Tommy set to be the toast of New York City

A TELEVISION sports personality from Knockbridge has been named as the guest of honour at the upcoming New York GAA banquet.

Tommy Smyth will be the guest of honour at the banquet, which is due to take place on March 26 next at Antun’s of Queen’s Village.

Tommy has lived in New York City for the past 47 years, and is known in over 200 countries for his work as a sports broadcaster and soccer analyst on ESPN.

Before this Tommy was the regular voice of Gaelic Park for many years. He credits his work in Gaelic Park with the grounding that set him up for a successful career with ESPN.

Smyth is known for his signature sign off “Tommy Smyth... with a Y” and for his description of a ball flying into the net when a goal is scored as “a bulge in the auld onion bag.”

Every year Tommy delights in pointing out Co Louth to millions of viewers in his role, along with his wife Treasa, as a television broadcaster for the New York City’s St Patrick’s Day Parade on WNBC TV.

Tommy was honored by Louth as Gael of the Year in 2006 when County Louth celebrated their 100th anniversary, and he was named Grand Marshal of the 2008 New York St Patrick’s Day Parade.