LIFE IS GOOD for Ken McGrath these days.
A job he enjoys, a new addition to the family, managing his club’s senior hurling team and releasing an autobiography — McGrath has plenty to smile about.
Things are especially positive for the Waterford legend when the hurdles he encountered since retiring from hurling are added for perspective.
Just over two years ago, McGrath and his wife Dawn were still coming to terms with the financial implications of being forced to close their business when he underwent open heart surgery at the Beacon Hospital in Dublin.
“Every family or every person will have their challenges over their career or their life. I had 10, 15 years playing with Waterford — loved it, loved every minute of it,” said McGrath, who played his final championship game for his county in 2010.
The three-time All-Star hurler ran a sports shop in Waterford for four years, until the economic downturn led to its closure in 2011. But there were bigger challenges still to come.
“The recession hit and it hit Waterford unbelievably bad,” McGrath told The42. “Retail fell off a cliff down in Waterford city and we were probably not in the game long enough to sustain it. The business went. It was a tough couple of years, very tough.
“We put an awful lot of work into that. Our life and soul went into that for a few years. We knew it was failing in the last year or so, or the last few months, and you’re saying ‘we’ll push on and we’ll drive on’ the whole time.
“When it didn’t succeed, you’re nearly embarrassed putting up the ‘closing down’ signs, or whatever. You know you’ve failed again in something that you tried to put everything into. It was tough going. It was tough financially as well. But I suppose it all paled into insignificance when the heart problems started arising and started occurring.”
In December 2013, McGrath — at the age of 36 — suffered a brain haemorrhage and ended up spending several months at Ardkeen Hospital in Waterford after tests revealed an abnormal valve and infection in his heart. Fortunately, he made a full and swift recovery from the extensive surgery that was required the following April.
“It was tough,” McGrath said. “It was more tough on Dawn, I suppose. She was at home with two kids and trying to work, whereas I was stuck in hospital getting fed every two or three hours, getting antibiotics, no bother. I had an easy enough life just trying to get better. Thankfully I did. The care I got in Waterford and in the Beacon was unbelievable.
“Three years ago maybe I was in a different place than I am now. Thankfully things have turned out for the good. I suppose you don’t give up hope. At times when the shop was gone we were struggling, we were under pressure, but we always felt that things would turn and change for us again.”
McGrath is kept busy these days by his role as Mount Sion senior hurling manager, his family — particularly his daughter Izzy, whose first birthday was earlier this month — and, of course, his full-time job. The 38-year-old is now assisting his younger brother and former team-mate Eoin with the running of his coffee business.
McGrath: “I love it with Eoin. We have great craic. There’s three of us on the road now delivering coffee, drinking coffee all day and eating cakes. How bad! It’s a grand job and Izzy at home now too.”
Nevertheless, having encountered the fragility of life in 2014, McGrath insists he’s fortunate to have emerged from such a difficult and daunting spell. The tragic death of Munster Rugby head coach Anthony Foley last weekend served as a reminder of that.
“I think if I had let it go any longer, heart failure was my only option,” McGrath admitted. “Thanks be to God we got to it in time and the lads dealt with it in Waterford and then up in the Beacon. I’m flying. I’m a new man here. The energy I have is unreal. I was suffering for a few years [and] I didn’t really know.
“I’m probably one of the lucky ones. When you hear that story last weekend, it would rock you a small bit and it would have you thinking a small bit more about how lucky you are and how much we take life for granted.”
Published by Black & White, ‘Hand on Heart’ by Ken McGrath (with Michael Moynihan) is available now.
Loves Mind games this fella. Hope we batter them, because behind the mind games is a bitter coach who is under massive pressure.
@Gary O’Rourke: is he under massive pressure? Seems English RFU have accepted that 6 nations results can suffer provided World Cup performance is there. He’s already made one WC final (playing ridiculously well). He isn’t going to be sacked even if they finish bottom half again this year. Also he’s made huge money and his record means he’ll get another job easy if England do let him go.
On top of that – what he is saying is correct rather than mind games. We are favourites!
@Augustus hoop: Accept for the fact they have gone considerably downhill since he took over in late 15 from Lancaster who let’s be honest built an unbelievable setup. Let’s see how they get on in the next world cup.
@Ron: they made the World Cup final – completely outplaying New Zealand in the semi – I wouldn’t consider that to be ‘downhill’ from not getting out of the group in 2015!!!? It was a full 4 years after Lancaster had moved on. I think it’s a stretch to be giving Lancaster more credit for it than jones.
I dont particularly like how the man goes on, but his record of repeatedly managing/coaching teams that peak for world cups and perform better – not just results also performance (Australia, Japan, England and even s Africa when he was no2) – is surely no open to debate!!!?
@Augustus hoop: they made the world cup final 3 years ago in fairness and the lack of expansive rugby they have played since compared to Lancaster era and just after is clear to see. Agree that WC didn’t work out for Lancaster but by the time he left Eng were one the best teams imo. You could see how dangerous they were getting. Also going from 2020 to now it’s clearly a downward trajectory and you can see he knows it. I didn’t question his past coaching achievements.
@Gary O’Rourke:
Such a soccer manager! The game should be played on the field, not in the media!
Any compliment from him feels backhanded somehow. Waiting for the other shoe to drop
@G: His compliments have T’s & C’s.
We’ll have to be extra vigilant then Eddie, won’t we!
It will be tough and England will have worked out every weakness in our play. I hope it’s a great game. C’mon Ireland!
They will target us at the breakdown. They way to beat Ireland us to slow down our ball hence the Underhill inclusion. He is a breakdown specialist. It will be interesting to see how Farrell can counter this.
According to Eddie have England been favourites for any game in this 6 nations yet?
This guy…sly as they come…thinks he is anyway!
Can’t stomach that Jones fella he’s some spiteful ballix who just trys his best to wind up the opposition coaches and players. He has a serious chip on his shoulder with the Irish lads especially. Hope we batter them
In fairness Ireland probably are slight favourites. As someone else said England will target us at the breakdown. The best way to stop us playing is to target us there. But they’ll need to do a much better job than they did last year. I fancy an Ireland win by 10.
Soft talk from Eddie once again.
Probably his Last Game in Charge Won’t be Missed
@pat seery: can only hope….
No matter what this fella says it calculated for his own interests. Basically he’s saying they’re good why wouldn’t they be, sure they play together week in week out. Always a bitter narrative with him never take him a face value awful bitter.
He’s playing games again.
For once he seems to have told the truth. Yes, there are always mind games at play with him, but Ireland are and should deservedly be favourites and so what if he says so?! It is also true that his team is a work in progress. That’s obvious. Now all we have to do is prove him right! Wouldn’t that be nice?!
Eddie in wrong sport..should be in boxing with all his pre match mind games and fighting talk….