Tony Armstrong: Broadcaster, ex-AFL player explores Ireland’s familial power of Emerald Isle, Count Tipperary

Ireland has threaded its way through the life of Australian TV presenter and former AFL player Tony Armstrong.

It played a role in his backpacking years 25 years ago — and what became an arguably expected stopover in Dublin’s whisky-soaked streets of the The Temple Bar.

“Yeah, it was all hostels and pub hopping — it was that kind of trip,” Armstrong tells ROAM.

He returned in 2013 to represent the Indigenous Australian All-Stars in the International Rules Series against Ireland — playing at the famous Croke Park, Ireland’s equivalent of the MCG — and landing a more elevated experience with a stay at Dromoland Castle, a historic 16th century estate which houses a championship golf course and the fine dining restaurant Earl of Thomond.

Cut to January of this year and it was “work” that saw Armstrong’s latest return to the Emerald Isle — informing a stint on the road with comedian Shaun Micallef as part of his SBS Origin Odyssey series.

Read the latest edition of ROAM here. It enabled the 36-year-old to reconnect with his maternal Irish side — visiting dairy farms, acquainting with second and third cousins for the first time in a bid to better understand his heritage.

“Going back to Ireland was all about retracing the family history of my maternal great-great-grandfather Cornelius who was a dairy farmer and then became a publican in Sydney in the 1920s.

Getting to meet cousins and great-uncles was a surreal experience. They’ve clearly kissed the Blarney Stone because we yakked for ages. It might be hereditary because I can talk underwater with a mouthful of marbles too.

I ate at some fabulous spots on the road trip. The Thatch Pub in Cloneen is one I recommend — I had a fantastic Guinness there, probably the best I’ve had in my life.

The pub is tiny with a thatched roof, and it felt like you were transported to Ireland back in the 1800s; a family-run business that had a friendly feel to it.

I ate a traditional Irish breakfast at Bowes & Co Cafe — a popular cafe and restaurant in Cashel, County Tipperary. It was a mix of black and white pudding and pork sausages. To really get into the Irish way of life you just need to do it.

Driving through the countryside with farms and rolling hills all around reminded me of scenes in TV show Postman Pat — those winding roads, beautiful hedges and tiny little towns just so memorable. It’s a stunning place.

I also got back to Dublin and this time I discovered a brilliant wine bar called Loose Canon, right near the river in the heart of the city and with a focus on cheese and minimal intervention wines.

And I stayed in a few different places — from the luxury of the Malmaison in Belfast, the Moxy Dublin Docklands and The Horse & Jockey (Thurles, Tipperary) and which has the famous Enclosure Bar inside.

I’m devastated I never got to visit the life-sized statue of Phil Lynott — front man of Thin Lizzy in Dublin, it was near where we were — but I’ll visit next time. I know I’ll be back.”