Mayo's win is just what the Kilkenny doctor ordered
Mayo's Sam Callinan and goalkeeper Jack Livingstone both have family connections to Co Kilkenny. Picture: INPHO/James Crombie
Kilkenny will be the unlikely host of a screening of Mayo’s epic All-Ireland Football Final triumph.
The hurling stronghold is home to a small but dedicated bunch of Mayo fans who plan to gather in the Marble City and re-watch the county’s victory.
The event on Friday, October 16 is being organised by Newport native Frank Chambers. Frank, the son of former Senator Frank Chambers Snr, made his home in Kilkenny and is a team doctor for the Kilkenny senior hurlers.
“It will happen at Dicksboro GAA club here in Kilkenny city. It will get the Mayo diaspora of Kilkenny together probably for the first time here,” said Frank.
He estimates around 50 to 60 Mayo folk live in the city.
“We are going to view the match, there will be music provided by a Mayo man, John Fogarty,” said Frank.
The Sam Maguire replica trophy was crafted by Kilkenny silversmith Des Byrne and he will be providing a copy for display on the night.
“We will have tell the yarn that it’s been so worn down from overuse and all the babies in and out of it that we have to shrink it,” joked the GP.
Frank unearthed a few connections between Kilkenny and the Mayo team. He said Mayo goalkeeper Jack Livingstone’s sister lives in Kilkenny, All-star nominee Sam Callinan was born in the county, while Tommy Conroy’s mother hails from north Kilkenny.
Frank said he never expected to have a role with the Kilkenny hurlers and has been involved with the team for the past four years.
“For a man from Newport that never saw a hurl and thought it was a wooden spoon, that’s how life evolves,” he laughed.
He said while hurling dominates in Kilkenny, the community was thrilled to see Mayo claim Sam. “The amount of high fives we were getting down here you would nearly swear you had been playing yourself!”
