Kilkenny and Tullaroan hurler Padraig Walsh has confessed that he is a massive Harry Potter and has read all the books ‘about 100 times’.
The 2019 All-Star was speaking to Off The Ball about his club’s upcoming AIB All-Ireland Intermediate Club Hurling final when the conversation strayed to his love for the wizarding world.
His brother Tommy had dished out that Padraig has an obsession with the famous fantasy novel series and was unashamed of his passion.
“I don’t think that’s embarrassing. There are a lot of people who like Harry Potter.
“Well, I’ve read every book about 100 times I’d say. I love it. I’m actually rewatching the films at the moment as well. But I don’t think that’s anything to be ashamed of. I love it.
“The graphics in the films are unbelievable compared to what they should have been at the time. I think they were ahead of their time,” Walsh said.
"I don't think that's anything to be ashamed of! I love it." 😂
Padraig Walsh on his obsession with Harry Potter.@AIB_GAA
Full chat: https://t.co/2v2KUlUBYZ pic.twitter.com/eZjtQ5mO1K
— Off The Ball (@offtheball) January 17, 2020
The Kilkenny hurler has visited ‘The Wizarding World of Harry Potter’ in the Universal Studios theme park in Orlando, Florida and is eager to visit the London version as well.
“I’ve been in the one in Orlando. I was over there, but I’d love to go to the one in London. I’d love to go to it. I am fairly obsessed with it now. Tommy’s only after getting the books himself.
“He started reading them there for Christmas. So he said he’ll pass them onto me now when he’s finished,” Walsh commented.
The two-time All-Ireland winner is unsurprisingly a big sports fan, and has a keen interest in the fictional sport of quidditch that exists in the Harry Potter series.
“I’d love to play a game of quidditch. It looks fun anyway,” Walsh said.
While Walsh is certainly a big fan, he did stop short of buying Harry Potter toys.
“No. I was too old for that. I probably wanted the toys but I never got them. I just got the books instead,” Walsh said.
There's been a change to the AIB GAA Club Championship fixture schedule this year and the finals take place next Sunday the 19th of January.
Tickets available from gaa.tickets.ie and usual outlets including local clubs and Supervalu and Centra stores.
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