There was a hero’s welcome for home Town boy Zach Tuohy to mark the launch of his sports memoir, The Irish Experiment, at the Midlands Park Hotel in Portlaoise last night.
It was a freezing night outside but a warm reception in the O’ More Suite for one of the county’s most successful ever sports stars.
A bashful and modest Tuohy certainly doesn’t tout his celebrity, but he has a rock star status Down Under in Oz where he is feted as a fan and media favourite, even by rival supporters.
He tells a story like he played footie, a tough, honest player, who takes everything bar himself seriously, respects others and gets on with it, sporting his trademark whiskers and sense of humour.
The Geelong great is no stranger to playing on the big stage in front of 80,000 fans in the famed Melbourne MCG stadium but you could see that it meant every bit as much to him to be recognised here at home, in the Town, among his own.
This is his patch, his parish, and a far cry it seemed for the 17-year-old boy from Beladd to go on and win Grand Final honours in the hoops of Geelong and break the all-time record for the most games ever played by an Irish player in the AFL Aussie Rules, 288, surpassing even the legendary Jim Stynes.
Tuohy has earned the right to claim being Ireland’s greatest and most successful export to the Aussie code, but it’s one he characteristically shies away from.
And it’s that personality, that grateful persona, that good humoured down-to-earth, determined to make the most of it, relish it and cherish it attitude that jumps off the pages of this untypical sports book, ‘The Irish Experiment’. Tuohy shares the writing credits with Australian based journalist Catherine Murphy.
Any book that opens with, “MY OLD MAN SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN PRISON” is sure to catch the eye, but those who know the guy also know that’s classic Zach Tuohy and he didn’t lick that wry self-effacing sense of humour off the ground.
Of course, we’re talking about his folks, Noel and Marie, and Zach goes to great lengths to thank them, his extended family, mentors, and friends, all who he credits with having a hand and a key role in his getting to live his boyhood dream of playing professional sport at the highest level. (For those who don’t know, Zach’s father, Noel, served as a prison officer for 30 years).
Zach thanked his wife Rebecca for her constant support and encouragement and dedicates the book to his two boys Flynn and Rafferty.
He especially wanted the book to be honest for them, something which they could draw on in years to come.
Ciara Doorley, Publishing Director with Hachette Books Ireland said the publication was a sports memoir like no other, open, honest and frank. They were on board from the get-go and so glad to be part of Zach’s story. The book is already on its way to being a bestseller this Christmas.
Eamon Fennelly headed up a large contingent from the Portlaoise GAA Club as he spoke of the immense pride that everyone throughout the Town and the county felt in Zach’s great achievements and success story in the AFL.
Zach, he said, is a role model and an inspiration to all young players as to what’s possible. The Club and the Town are immensely proud of him.
For those who missed out on Thursday evening’s book launch you will have another chance to meet Zach and have your copy of his book signed in All Books, Lyster Square, Portlaoise this Saturday, November 23rd from 2pm.
‘The Irish Experiment – From the GAA to the AFL’ by Zach Tuohy with Catherine Murphy is published by Hachette Ireland and costs €20.
All photos have been provided by Communicate Ireland.
