Pictures- Glory days recalled as Power: A Family Memoir is launched

Hurling fans from near and far flocked to Langton’s for the much-anticipated launch of a famed Kilkenny GAA family’s biography.

Power: A Family Memoir, which was written by Dermot Keyes, tells the story of one of Ireland’s and Kilkenny’s great hurling dynasties, the Power family of Carrickshock - between them they share 29 All-Ireland senior medals.

The launch welcomed Richie Power jnr and snr to the stage along with a wealth of GAA stars including Meath football legend Liam Hayes, former President of the GAA Nickey Brennan and Kilkenny and Shamrocks great Liam Fennelly.

As part of a wide-ranging discussion, both Richie jnr and snr revisited some of their fondest memories on and off the field.

However, it was their bravery and honesty in discussing Richie jnr’s problems with gambling in 2013 that left a lasting impact on the audience.

Revisiting that time in his life, Richie jnr recalled the difficulties gambling created, admitting the road to recovery ‘hasn’t always been easy’.

“It wasn’t a nice time for me or my family,” he recalled, admitting he couldn’t have foreseen the transformation his life has taken.

“I couldn’t have dreamed of the life I have today,” he said.

Richie Power snr also opened up about his memories of the period, commenting: “In late 2013 I felt something wasn’t right,” he remarked. It was following the Kilkenny senior county final in the same year that Power snr said he ‘knew’ there was an issue that needed to be addressed.

From October 2013 to May 2014, Richie snr and the rest of the family lent their support to Richie jnr.

“It never worried us what other people were saying,” Power snr said, “but I wouldn’t want to go through it again.”

Conahy Shamrocks clubman and former GAA President Nickey Brennan was one of many Kilkenny hurlers present on the evening. During his address to the audience he paid tribute to the Power family for their openness and honesty, expressing his admiration to the family for ‘facing up to their problem’.

Former Shamrocks Liam Fennelly, echoed Brennan’s sentiments, adding it was important that players in the GAA community look out for one another.

“We’re too quick in this country to condemn, complain and criticise,” he said.

The topic of gambling was just one of many the launch covered as both men looked back on the highs and lows from on and off the field.

Speaking on the evening, the pair admitted being a little apprehensive when the idea of writing a book was first suggested.

However, once on board, the Kilkenny family were committed to the cause, with honesty seeping through the publication from cover to cover.

The evening’s Q&A session, hosted by Keyes, had the large attendance engrossed as both men reminisced on their glory days in the Kilkenny jersey.

Richie snr recalled memories from the Kilkenny team of the 1980s, the side claiming League, Leinster and National League honours, while his son spoke of the special moments in his own career including stopping Cork’s three in a row bid in 2006 and winning the Liam MacCarthy alongside brother John in the 2014 final against Tipperary.

The pair went on to hail the roles of their wider family and Carrickshock GAA, a club cherished by both. Despite Richie snr’s work in Co Cork during his playing days, moving away was never an option. This would prove to be a blessing and perhaps a wise decision for the family and club, capped off in recent times when three Powers (Richie, John and Jamie) featured in the club’s 2017 All-Ireland Intermediate winning team. A piece of history fondly retold by chairman, Tommy Murphy, on the night.

Power: A Family Memoir is on sale now with proceeds in aid of Cois Nore and the Carlow/Kilkenny Homecare Team.