'Tipperary Talks' is the new book by Martin Quinn that brings stories to life

Martin Quinn’s book launch for Tipperary Talks took place on a memorable night, filled with heartfelt stories and reflections.
The event, held at the Ballkisteen Hotel, was very well attended by a supportive crowd, including many from the local community.

Martin, who has been on a remarkable journey since suffering a stroke in 2013, shared his experiences of that time with honesty and warmth on the night:

“I always remember what happened to me back in 2013 when I had a stroke,” he began, acknowledging the challenges he faced.

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“Sometimes there’s a little delay in my voice, and that’s why I asked Rónán Collins to launch the book, because the developments in that time since I had the stroke have been huge and there is still so much to develop and there is still so much to be done.”

Professor Collins spoke on the night along with other guests including GAA legend ‘Babs’ Keating. The evening was not just about celebrating Martin’s book but also about community and resilience.

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“I see some of my stroke family here as well tonight, which I’m delighted about,” he noted, pointing out members of the South Tipperary stroke group in attendance.

Their presence underscored the importance of support networks during difficult times.

Quinn recounted a touching call he received earlier in the day from a community member who had recently experienced her own stroke.

“She rang me to say she hoped to be here after having a stroke,” he recalled, his voice filled with emotion. “And she was going to take huge inspiration from me. That meant an awful lot. I know we will all think of this person tonight and hope she makes a full recovery.”

This connection resonated deeply with Quinn, highlighting the impact he hoped to have on others. He spoke too of his good friend Mary Swords who passed away recently.

Mary had a radio show back in the 1990s where people told their life stories. ‘My Life and Times,’ had some surviving tapes and Martin expertly brought some of the stories to life for this book including interviews with the likes of Paddy Clancy of the famed Clancy Brothers from Carrick-On-Suir that found world fame as well as Liam Devaney and Tommy Barrett.

The latter duo were spoken about fondly on the night by special guest ‘Babs’ Keating who spoke of how the late Tommy Barrett always looked after Tipperary teams in every way possible when he was County Secretary.

Stories about ‘Devaney’ were of trips to the USA and key moments in big games when Babs hurled alongside the star from Borrisoleigh.

Dan Quirke of the Dillon Quirke Foundation was there on the night as well and Martin included a fine chapter on Dillon as well as a poignant poem.

The book features many others such as Frank Patterson who went from Tipperary to the biggest of stages in America and elsewhere.

Jack Judge, who penned the famed ‘It’s a long way to Tipperary’ features too, as well as excellent chapters on Sinead O’Connor and Shane MacGowan.

Others contributed to the book for example Mary Lou McDonald, chef Kevin Thornton, Irish Ambassador to Australia Tim Mawe and actor Patrick Bergin.

There is a fascinating story about Jimmy Cully, who stood 7 foot 2 and was a heavyweight boxing champion. Pictures and words mix freely in what is an enjoyable read.

On the night Martin reflected on the importance of storytelling, referencing his friend Mary Swords. “She interviewed, so she gave me the tapes, and I took away the tapes, and unfortunately, as we’ve kind of mentioned, this was in the 90s now that Mary did all of these programs, and the tapes had disintegrated.”

Despite the challenges, he managed to transcribe stories from notable figures which he included in his book. “I just want to say that I know that Mary’s always looking down on us tonight, and hoping that this book will be a big success, because Mary is very much a part of it,” he said, honouring the contributions of those who came before him.

Martin Quinn concluded with gratitude for those in attendance: “To everyone here tonight, I want to thank you for coming to celebrate this launch with me.

“My brother Noel, my brother Peter, and his wife Angela, my two aunts, Aunty Chrissie and Aunty Nora. Aunty Nora just very recently, in the last few days, celebrated a big birthday, as she celebrated her 90th birthday.”

As the night progressed, attendees celebrated not only the release of Tipperary Talks but also the spirit of resilience that Quinn embodied. The event was a testament to the strength of community and the importance of storytelling in healing and connection.