Johnny O’Boyle obituary

My father, Johnny O’Boyle, was a singer, boxer, comedian and bandleader who, when times were hard, could also turn his hand to a bit of plumbing and building.

Johnny, who has died aged 87, will possibly be best remembered in the wider Irish community as the man who, along with the co-directors of Gaelic Telesport, Pat Whelan and Paddy Coyne, brought the All-Ireland games to screens in Britain via closed circuit TV in the 1970s. It arrived first in London in 1973, then in cinemas and halls around the UK, including Coventry, Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham, going on to the US and in Australia.