News
Killarney’s answer to Roddy Doyle as Paddy Osborne launches book
BOOK LAUNCH: Paddy Osborne with his wife Liz and daughter Rebecca at the launch of his new book 'Baxter's Boys' in Killarney Brewery on Wednesday night. Picture: Eamonn Keogh
By Sean Moriarty
Dublin native Paddy Osborne - a well-known figure in Killarney Legion and Killarney Celtic FC circles – has penned a novel about the a mismatched football team that enjoys an unprecedented cup run.
The dark comedy called ‘Baxter’s Boys’ was launched at the Killarney Brewery on Wednesday night.
Based in the north inner city of Dublin, where Paddy grew up, the story traces the lives of team members as they bond and share life experiences during a previously unheard of run of success for their small soccer team.
The book explores socials issues like loneliness, drink and drug addiction and single parent-hood.
Paddy, who is a member of a local drama group and has penned short ten-minute plays, put the idea to the BBC as a screenplay 17 years ago. When that failed to get over the final hurdle he parked the idea until three years ago and when he decided to turn it into a novel.
His ten-minute plays include what he described as the Irish version of ‘The Hangover’ which tells the story of two Irish men waking up one morning in possession of the Sam Maguire Cup and having no idea how they ended up with it. The play as been performed at Courtney’s Bar in Killarney.
“There is no doubt I drew inspiration for the book from my time growing up in the north inner city,” Paddy told the Killarney Advertiser. “Sport is the bond that brings people together, the Kerry man in it is the cute fellow, but it explores social issues, the most-educated man in the story is also the man who ends up homeless.”
Paddy also drew on his vast sporting knowledge to create the characters in the book.
He is a Legion GAA committee member, a former Killarney Celtic FC committee member a role he had to rescind when he became an FAI registered referee. His son Robert plays League of Ireland football with Cobh Ramblers and his father Paddy Snr is a former All-Ireland boxing champion.
Paddy lives near the Ross Road in Killarney, is married to Liz O’Sullivan and is a horticulturist with Kerry County Council in Tralee, where amongst other things, he looks after the famous Rose Garden in Tralee Town Park.
The book is available from Eason in Killarney.