Tom Humphries
Encyclopedia
Tom Humphries is a sportswriter and columnist who writes for The Irish Times
. He lives in Dublin with Mary and his two children, Molly and Caitlín.
Humphries, born in London, grew up in Foxfield, Raheny
, on the northside of Dublin, and was educated at St. Joseph's Christian Brothers School, Fairview
(alma mater of politicians Charles Haughey
, John A. Costello
and George Colley
). Attending University College Dublin
(UCD) he graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Commerce and a Higher Diploma
in Education. A notable student's union politician, Humphries unsuccessfully ran for the office of President of University College Dublin Students' Union in 1986, being defeated by Ulick Stafford. After teaching for a period he entered journalism.
His name came to international prominence when he interviewed Irish soccer player Roy Keane
in Saipan
in May 2002, as Ireland were preparing to take part in the 2002 FIFA World Cup
in Japan
and South Korea
. Originally his intention had been to write an article based on the interview, but such were the nature Keane's revelations, in particular his thoughts on the Irish team's preparations for the World Cup and the attitude of the management, players and the FAI (Football Association of Ireland
), that the article appeared as a verbatim transcript of the interview, starting on the front page of The Irish Times (an almost unheard of concession) and continuing in full on the inner pages. The resulting furore caused Keane, the preeminent Irish player of his generation, to resign from the squad at the same time as being sent home by the Irish soccer team manager, Mick McCarthy
, before the World Cup started.
His book Lap Top Dancing and the Nanny Goat Mambo was published in 2003 and was an account of his year spent covering sporting events in 2002, including the Saipan
events and the 2002 UEFA Champions League Final
. He was also one of the first Irish journalists to question the validity of Michelle Smith
's swimming success in the 1996 Summer Olympics
. To this day he regularly mentions Smith in his columns.
Besides his regular sports reporting and feature articles, Humphries writes a Monday column in The Irish Times called "Lockerroom".
Green Fields: Gaelic Sport in Ireland was Humphries' first book and is an analysis of the importance of the GAA in modern Ireland, a recurring theme of his work.
He was ghost writer on Irish soccer player Niall Quinn
's autobiography Niall Quinn - The Autobiography, published in 2002 and nominated for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award.
A collection of his The Irish Times and Sports Illustrated
writings was published in 2004 as Booked! and was nominated for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award. All royalties from the book went to Amnesty International
.
Humphries wrote the book Dublin V Kerry, an account of the series of historic clashes between the two dominant teams in Gaelic Football of the mid to late 1970s.
He coauthored Come What May, Donal Og Cusack
's autobiography.
He detests the League of Ireland
and rugby.
Humphries was accused in April 2011 of having had underage sex with a 14-year-old girl following the alleged discovery by his daughter of naked pictures of the girl on his cell phone. He checked into a psychiatric hospital in Dublin and was awaiting medical approval to be interviewed by Gardaí
. He was also under suicide watch. Meanwhile, a second allegation of a similar nature arose. The Irish Daily Star reported in July 2011 that Humphries had been taken to St. James's Hospital
in Dublin following a serious heart attack while staying at St. Patrick's psychiatric hospital. He was reported to be gravely ill, mentally and physically, and might not recover well enough to stand trial.
The Irish Times
The Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...
. He lives in Dublin with Mary and his two children, Molly and Caitlín.
Humphries, born in London, grew up in Foxfield, Raheny
Raheny
Raheny is a northern suburb of Dublin, the capital city of Ireland. It is an old area, centred around an old village, and is referenced back to 570 AD but after years of light settlement, with a main village and a coastal hamlet, grew rapidly in the 20th century, and is now a mid-density...
, on the northside of Dublin, and was educated at St. Joseph's Christian Brothers School, Fairview
Fairview, Dublin
Fairview is a coastal district on the Northside of Dublin, Ireland, in the jurisdiction of Dublin City Council. Part of the area forms Fairview Park, on land reclaimed from the sea.-Location and access:...
(alma mater of politicians Charles Haughey
Charles Haughey
Charles James "Charlie" Haughey was Taoiseach of Ireland, serving three terms in office . He was also the fourth leader of Fianna Fáil...
, John A. Costello
John A. Costello
John Aloysius Costello , a successful barrister, was one of the main legal advisors to the government of the Irish Free State after independence, Attorney General of Ireland from 1926–1932 and Taoiseach from 1948–1951 and 1954–1957....
and George Colley
George Colley
George Colley was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician, who served in a wide number of Cabinet poistions, most notably as Minister for Finance and Tánaiste. He was twice defeated for the leadership of Fianna Fáil in 1966 and 1979.-Early life:Colley was born in Fairview, on the northside of Dublin...
). Attending University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
(UCD) he graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Commerce and a Higher Diploma
Higher diploma
A higher diploma is an academic award in Libya, United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Ireland and Oman. In Libya the award is equivalent to a bachelor's degree in engineering or technology, in Hong Kong it is below the standard of the bachelor's degree, in Ireland it is above the standard of the bachelor's...
in Education. A notable student's union politician, Humphries unsuccessfully ran for the office of President of University College Dublin Students' Union in 1986, being defeated by Ulick Stafford. After teaching for a period he entered journalism.
His name came to international prominence when he interviewed Irish soccer player Roy Keane
Roy Keane
Roy Maurice Keane is an Irish former footballer and manager. In his 18-year playing career, he played for Cobh Ramblers in the League of Ireland, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United, before ending his career at Celtic in Scotland....
in Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
in May 2002, as Ireland were preparing to take part in the 2002 FIFA World Cup
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. Originally his intention had been to write an article based on the interview, but such were the nature Keane's revelations, in particular his thoughts on the Irish team's preparations for the World Cup and the attitude of the management, players and the FAI (Football Association of Ireland
Football Association of Ireland
The Football Association of Ireland is the governing body for the sport of association football in the Republic of Ireland. It should not to be confused with the Irish Football Association , which is the organising body for the sport in Northern Ireland.For the full history, statistics and records...
), that the article appeared as a verbatim transcript of the interview, starting on the front page of The Irish Times (an almost unheard of concession) and continuing in full on the inner pages. The resulting furore caused Keane, the preeminent Irish player of his generation, to resign from the squad at the same time as being sent home by the Irish soccer team manager, Mick McCarthy
Mick McCarthy
Michael Joseph "Mick" McCarthy is an English-born former Irish international footballer who is currently the manager of Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he has been in charge since July 2006....
, before the World Cup started.
His book Lap Top Dancing and the Nanny Goat Mambo was published in 2003 and was an account of his year spent covering sporting events in 2002, including the Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
events and the 2002 UEFA Champions League Final
2002 UEFA Champions League Final
The 2002 UEFA Champions League Final was the final match of the 2001–02 UEFA Champions League, Europe's primary club football competition. The show-piece event was contested between Bayer Leverkusen of Germany and Real Madrid of Spain at the Hampden Park in Glasgow, on Wednesday, 15 May 2002, to...
. He was also one of the first Irish journalists to question the validity of Michelle Smith
Michelle Smith
Michelle Smith is a retired Irish swimmer and practising Irish barrister. She was a triple gold medallist at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, for the 400 m individual medley, 400 m freestyle and 200 m individual medley...
's swimming success in the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
. To this day he regularly mentions Smith in his columns.
Besides his regular sports reporting and feature articles, Humphries writes a Monday column in The Irish Times called "Lockerroom".
Green Fields: Gaelic Sport in Ireland was Humphries' first book and is an analysis of the importance of the GAA in modern Ireland, a recurring theme of his work.
He was ghost writer on Irish soccer player Niall Quinn
Niall Quinn
Niall John Quinn honorary MBE is a former Irish international footballer, and the ex-chairman of Sunderland AFC. He still works at the club as an overseas manager. He is also heavily involved in the management side of horse racing...
's autobiography Niall Quinn - The Autobiography, published in 2002 and nominated for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award.
A collection of his The Irish Times and Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
writings was published in 2004 as Booked! and was nominated for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award. All royalties from the book went to Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
.
Humphries wrote the book Dublin V Kerry, an account of the series of historic clashes between the two dominant teams in Gaelic Football of the mid to late 1970s.
He coauthored Come What May, Donal Og Cusack
Dónal Óg Cusack
Donal Óg Cusack is a well-known Irish hurler and Ireland's first openly gay elite sportsman. He plays hurling at club level with Cloyne and has been a member of the Cork senior inter-county team since 1999....
's autobiography.
He detests the League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
and rugby.
Humphries was accused in April 2011 of having had underage sex with a 14-year-old girl following the alleged discovery by his daughter of naked pictures of the girl on his cell phone. He checked into a psychiatric hospital in Dublin and was awaiting medical approval to be interviewed by Gardaí
Garda Síochána
, more commonly referred to as the Gardaí , is the police force of Ireland. The service is headed by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Irish Government. Its headquarters are located in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.- Terminology :...
. He was also under suicide watch. Meanwhile, a second allegation of a similar nature arose. The Irish Daily Star reported in July 2011 that Humphries had been taken to St. James's Hospital
St. James's Hospital
St. James's Hospital , also known as SJH, is the largest university teaching hospital in Dublin, Ireland. Its academic partner is the University of Dublin...
in Dublin following a serious heart attack while staying at St. Patrick's psychiatric hospital. He was reported to be gravely ill, mentally and physically, and might not recover well enough to stand trial.