'Most GAA story ever written': Ex-Limerick hurler's Sunday takes a very special turn
James and Amie Ryan, Knocklong, will never forget the 2026 All-Ireland final and not just because of Limerick’s win!
WHEN the Limerick hurlers were marching in the parade behind the Artane Band on All-Ireland final Sunday, former captain James 'JimBob' Ryan was pacing around a room in the maternity hospital.
At exactly 3.23pm, the third son of James and Amie entered the world weighing 8lbs 6oz. His name is Páudí.
“I had RTÉ Player on the phone so the whole thing was going on while the parade was on,” smiled James, who is Limerick GAA’s Head of Games.
The Knocklong man should have been in Croke Park as co-commentator on Live 95 but couldn’t do it as Amie’s due date was the previous Friday.
“This is probably the most GAA story ever written and you’d swear it was made up but the labour started while we were watching Up For The Match the night before. Could you get any more Gael than that?” laughed James.
The couple headed into the maternity on Saturday night and Páudí duly arrived seven minutes before throw-in on Sunday.
James even got to watch most of the match on his phone after the birth.
“My good wife understood because it was the final. Now, if it was the first round of the championship I wouldn’t have got away with it as easy! I was more worried about the midwife telling me I couldn't watch it - that was my big concern.
“Obviously, I was coming in and out and holding the child but I got to see most of it.”
Limerick did James a favour by their commanding performance as he didn’t have to be glued to his phone
“It wasn't like 2018. Now, the first half, Galway were obviously still in it but just before half-time, Limerick kicked away and you could nearly tell at half-time that Galway had it all to do in the second half.”
James and Amie had picked out the name Páudí for months but in honour of the day, they chose Liam as his middle name.
“He'll remember the day by that anyway.”
James (pictured above) headed back to Knocklong around 7pm to take care of their other two children - Séimí, 4, and Dáithí, 2. O’Connell Street, and the Tipperary and Mitchelstown roads were certainly not as busy as Jones’ Road.
“It was a kind of a funny experience. I had to drive down through the city centre and just to see all the people wearing Limerick jerseys out and about and the smiles on people's faces. I'd never seen that before as I'd always been in Dublin for the good days and the bad days.
“Then onto Caherconlish and Hospital and seeing people in their Limerick jerseys out and about there and smiles on their faces. It was a unique experience that I actually kind of half enjoyed.
"Maybe it was because I had another child, another baby boy that was coming home a day or two after and Liam MacCarthy coming back to the county, but it was nice to see all the green. There's a lot of people out there that just can't get tickets and they were enjoying it in their own way.”
Now that the dust has settled on John Kiely’s men winning six All-Irelands in nine seasons, James reflects on the pleasure they have given the county after 45 years of not seeing one.
“During the time of Covid even, when some people weren’t at their best mentally because of the disease going around the world, Limerick winning All-Irelands uplifted people so much. Not only have they done it in the form of sport, they've done it in the form of life for Limerick people.
"I suppose the most complimentary thing you can say about this team is it hasn't gone to their heads. They're lovely people to meet out and about.
“I don't think they even realise what they're doing at the moment. They're just in a bubble. They're in the process. They obviously know they've won but they don't realise the impact this has on the county and the people supporting them.
“They probably know by people telling them but it won't sink in until they've probably gone out to grass and retired themselves. It's just incredible.”
The Garryspillane clubman also spoke of the joy the minor hurlers have brought during their run to Limerick’s first All-Ireland since 1984.
"The energy and the joy that was around the Gaelic Grounds that day for a county that won so many seniors recently – I can’t explain it. The future is bright”.
James hopes Páudí gets to see and remember more Limerick All-Irelands in the future just like mum and dad won’t forget July 19, 2026.