to racehorse commentaries.' 4 The Kerryman heralds his Listowel childhood for instilling a love of racing Credit: Inpho 4 Jerry's Roaring Bull commentary back in December 2019 is regularly revisited Credit: Inpho The race-caller recalled how his passion for horseracing started from a young age. Advertisement He said: 'In Listowel, from a very young age, we were the envy of all the schools in Kerry. 'We wouldn't be long back after the summer holidays, then we might have been only two weeks into September, then we would break up. We would get a half day on the Friday before the legendary Harvest Festival race meeting, which at that time was Monday to Friday. 'Half day on the Friday and we wouldn't return again until the following Monday week!' The racing pro's legendary commentary on Roaring Bull has gone down in the history books. He chuckled: 'Roaring Bull and myself would have to go into the one hole together and never again won a race after that. Advertisement 'He didn't have to because he'd won such a big pot in the Paddy Power Leopardstown Race. 'I was just delighted that it was the right one of Gigginstown's that came to win it late on because he had multiple runners in the race. 'He had seven, eight if not nine. So I was just relieved that I had the right one. It's inspired, it was something totally different.' Now recognised as the voice of Irish racing for many, Jerry admitted there's 'pluses and minuses'. He said: 'Big meetings can be stressful but you just try to block out the media that comes with those days in advance. On the day itself, when you're in situ, you just get on with the race.' Advertisement ALL GO AT GALWAY Jerry told how the mixed racecards is a key element that makes Galway so special. He said: 'For me, it's the mixed cards, which are less nowadays. You have the seven days here and you have Super Sunday in Tipperary, the Sunday of the Arc in Longchamp. 'You could open with a maiden hurdle, halfway through you could have a flat handicap over a mile, you could finish with a bumper. 'And then it's the height of the summer, there's always crowds here which create such a fantastic atmosphere.' Working as a commentator throughout Ireland, Jerry said that Ballybrit is one of his favourite courses to call at, saying: 'From my perspective, I think it's probably the best commentary box in the country. Advertisement 'It's spacious and, in September and October when temperatures drop, you have a room here just to my left and you close the door and it's cosy enough in there. I'm on the line, I don't miss anything in Galway. 'So it's probably one of my favourite places — and favourite commentary box — in the country. Some of them leave a lot to be desired, I must admit, but no… Galway is tops.'
Irish Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
New York-born Kerryman marks All-Ireland winning week by making Cambridge switch
Shane McLoughlin has swapped League Two sides - by leaving Newport County for Cambridge United. The Kerryman, who was born in New York and spent the first five years of his life in the Bronx before his family moved home to Castleisland, has signed a one-year deal with the side that suffered relegation from League One last season. McLoughlin earned the move after a successful trial period with the Cledara Abbey Stadium side. The 28-year-old midfielder, who grew up playing Gaelic football and soccer in the Kingdom, was busy finalising his switch as his home county claimed All-Ireland glory over Donegal at the weekend. A former Ipswich Town prospect, he made two first-team appearances for the Tractor Boys before moving to Wimbledon in January 2019. After playing more than 80 times for the Dons, he joined Morecambe, and then Salford City, and in the summer of 2023 he signed for Newport County. While at Newport, he featured in their FA Cup clash against Manchester United, which ended in a nervy 4-2 win for the Red Devils. Ahead of that game, McLoughlin spoke to MirrorSport about the rise of soccer in the Gaelic football stronghold of Kerry, and how the arrival of senior League of Ireland football there would lead to more players emerging from the Kingdom. 'I feel now the pathways are different with the League of Ireland coming to Kerry,' he said in January of last year. 'As you see with Gaelic football, the athletes are there, the natural talent is there, it's probably just that Gaelic football was grabbing the players at a younger age. 'But that pathway is there now and hopefully you will start to see more players coming through and coming across, and even getting into the League of Ireland.' As for his latest move, McLoughlin added. 'I have been in the last week and have gotten an idea of what the club is about, what the manager wants this season and what the lads are striving for. 'It's a big club for this division and I am raring to get back into it now. I can't wait for Saturday and the season ahead.' Cambridge boss Neil Harris was thrilled with his new signing. Harris said: 'He is a versatile midfielder who will add strength to the department, with an ability to cover other positions, too. I am looking forward to working with him further over the coming season.' Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email .
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Here are all the details for the victorious Kerry team's homecoming this evening
Kerryman After Kerry's hugely impressive win over Donegal on Sunday, the wheels are now in motion to welcome back the conquering heroes to both Tralee and Killarney on Monday evening. The team's arrival in Tralee is estimated to be at around 6.15pm. An open top bus parade through Boherbee will kick things off before a welcome home reception at the Ashe Memorial Hall on Denny St that is provisionally scheduled for 6.30pm. There will be plenty of live music in the build up to the team's arrival from 5pm onwards. After Tralee, it's on to Killarney where another open top bus parade from Fitzgerald Stadium to the Glebe Car Park (via Lewis Road and College St) with the welcome reception set to start at approximately 9pm. The team will then travel to the Gleneagle Hotel where the celebrations will continue with a victory Super Ceilí for supporters. Doors will open here at 9pm. Send us you're matchday and homecoming photos!
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Kerry's powerhouse Joe O'Connor: ‘It's just unbelievable. What a day'
The Austin Stacks man said: 'A lot of us have lost a few All-Ireland finals, and other big games, and we wanted to right the wrongs. We had setbacks throughout the year as well, and we just kept going at it' Kerryman After the outstanding year that he has had, there was something fitting about the fact that Joe O'Connor was on hand to bury the ball in the back of the Donegal net in the very last minute of the All-Ireland football final at Croke Park. An unrelenting force of nature from the beginning to the end of every game this season, the Austin Stacks powerhouse still had the energy to get on the end of substitute Killian Spillane's assist to put the icing on the Kingdom cake.
Irish Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Kerry captain White praises fans in heartfelt speech after epic All-Ireland win
Gavin White remembered the fans that were no longer with us as he collected the Sam Maguire Cup from the steps of the Hogan Stand. The Kerry captain was immense in today's All-Ireland final and delivered a true captain's performance as an awesome Kerry side breezed past Donegal to win by 10 points. Moments after the final whistle, White followed GAA President Jarlath Burns to the podium and delivered a rousing speech to the thousands of Kerry supporters in attendance and the millions watching around the World. After thanking teammates, management, sponsors and family, White reserved special praise for the Kerry supporters. "Lastly, to our own Kerry supporters, the ones looking down on us from above and ones scattered across the globe, at home in the Kingdom and especially the ones in Croke Park today, we are most grateful for the miles you've travelled, the prayers you've sent and the candles lit. "Don't ever underestimate the impact you have on the Kerry team's of the past and of the Kerry team. "When we needed ye most this year, ye backed us in your thousands. Your voice was heard and you drove this Kerry team over the line. "I hope you celebrate Sam Maguire number 39 as much as we do. Ciarraí abú!" During his speech, White also paid a special tribute to manager Jack O'Connor, who was given perhaps the biggest honour of all for a Kerryman when GAA President Jarlath Burns suggested that with five All-Irelands in his back pocket, he deserved to be mentioned in the same breath as the legendary Mick O'Dwyer.
