The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Huge turnout as Gooch launches autobiography
IT’S been a busy time for the Crokes and former Kerry great Colm Cooper and none more so than last Thursday evening when over 800 fans converged on The Gleneagle Hotel for the eagerly awaited launch of Colm’s autobiography.
It was the perfect occasion in which to take stock of Colm’s glittering career – one that’s still going strong – as family, close friends and queues of supporters availed of a precious opportunity to get their book signed and pose for an all-important selfie with the Gooch.
The up close and personal nature of the event made for a relaxing opportunity to look back at the highs and lows of a memorable career.
The Dr Crokes contingent were there in force and manager Pat O’Shea paid tribute to Colm for his contribution to Crokes and Kerry football. This was reciprocated when Colm described how lucky he felt at being part of the Dr Crokes club since he was a boy. The Ardshanavooly star also described the thrill of his first time lining out alongside such Kerry greats Liam Hassett, Darragh O Sé and Seamus Moynihan.
RTÉ’s Michael Lyster oversaw the MC duties and he too admitted to being enthralled on countless occasions watching and analysing Colm’s performances on the field. Journalists Vincent Hogan and Tony Leen
- who have written thousands of words on Colm since he burst onto the scene in 2002 – were also in attendance.
Then on Friday night’s The Late Late Show he fielded questions about his personal life and playing days. He even managed to contextualise - with a wry smile, of course – the unquestionable opinions of Joe Brolly given how the Derry man is one of the game’s greatest players!
But less than 24hrs later he was back doing what he does best in Fitzgerald Stadium: scoring spectacular goals for Crokes in the semi-final of the county championship, adding more chapters to an incredible story.