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Belfast Telegraph
32 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
‘The people of Armagh have been paying my rent this last year': Viral singer opens up on beating cancer and becoming music legend in GAA scene
They say a lot can happen in a year, and south Armagh man Paul Loughran is the perfect testament to that. From being diagnosed with testicular cancer, to writing his county's most prolific GAA anthem, and then travelling the world based on his band's viral sensations — Paul is the ideal example of optimism, hard work and resilience. He makes up one-third of local folk group Plenty in the Tank, whose song 'G Stands For Geezer' became the theme tune for Armagh GAA's run to only their second All-Ireland win in 2024. Named aptly after the manager of the senior men's Gaelic football team, Kieran McGeeney — aka 'Geezer' — the song hit number 20 in the official Irish Singles Chart last August following the final. The song now has well over two million streams on the music platform Spotify, and it's picking up even more traction, now that Armagh are in the quarter-finals of the championship this weekend. Paul wrote the song, which he says has completely changed his life, but just a few months previous, he had received another life-changing announcement. 'I was diagnosed with stage two bilateral testicular cancer in early November 2023, which means I had cancer on both sides, and I had surgeries at the end of November and then that January (2024),' the 29-year-old explained. 'I then had a full month of chemo and got the all-clear in March. I think I left the cancer centre on March 14th or 15th, and then I went back to gigging again on St Paddy's Day, just a few days later. 'I had a sort of serious turnaround. Like, especially coming out of that [cancer treatment], I had no money whatsoever. 'I spent all my savings on just being alive for that couple of months, basically, and paying my bills and stuff.' What the Belleeks clubman didn't then realise, was that just a short while later, his fellow Armagh GAA fans would be helping sort out his bills. 'G Stands For Geezer' was created just a few weeks before Armagh went up against Galway in the All-Ireland final last July, with Paul dedicating one day in his bedroom to writing it and to say it took off instantly would be an understatement. 'I posted it on TikTok on a Wednesday afternoon and a couple of hours later it had a quarter of a million views,' he added. 'It was one of the first TikTok videos I ever posted and the reaction was absolutely mental.' Paul is even more grateful to the Armagh team for actually winning the Sam Maguire after it all, as the entire whirlwind has opened up more opportunities than ever before for Plenty In The Tank. 'We got to go to New York there with the team for a Q&A thing, we got to play in Manhattan, which was unbelievable, and then we got to go out to Abu Dhabi and Dubai there for Paddy's week,' said Paul. 'So we've got to get out into the world and do gigs, in places we'd obviously never have been gigging in before, and better still, we're still getting gigs from it; the amount of weddings we've been booked for just for people around Armagh — we're flat out.' The song has been getting around 10,000 streams a day since its release last summer, and that's on average, levelled out. It has been picking up again since the championship started this year, and as Armagh continue to get closer to an elusive second consecutive Sam Maguire trophy, Paul said the views and listens are increasingly climbing. He continued: 'I remember we were celebrating with the boys [Armagh team] over in New York, and they were all like: 'this is mental, and thank you for writing that song' or whatever. 'And I was saying, 'no, thank you for winning!' 'Because it wouldn't have been anywhere near as big as it was if we just got beaten in the final].' Reflecting on the last 12 months — beating cancer, extensive success and having their band be forever etched in GAA history - Paul noted that 'it was honestly the best year of my life'. He has also been able to give back to those who helped him, with Plenty In The Tank raising £2,000 for two charities — Friends of the Cancer Centre and Musicians NI. 'And now, I've been running for six weeks. I've signed up for the Belfast Half Marathon to try and raise a bit more money for Friends of the Cancer Centre. So, I'm trying my best to give back to them,' he said. 'The people of Armagh are absolute legends. I'm sorry to offend, but they're the absolute best fan base in the world, out of any sport, in any country. 'Thanks an absolute million to anybody that ever streamed or clicked on any videos that had 'G Stands For Geezer' on it — because you are still paying my rent.'
RTÉ News
an hour ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Get the popcorn out - it's showtime in the championship
Let's get ready to rumble! In the era of Mr Trump, there is a natural inclination to steer away from hype and grandiose claims. There is however a giddy anticipation of the weekend that lies ahead in the All-Ireland football championship. Could it be the best weekend's football we've ever seen? It's of course a daft thing to say in ways but then again, the ingredients have rarely ever been better. I work in Craigavon Hospital in Armagh, and I've never seen as many people keen to talk football. They're not just excited about their own team if they're in it, rather, it's all the games, all the possibilities that has them salivating in anticipation of what the weekend may bring. Those ingredients? With a possible argument to be had for Mayo, the eight top teams are all there. All eight have had the sheen knocked off them, and that means even for their most ardent supporters, there are doubts and wonderings and, crucially for their opponents, opportunity and hope. Not one of the eight remaining are anywhere near a settled team. All are missing likely starters or hoping to welcome some back. On top of the injury issues, the undulating nature of the season means players are finding form and losing it all over again. The variation in teams feels nuts for this stage in the championship but bears witness to the much talked of attritional nature of the modern campaign. The clash of styles is now in every facet of the game: two-pointers versus goal getters; fly keepers versus stay-at-home conservatives; arc defence versus man-to-man; scoring spread versus main-man magic; through-the-hand running or stretch-the-game kicking. And all of it still has to pass the Croke Park test. How often do we hear that Croke Park plays different? For all bar Dublin, the various teams' new game experience in HQ is one or none. Can the arc defence used by Armagh and Donegal for example hold up on Croker's expanses? Are two-pointers really more difficult there? If so, who between the two-point merchants in Galway and Meath will blink first? Again, we can ponder much but let's be honest, we know very little. The biggest factor of all that leads us to actually expect rather than hope for a stunning weekend's football is of course everything that has gone before. The regularity of hugely entertaining games that have left the terraces buzzing cannot be a coincidence. The rules have landed with more success than even Jarlath Burns himself could have dreamed of when he gave Jim and his crew the grandiose aim of "creating the most exciting and enjoyable amateur game in the world". The crowds are back and I'd imagine this weekend will see close to a record attendance for this stage of the championship. Just as the brilliance of the Munster hurling championship drives massive crowds and great atmospheres that only lifts the games even further, the big-ball game is now experiencing the same. Having been living the puritan life of defensive football for over 10 years the whole thing is intoxicating. Absolutely there are issues to be ironed out, many actually, but, there is a time to moan and a time to enjoy, and this weekend is very much the latter. As to predictions, it's a fool's errand this week. Valid cases can be made for all. But like my six-year old in a filling station when he's allowed to get a treat, sometimes you just have to make a call and no matter what it'll still be crap so here goes. Monaghan v Donegal WINNER: MONAGHAN Donegal's six-day thing is very poor form from the GAA. Monaghan's footballing dogs are learning a whole host of tricks and playing some of the best football in the country - and that has been one of the stories of the year. Caveat: all their wins have been against second-tier sides. They need a big-team scalp and for that they need Gary Mohan fit and to keep a closer eye on Shane O'Donnell than any team has managed to date. Doable? Maybe. It'd be some irony for Donegal to get the rest they don't really want after all! Tyrone v Dublin WINNER: TYRONE. Why? Hope springs eternal and I hear Mugsy is back in training and has the peroxide out! Dublin are a coming force. Their hunger and willingness to come back, especially among their older hands is mesmerizing. They are the one team who are getting stronger week on week before our eyes. Injuries are massive here. How fit is Con? How fit is Brian Kennedy? Opposite types of footballer, equal importance to the outcome. Michael McKiernan's loss is a huge blow for Tyrone. Taking down the Dubs in Croker is one of the biggest challenges in the game. With the additional week's rest, that challenge has to be relished by the Red Hand. Galway v Meath WINNER: GALWAY Galway Arrive battered and bruised but still standing. Over the past weeks we've seen them rise like Rocky as the ref almost counted them out against both Derry and Armagh. That has to have welded their spines solid. The nice footballers of Galway are quickly looking like a side who refuse to lose. Meath have been a revelation but the big question here is did their two statement wins, over Dublin and Kerry, owe as much to their opponents being off it than to their excellence. I suspect it did. I expect Galway to show up. Tiredness could definitely be an issue for them but they survived all they have to fall here? Kerry v Armagh WINNER: AH, I GIVE UP Even in all the above ones, my mind is running amok throwing counter arguments at everything I type. Every sentence I start to form for this one doesn't get to the fourth word until its truth is rubbished. I just hope Paudie Clifford and Paul Geaney are fit and Soupy Campbell is good to tog out. I know when you beat Kerry they tend to be lovely about it to your face and very slighted behind it. They generally do vengeance pretty well down there. But who the hell knows? If you ask me who my two favourites are for the All-Ireland I'd say Donegal and Armagh. Yet somehow, I've decided both of them lose this weekend! My head is hurting. The sooner the ball is thrown in the better, at least we can all be very wise come Monday! Popcorn at the ready – it's showtime.
Irish Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
What time, TV channel is Dublin v Tyrone on today in All-Ireland Championship
Tyrone are the great unknown of the eight sides left in this year's All-Ireland Championship. Superb against Donegal. Dire against Mayo. Dublin were workmanlike in beating Cork in last weekend's All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final, and also lost to Armagh - both without Con O'Callaghan. The captain's presence is vital. Padraig Hampsey will probably pick him up if he plays. Peadar O Cofaigh Byrne versus Brian Kennedy in the air will be massive, as will the Tyrone match-ups on Cormac Costello, Paddy Small and Sean Bugler, probably Cormac Quinn, Niall Devlin and Peter Teague. Darragh Canavan is the key for Tyrone in terms of creativity, while Darren McCurry is scoring heavy and Eoin McElholm, off the bench could be dangerous. Where is the game being played? The game is being played at Croke Park What time is throw-in? Throw in is at 6.15pm Can I watch the game on TV? No, the game is not on TV. Is the game being streamed online? Yes, the game will be live streamed on GAA+ Betting Odds: Tyrone: 11/10 Draw: 7/1 Dublin: Evens
Irish Independent
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Kerry's All-Ireland quarter-final record in Croke Park is grounds for hope of further success
If there is a bit of doom and gloom and lack of confidence around the Kingdom ahead of the team's prospects against Armagh on Sunday, there's certainly one truth that Kerry supporters – and the players – can cling to: for the most part, Kerry do not lose All-Ireland quarter-finals.
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Power ranking All-Ireland quarter-finalists from Shane Walsh reliant Galway, to consistent Donegal, and formidable Kerry
WE'RE just four weeks away from seeing Jarlath Burns hand over Sam Maguire — yet it's hard to recall a time when forecasting a winner at this stage of the Championship was such a conundrum. The finely balanced match-ups thrown up by the draw have made this weekend's quarter-final bill hugely exciting. 9 Graham Geraghty power ranks the All-Ireland quarter-finalists Credit: Ben McShane/Sportsfile At 11-4 each, Meath and Monaghan are the biggest outsiders to reach the last four. Still, given the form and calibre of both teams, it would not go down as a major shock if either, or even both, were to advance. Given that nobody can seem to agree on who is in pole position to claim All-Ireland SFC glory on July 27, here is my own pecking order in the race for Sam . . . 8) GALWAY THIS one might raise eyebrows straight off the bat. Read More on GAA And such are the fine margins at play, there will be no great surprise on my behalf if 9 Shane Walsh of Galway reacts during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship preliminary quarter-final against Down Credit: Ben McShane/Sportsfile But for me, a Tribe side capable of blowing hot and cold are not as formidable as they were 12 months ago. When Shane Walsh does not catch fire , they tend not to function well as a unit. They have coped without Damien Comer, though the different dimension he can provide would be a huge asset for them. Most read in GAA Football After losing an All-Ireland final by a point, the road to atonement is long and arduous. Both mentally and physically, there is a lot of mileage on the clock. 'So much integrity' - RTE viewers hail Stephen Cluxton for 'principled stand' Dublin GAA icon took during Parnells saga 7) MEATH BEATING Galway tomorrow is well within Meath's capability. The Royals have excelled under the new rules and they have become a very confident outfit under Robbie Brennan. It is as if the shackles have been taken off, particularly for the younger players as they have really started to express themselves. 9 Ciarán Caulfield, left, and Aaron Lynch of Meath after the Leinster semi-final win over Dublin Credit: Ray McManus/Sportsfile Meath have done extremely well to persevere in the face of injuries to some important players. But that has left them a bit light on the bench. Losing Martin Corey and Joe McMahon from the backroom staff was a massive blow in March. Having since taken the scalps of 6) ARMAGH PLENTY of perplexed Armagh faces are sure to await me at Croker tomorrow after having the nerve to consign the All-Ireland champions to such a lowly position! The strength of their panel is one of the things I have really admired this year. 9 Armagh are reigning All-Ireland champions Credit: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile However, with Soupy Campbell and Oisín O'Neill out injured, they suddenly look much weaker in that regard. Such a talented team led by a man like Kieran McGeeney are more than capable of shoving this ranking back down my throat. But we are at the Championship now. And as I learned in 1997 after Meath's reign as All-Ireland champions was ended by hunted . 5) TYRONE OF the teams remaining, Any side that can hold Peter Harte and Ruairí Canavan in reserve is clearly in good nick. 9 Aidan Clarke of Tyrone in action against Cian Madden of Cavan Credit: Ben McShane/Sportsfile Apart from their big men in the middle, they are mostly a small, nippy team so Croke Park might suit them in one sense. And if they can consistently hit the heights that they did against The concern would be whether they can handle the rough and tumble over 70-plus minutes at this stage of the Championship. 4) MONAGHAN THIS is a Monaghan team I have a lot of time for. And while they will be up against it in today's meeting with Donegal, a win could do wonders for them if they can get over the line. On the one hand, they were not tested massively in the group stages. 9 Jack McCarron could be a big influence on Monaghan Credit: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile That being said, there is also a sense that we have not yet seen the best of them. Jack McCarron is a fantastic player to have back in and they would have been disappointed to have lost two Donegal by two points in Ulster on a day when they were caught by the hooter. Gabriel Bannigan's charges are a good By all accounts, Andy Moran has had a massive impact behind the scenes too. 3) DUBLIN ASIDE from a brilliant display in Salthill when their backs were against the wall after losing to Meath, Dublin have flattered to deceive. Are they still capable of setting the world alight? 9 Con O'Callaghan in action for Dublin Credit: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile If Con O'Callaghan is fully fit, today might be the day to answer that question. The wake-up call they got against Meath was a catalyst for significant improvement for the Dubs. There is no doubt about that. They have been good at times but there is still more in them. And their team is still packed with players who know more than anybody else about what is required to win on the big days at Croke Park. 2) DONEGAL NOTWITHSTANDING their defeat to Tyrone, Donegal have probably been the most consistent team throughout the season. Are they depending too heavily on Michael Murphy? Perhaps that is unfair to the supporting cast. 9 Donegal manager Jim McGuinness, left, and Michael Murphy Credit: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile Nevertheless, they cannot afford for their prodigal son to be off-form. They cut loose in the second half against Louth and the Wee County were no match for them. Getting over Monaghan would be a huge step for Donegal as this is no easy task. You would certainly sympathise with them over the six-day turnaround. Having said that, if they were playing in the second game tomorrow instead, Jim McGuinness would complain that they were getting home too late on a Sunday night. It is all part of the siege mentality he is aiming to generate. In his eyes, it's Donegal against the rest of the world. And that could ultimately work in their favour. 1) KERRY WHEN you back a team like Kerry into a corner, expect them to come out fighting. And with 9 David Clifford of Kerry celebrates after scoring his side's second goal against Cavan Credit: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile Since the defeat to Meath, there has been a bit of deflecting going on in the Kingdom. By playing down their chances, people like Darragh Ó Sé have been doing their bit to try to take the pressure off them. Going to Croke Park as underdogs is an unusual scenario for Kerry to find themselves in. But they will relish that too. While they have been badly hit by injuries, Jack O'Connor is still taking a squad packed full of talent up to the capital tomorrow. Even if he fielded his second-best XV, they would still probably trouble most teams. The season starts tomorrow for Kerry. Write them off at your peril.
