Can someone find Sid’s post on Candice Picklington and post it in here?
Thanks.
After Kilkenny’s latest All-Ireland victory, I spoke exclusively to star player Canice Picklington about what makes the man behind the face mask. And as I’m sure you’ll agree, the nine-times All-Ireland medallist has some very interesting things to say.
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Me: Tell us a bit about yourself Canice:
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Canice: Ah there wouldn’t really be too much to tell now. I’m a hurling man, I suppose.
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Me: Tell us a bit about your family:
Canice: Ah yeah, myself and Rachel have been married for five years now. We’re very happy with what we have. All the lads went to the wedding and they made a guard of honour with hurleys, which was a nice touch, as we all play hurling, like. Rachel goes out to a neighbour’s house in the evenings a lot. She doesn’t tell me what she’s doing but I suppose everybody is entitled to their little secrets. That gives me time to stay at home and mind our three kids, Harry, Janice and Canice Junior.
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Me: Do you enjoy music?
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Canice: I like a bit of Coldplay. They’re a very good band. The Script as well, it’s good to see an Irish band doing well as it’s good for the country. And of course U2, they’re great for the country too and I really respect Bono for all his charity work.
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Me: Have you any hobbies?
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Canice: Hurling I suppose. 'Tis difficult to get time to do much else. I like to relax by watching a bit of television. Grey’s Anatomy is very good, and Friends, I think that’s very funny, especially Joey. I love films as well. , I have a DVD of The Shawshank Redemption. I’ve seen it ten times now. Brian Cody gave me a lend of Nightmare on Elm Street but I haven’t seen it yet. It’s supposed to be very good.
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Me: What do you work at?
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Canice: I work inside in the city selling agricultural insurance. It’s important to have insurance as you can never be too careful about things that can happen. I’d help out the odd time at my father TJ’s farm as well. My brothers Walter, Henry, Nigel and PJ help out too. It keeps you grounded. The job is good because they give me a car. It’s a silver Toyota Yaris. Rachel has a silver Yaris too. It’s a lovely car. I think I’ll get another silver Yaris when I’m finished with this one.
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[color="#000000"]Me: What’s your favourite colour?:
Canice: Jeez, that’s a good question. I suppose I’d have to say black or amber because they’re the Kilkenny colours. Although I like green as well because it reminds me of the green grass of a hurling pitch.
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Me; Do you follow any other sports?
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Canice: Ah, I wouldn’t have much time now, I suppose, but I’d watch the odd rugby match. I like to see the Irish teams do well as it’s good for the country.
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Me: Do you take an interest in politics?
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Canice: Ah I wouldn’t have any strong views, I suppose, and I wouldn’t know much about it, although I’ve great time for our local TDs here, and I’d always be willing to help out if Phil Hogan or John McGuinness needed a bit of a hand. Phil is a good hurling man and I’d never see him stuck. He was talking to me recently about the European referendum which is coming up in a couple of months and asked if I’d be able to say a few words in support of it for a video the government is putting together. I don’t really know very much about it, but I was glad to say yes, as it’s very important for the country, I suppose.
Phil has asked me to think about possibly standing for Fine Gael at the next election, and John for Fianna Fail. I don’t have the time at the moment obviously but I said I’d definitely think about it over the next while and sure I’d probably be retired from hurling at that stage anyway. I wouldn’t like to say no to either of them and sure, why not?
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I’ve also been sounded out about carrying the torch for the Commonwealth Games when it passes through Kilkenny in a couple of years time. I’d like to do that as it sounds interesting. The Queen was a very nice woman too when I met her last year.
Have you any superstitions on match day? Ah yeah, I suppose I’d always go to mass, like. Even though I’m Church of Ireland, I always like to go to mass as it’s good luck. I always wear the black glove that DJ gave me after he retired on my left hand as well.
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[color="#000000"]Me: What’s the toughest match you’ve ever played?
Canice: Definitely any of the A v B games in training. Savage intensity, like.
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Me: With the drawn game against Galway level in the dying minutes, was Henry right to go for a point from the penalty?
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Canice: Ah, yeah, I think so, like. I’d always be of the opinion that you should take the points and the goals will come.
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Me: Tell us a bit about the rest of the Kilkenny team:
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Canice: Ah, I couldn’t say too much about them, but they’re all a great bunch of lads. There’d be some fierce characters I suppose. Welshy, Taggy, Cha and Jackie are all a good laugh and we have the craic together. People say we’re dull but I can tell you that’s definitely not the case. I mean I like to have the craic as much as anybody. I mean I had four pints on the Tuesday afternoon after the All-Ireland this year.
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Me: I notice you refer to some other players by their nicknames. Have you got a nickname yourself?
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Canice; No.
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Me: What do you think of people who say that Kilkenny are the greatest team of all-time?
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Ah that’s not up to me to say, I suppose. 'Tis nice to get a bit of praise, but you can’t let it go to your head. We know the bitter pain of defeat as much as anybody after losing to Cork in 1999. I suppose that’s what drives us on. I mean you’re only as good as your last game. There’s always teams who have the ability to beat you. Like, any time we play Wexford it’s always a 50-50 game. Offaly too. Dublin have improved an awful lot. I suppose every game is 50-50. We don’t have any time to think about it anyway as we have the club championship now which I know all the lads will be aiming to give a right go.
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Me: Thanks, Canice. It’s been rivetting.
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Canice: Ah, sure no prolem at all. Any time, apart from when it’s not the week after an All-Ireland.
