“Oh Danny Boy the pipes, the pipes are calling.”
One of the most respected and well-loved Irish athletes of all time is the former world featherweight champion Barry McGuigan.
All Irish people of a certain age will be able to tell you exactly where they were when the Clones Cyclone beat Eusebio Pedroza at Loftus Road to win the title, but Barry McGuigan was much, much more than just a fighter.
His decision not to choose a specific colour or national anthem in the ring earned him the respect of people all across the island of Ireland and in the UK, as he stood for neutrality and peace during a particularly divisive and violent period in Irish history.
McGuigan has since gone on to be a massive success as a boxing promoter and trainer – Carl Frampton is his latest protégé – and the Monaghan man was the latest guest to meet Gay Byrne in his Meaning of Life series, following on from Stephen Fry last week.
Take a look as he talks about how he felt during this intense period of his life.
