Tommy Tiernan Show recap: Discovery of hair hurling balls shows that hurling was played in 15th-century Ireland
Dr Siobhan Doyle, a cultural historian and museum curator, discussed with Tiernan her work on modern Irish history, particularly the GAA, and the oldest GAA object she has discovered to date.
Saturday night’s episode of the Tommy Tiernan Show explored the themes of discovering oneself through music, the importance of using comedy to have a laugh in a world that has become so serious, and the oldest GAA object to ever be found in Ireland.
Tommy Tiernan’s guests included singer-songwriter Gavin Friday, comedians and podcasters Killian Sundermann, Tony Cantwell and Shane Daniel Byrne, and cultural historian and museum curator Dr Siobhan Doyle.
Tiernan’s first guest was Irish singer-songwriter and composer Gavin Friday who discussed his upcoming solo tour in Europe, his new album inspired by political and personal events, and his journey with the Virgin Prunes.
Friday discussed his current work, including rehearsals for a solo tour in Europe after a 12-year hiatus and spoke about how he prefers to play smaller, more intimate venues.
He explained the energy behind his new album, influenced by political events such as Trump's presidency and personal experiences like the loss of his mother during the pandemic.
Friday recounted the formation of the Virgin Prunes in 1974, named by a friend, and his early interactions with Bono and other influential figures.
He reflected on the unique sound and style of the Virgin Prunes and their impact on the punk movement.
He also spoke of his experiences growing up in a strict catholic household and shared stories of his early experiences with makeup and defiance, including being bullied and finding acceptance in the punk community.
“Punk saved my life in a weird way,” he said.
“Because I formed the Virgin Prunes with Guggi, and it was an outlet for my pain and my anger.
“I could scream, I could scream. So, it was an outlet.”
He also described his neighbourhood's religious tensions and how they shaped his identity within the punk community.
Explaining to Tiernan the influence of punk on his identity and his music, Friday said the punk community provided a creative outlet for his emotions and allowed him to freely express his anger and frustration.
He discussed the role of music and art in social change and activism and reflected on the impact of his work on issues such as gender fluidity and social justice.
Friday also spoke of the responsibility he feels to use art as a platform for raising awareness and advocating for change.
Next to join Tiernan for a chat on Saturday’s show were Killian Sundermann, Tony Cantwell and Shane Daniel Byrne of the Young Hot Guyz podcast.
They spoke of the challenges and joys of being comedians, particularly during the pandemic when they gained a significant online following, the struggles of young people in Ireland, changing societal norms, and the importance of maintaining a sense of humor.
The trio described the podcast as just them chatting and having a laugh, with no specific subject matter.
The group reflected on their stand-up comedy styles, the impact of their online presence, and the unique dynamics of their podcast.
Describing their stand-up, Sundermann told Tiernan: “I think you were in the crowd at the worst gig that I ever did. I was on a gig with Jason Byrne.”
Tiernan joked that he still had the recording of the gig, saying he has never forgotten it and joked that he refers to it when he feels low to remind himself that there’s still hope.
Cantwell quipped that it gets sent around the other comedians’ WhatsApp groups.
They spoke about finding their individual voices through the podcast, becoming more grateful and optimistic, and also touched on the challenges and blessings of being known as a "Covid comedian" due to their online presence.
They spoke about how doing comedy exclusively online during Covid saw them build a big audience but with that came the constant pressure to create content.
They discussed the challenges of measuring success in comedy and the importance of being authentic.
The trio spoke about how the podcast is growing in popularity, with more people listening and attending live shows - a more recent development for the podcast.
They discussed the demographics of their audience, noting a mix of men and women, and about the joy of meeting fans after shows and the different experiences they have on tour.
Speaking more broadly, they also touched on themes such as the struggles of young people in Ireland, expressing frustration with Ireland's lack of support for young people and the difficulty of getting jobs and moving out of their parent's homes.
They also touched on the generational flip, mentioning the challenges faced by parents in their 30s, and economic disparities and the perception of wealth in Ireland.
The trio announced they will be taking the podcast live to London in May, which they said they are particularly excited about.
Tiernan’s final guest of the night was Dr Siobhan Doyle, a cultural historian and museum curator, who discussed her work on modern Irish history, particularly the GAA.
Doyle told Tiernan of her experience travelling across Ireland, collecting stories and objects, including jerseys, trophies, and medals, to write a book on the GAA's history through 100 objects.
She discussed her work on the GAA, covering a timeline from 1884 to the present and her journey to all 32 counties, collecting stories and objects related to the GAA for her book .
Doyle discussed the oldest GAA object she has come across and described the process of transporting these delicate objects, emphasising the care taken to ensure their safety.
“There’s hair hurling balls that date back to the 15th and 16th centuries," she told Tiernan.
"They’re in a couple of collections across the country, they’re in Kerry County Museum, they’re in the National Museum of Ireland and they have been radiocarbon dated to tell us that hurling was happening in the 15th century.
“They’re made of cow hair and matted horse hair. You have to use what you have. So, they’re probably the oldest surviving GAA object.”
Doyle also discussed her work at the National Museum of Ireland and the challenges of handling contested objects in the museum, speaking about the Font Hill vase, a 14th-century Chinese porcelain piece.
Doyle revealed that she is currently working on a new book about Irish sports history which will feature 100 objects from various sports, including items such as Ken Doherty's crooked snooker cue and Becky Lynch's WWE action figure.
She spoke about the enjoyment she gets from seeing people connect with the objects in her books, which often spark memories and conversations.
Gavin Friday closed out the show with a performance of the title track from his new album Ecce Homo.
