Huring legend Richie Power - St Patrick's Festival Kilkenny Grand Marshal

Born and raised in Stoneyford, Richie Power emerged as one of the most formidable talents in the world of Kilkenny hurling.
Power’s journey to greatness began when he joined the ranks of the Kilkenny senior hurling team. Throughout his career, he amassed an impressive array of accolades, including an extraordinary eight All-Ireland titles.

The Power family name will forever be synonymous with the spirit of Kilkenny hurling. Richie’s recent memoir was not just about recounting his own achievements but also honouring the integral role his family played in his journey. As Richie prepares to lead the St Patrick’s Day parade, surrounded by family and fans, he reflects on the journey that brought him to this moment.

Richie, what inspired you to share your story in your memoir now?
It all began when Liam Hayes from Hero Books contacted us. He proposed the idea of documenting our family’s hurling legacy.
I had no interest in doing a book on my own, but when the opportunity came to do a memoir with Dad on both of our careers, it felt like the perfect opportunity to preserve our journey for future generations.

Jamie, John, Stephanie, Suzanne, and Mam were all involved in it. I felt it would be lovely to have in years to come. It will be there for Richie Óg, who is only two and all the grandkids will have it to read too.

Family seems to be a central theme in your memoir. 

Hurling was ingrained in our household. From my parents to my siblings, we lived and breathed the game. Their support was unwavering, both on and off the field. They shaped who I am as a player and as a person.

Mam played camogie herself for Carrickshock until she was 44 years of age. Both Stephanie and Suzanne played too with Carrickshock. Dad, Jamie, John, and I all hurled for Kilkenny and won All-Irelands. I suppose our house is just immersed in GAA.

Dad worked long hours, working two jobs with Barry’s Tea and on the road. Mam was the one doing the taxi runs - we never missed a game or a training session thanks to her. So, we were delighted with how Mam was portrayed in the book.

Your memoir is not just about your hurling career but also delved into personal struggles. What prompted you to address these topics with such openness?
Liam encouraged us to be upfront and honest and obviously that entailed my own personal issues as well. I realised that sharing my struggles, including my gambling addiction, could help others facing similar challenges. It’s important to show the reality, the highs, and lows, of life beyond the pitch.

How do you hope your memoir will impact readers, especially those facing adversity?  
I hope it offers solace and inspiration. By sharing my experiences, I want to let others know they’re not alone in their struggles.

A few people have reached out to me already. If my story can help even one person find hope or courage, then it’s served its purpose.

We are hearing a lot about addiction among sports personalities. In your opinion what is causing it?
I think it’s an issue in all sports, be it professional and non-professional sports. When you’re involved at such a high level, you have so much free time on your hands. You don’t have a social life like any normal 22 or 23-year-old might have. You have a lot of free time to try and punch in and stuff can just take a hold of you and become part of your life. At the beginning it doesn’t seem like an issue or a problem, but as time goes by, you’re spending a lot more time doing it.

It’s a huge thing within the sport and society. It’s so easily accessible, whether it be on the phone or over the internet. Even just walking down the main street, every second or third door is a bookmaker. So, it is very easily accessible. I hope my story will help people deter from it.

Your memoir also addresses the importance of giving back, with proceeds benefiting charities.
The big push behind the book was for the two charities – Cois Nore and the Carlow Kilkenny Homecare Team.

Cancer has touched our family, as it has for many others. Supporting cancer charities and organisations providing end-of-life care felt like a meaningful way to give back. It’s our small way of making a difference.

What are some of the values and lessons that you have learned on the pitch which you have taken into your life?
Mam and Dad really worked hard all their lives for the five of us growing up. Hard work, honesty, respect and loyalty are values I learned on the hurling field and from my parents and I hope to carry them on.

These are the same principles I instil in my boys. If you put in the work, you’ll get the rewards.

Throughout your career you faced numerous opponents. Can you share some of your toughest matchups on the field?
Some of the toughest matchups would have been within our own camp and within our own team during training sessions. I would have some battles with Noel Hickey, Jackie Tyrrell, Brian Hogan, JJ Delaney and Tommy Walsh to name a few.
Outside of Kilkenny, I would have had some great tosses with Keith Rossiter from Wexford, and facing off against players like Paul Curran from Tipperary stands out.

In my first championship game for Kilkenny in 2005 I marked David Franks, who became a clubmate of mine down the lines. The toughest would have been Paul Curran because we came up a lot especially during the four in a row period.

It’s great to meet all these lads now years later and have a laugh about those days, it certainly wasn’t funny at the time!

You were part of the golden years of Kilkenny hurling. Is that tough on the current team?
I don’t think it is because to me you can never compare two teams to each other. People try to compare the current Limerick team to our team back then. But it’s two completely different eras, the style of play – everything is different.

Hurling has evolved and it has changed so much over the past ten years since I retired. I often get asked the question, do I think I would survive today in the way the game is played? I am not so sure that I would and that’s a great testament to the lads that are playing today. The fitness levels, and the commitment is up another level to where it was when we were playing.
The guys now are training six days a week and 12 months of the year. There’s no downtime anymore because its professional without being actually professional. You must give great credit and admiration for those lads that are willing to give up their time and probably put, getting married or having a family on the long finger to get as much out of their career as possible. I might be right in saying TJ is the only player on the Kilkenny team today that has a child.

When dad was hurling for Kilkenny, he had three of us. When I was hurling, I had my first son Rory and there were other lads on the team with kids. It’s definitely changed now.

What were your best days on the pitch? Was it for Carrickshock or Kilkenny?
Definitely Carrickshock. I’ve always come back to it since retirement. Winning the club All-Ireland with Carrickshock in 2017 is the highlight. By any means, it doesn’t distinguish what we had with Kilkenny which was dream stuff.

Growing up as a young child, you dream of playing senior with Kilkenny and possibly winning one All-Ireland. To win eight out of 11 years being on the panel was massive.

Finally, as you led the St Patrick’s Day parade as this year’s Grand Marshal, surrounded by family and fans, what emotions are running through your mind?
When I got the call from Tim Butler in Kilkenny County Council, I thought somebody was playing a prank on me! I was obviously shocked; I wasn’t expecting it.

It’s a humbling experience to be recognised for the game of hurling. Personally, from a family point of view, it’s a huge honour to be asked. The day is about the kids really and that’s the most important thing. Richie Óg will be with me, so I am hoping he will take all the attention off me!

For more information on all the family fun on that day visit stpatricksfestivalkilkenny.com