Next in the series of interviews with ‘Kiladangan Abroad’, we have Tom Seymour who has been living in New York since 2014. Tom talks about his memories of the club and how life is treating him in the ‘Big Apple’.

1. So, let’s wind the clock back to a time before you left Kiladangan and tell us what your connection was with the Club?

Whilst going to school in Puckane, the principal Paul Dooley was a big Gaeilgeoir and Hurling fanatic. He wasn’t happy unless you were conversing on the field ‘as Gaeilge’. It was a fantastic education. Unfortunately, I was better at Irish than I was at Hurling. At club level people like the late Seamus Hayes and Dick Mulcahy put in huge work. Underage we weren’t that successful and we spent a lot of time in B or C divisions but they were still good times. It made every small success so much more appreciated. An Under 16 County C Football and North Minor B titles were my personal highlights.

2. When did you move and what was it like getting settled in and established?

I met my New Yorker wife Catie in Supermacs Nenagh in 2011. After much coming and going, I moved to New York after the 2014 All Ireland replay. It was tough at the start. New York can be a lonely place especially on weekends when you are used to going to games or to the pub. But thankfully Conor Hayes and the Slattery brothers John and Justin were only a walk away for a few drinks and to talk Hurling. Just finding someone to speculate over what team should start the next day is huge, the laundry man and the fella in the corner shop haven’t shown much interest yet. After a while you meet a lot of friends through work and there was also a solid north Tipperary crew that I got to know out in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. My wife’s parents Karen and Ger were both very welcoming to me also. It was a big help at the start.

Tom and Catie at the Hudson River.

3. Can you briefly describe to us your life now, work, family (if any) and have you time to be involved in GAA activities?

3 years ago, I was lucky to get a job with Structure Tech, a construction company owned by Shannon Rovers man Gerry Cormican. It’s been a brilliant experience, working with lads from all over the world. Hopefully we can get back to work soon when this virus recedes. I wasn’t much involved in GAA when I first moved here. Probably because I didn’t live in an Irish community like Woodside or Woodlawn. I used to travel to the bars in the Irish enclaves on a Sunday morning to watch the games, sometimes with my cousin Mickey Joe Seymour. 2 years ago, I got involved with the Westmeath NY team and I even played football for first time since minor. Last year, we started a Junior Hurling team in the Tipperary NY club, and it was a great experience. It’s a great set up and got to meet a lot more Tipp people and beyond. I got to hurl with my two cousins from Burgess, Conor and Padraig Gill which was great craic. Hurling with Burgess lads is forbidden at home. 😛 Junior hurling is often forgotten but it’s great for likes of me who wouldn’t be hurling senior. It’s also a godsend to older player’s with young families who can’t commit to senior and for our homegrown players who don’t get as many games in a short senior season. GAA over here is growing fast (especially football) and there are a lot of clubs in the tri-state area. The NY Senior Football team will catch a team from Connacht in next 5 years. Hopefully we can push Hurling up to the same level. This year we had the added bonus of getting to meet Darragh and all the lads more than once with the Liam McCarthy. It means a lot to Tipperary people over here.

Tom with his first cousins, Padraig and Conor Gill, after a Tipperary NY Junior game.

Tom playing the Eoin ‘Bomber’ Liston role at full forward for the Westmeath NY footballers.

4. Looking back again at your time in Kiladangan, what would be your prominent memory of being around the GAA field in Puckane?

I remember we were one of the first clubs in Tipperary to have floodlights and that was a huge thing at the time. It was a big adjustment to make and it took getting used to when the ball disappeared above the lights. But it was a game changer especially for spring/winter training and getting more challenge games in.

5. We’ll assume you manage to get back ‘home’ for the odd family reunion, holiday etc, can we ask what do you look forward to the most?

Obviously, firstly seeing my family and dogs. Then seeing friends and a pint in McGraths (Puckane) or Frolics (Carney) and Una Powells if I’m feeling adventurous. The Guinness here is terrible. Game of cards to try pay for flights. Also, a good feed in The Whiskey Still is always welcome. Getting home for the county final last year was brilliant. I was so lucky to be able to come back. Even though it was a terrible weekend results wise, it was an enjoyable time to be able to see everyone. It would have been 10 times worse being stuck in New York trying to scroll Twitter every half second, or listening on the radio.

6. Tell us a little bit more about your life away from Kiladangan, for instance, what’s your weekly routine, how do you attack the weekend, and what’s a holiday from where you currently live?

Monday through Friday is mostly work. Some weekends we play Junior Hurling above in Gaelic Park and it’s a welcome tradition that a case of beer and a speaker is brought out after every game. I enjoy the baseball here in the summer. It’s a great way to put down an evening.

My wife’s father and grandparents are based in upstate New York and we spend a lot of time there at the weekends and it’s great to get out of the city which can be a tough place in the summer heat (especially for someone who grew up in Carney). Upstate New York is very similar to Ireland and is a beautiful part of the world. I try spend my holidays in Ireland when possible but America is a very diverse place to travel in and we’ve been lucky to get to see some great places. My favourite US holiday spots would be Florida (for relaxation), Nashville (for music) and for all round beauty -Newport (The Rhode Island version, although Niall McGrath’s Newport and the Clare Glens is grand too).

Upstate New York (not too different to Carney)

Hard at work! (with the Freedom Tower in the background)

7. Do you have a message to send home to Kiladangan?

All this hard work will pay off in the end. We had an unlucky end to last year, but we still have a lot to be proud of and it is such a young panel. The strides the club has taken in the past 20 years has been massive but try not to take it for granted. We must keep up the good work.

8. Favourite Kialdangan hurler past and present?

This is probably your hardest question. My answer should qualify as both. When Kiladangan started to make a breakthrough Tommy Connors was brilliant. I remember a stunning goal he scored against Kilruane in the 2001 North Intermediate Final and that was a catalyst for everything that came afterward. I was lucky to make it back for the Intermediate final last year and Tommy was still one of the best hurlers on the field. Honourable mention to Dan Hackett, we will never forget that point against Burgess in the 2008 North Senior Final.

As for the present day, it’s hard to say if I have any favourites. What is great to see is younger players coming through, something which the club has excelled at. I was involved with the County winning Minor B team before I left and it’s great to see so many of them as a backbone to the seniors now.

Tom was selector for the Minor Hurlers that won the 2014 County ‘B’ title

9. Have you any funny memories/stories from your time involved with Kiladangan, be it whilst playing, supporting etc.

One of my funniest memories (it wasn’t funny to me at the time) was when I was hurling Junior B on a Bank Holiday Monday. I was going so bad that one of my intoxicated friends shouted that I was in the pub with him all day even though I had stayed in all weekend for the game(a rarity in itself). Jim Ryan had seen enough and hauled me off after 15 minutes. I was livid when I found out the reason later that night, but I was going so bad I think Jim was justified in his decision.

Another funny time was on a trip down to Cork to see Tipperary hurl and we stopped into Fermoy on the way home to a pub being managed by Eoin Butler. A certain interviewer missed the bus and had to get a cab to catch up on the motorway. 😂

There were memorable trips to Ennis and Marbella to name two. Can’t really print anything about either trip.

Tom and Jim Ryan on water and hurley duty during the 2013 North Senior Final

And a few random questions to finish:

10. If there was a transfer market in hurling, who would you buy for Kiladangan?

My first pick would be Eoin Kelly, Tipperary’s GOAT and led Tipperary through some lean times until Liam Sheedy took over. As for lads hurling right now my pick is a controversial one considering the events of last year but it has to be Brendan Maher. The most versatile hurler in Ireland, an excellent leader, and to come back from the injury he had, and to have the year he had is astounding. So, he would be my pick.

11. Name any 4 people (dead or alive) that you would invite to dinner?

Shane McGowan, Roy Keane, Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin.

12. What’s your favourite sporting moment of all time?

Third was seeing Man United win the treble in 99, hard to see it ever be accomplished again.

Second would be 2010 All Ireland Final and stopping the drive for five and Lar Corbett’s hat trick.

First has to be the 2008 North Senior Hurling Final. To come back in that fashion was unbelievable and made it all the sweeter. Every so often the game gets still gets replayed on YouTube.

What a glowing bride! Tom with his maid of honour, Seanie Hackett, during the Mock Wedding fundraiser in McGraths in 2012.

If you would like to take part in our 'Kiladangan Abroad' interview series then please Whatsapp Michael on 087 254 8583.