'Who's who?!' Tom Kelley
The continuing series of Baseball Ireland 'who's whos' leads to Tom Kelley

It has been twelve years since Tom Kelley came to Ireland. His reasons for moving? As cliched as a kiss to the insufferable Blarney stone, 'To study Irish History and for a girl'. Delving too deeply into Tom's, or TK as he is belovedly known, past can only cause certain dementia and blindness so we will stick to the academic matter. TK came to Ireland twelve years ago and threw himself into studying Irish History in, largely, Trinity College Dublin.

TK in Prague, 2006

Where did this desire to learn about Ireland's past come from? It came from TK's own past. Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, TK's Fathers side of the family was originally from the beautiful, peaceful Achill Island in County Mayo on the West Coast of Ireland. Fuelled with this desire to find out more about where his family came from, TK graduated from Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio and went to Ireland to study.

Oh, and, for a girl.

Swerving violently away from dipping into that potential topic, TK's next step on the path to becoming an Irish Baseball player was finding slow pitch softball in Dublin. He was amazed to find a co-ed, slow pitch league thriving in Dublin, and joined a team called 'the Slammers', for whom he became an absolute legend, on and off the field of play.

Whilst playing softball TK met up with the colourful, gregarious, Mike Kindle, who persuaded him to travel to Belfast with the players that then constituted the National Team, to play an exhibition game. After that trip, TK became one of the founder members of the two time Irish League Champion Dublin Hurricanes. Ask TK now about his initial league play experience and he replies, with a glint in his steely eyes,

''Corkagh Park was soggy, cold. No one could throw. I batted seventh in my first game as a Hurricane. I played third base then''

I actually remember the first time I saw TK play at Corcaigh Park, Newlands Cross, the home of Irish Baseball. He was warming up in the outfield and I remember asking Mike 'Who is that?!' as he was throwing absolute bullets out there.

Little did I know at the time TK would go on to become a great friend, team mate on the Irish Team and the Hurricanes, and indeed flat-mate for a couple of years.

TK and author drinking in Sinnots bar in Dublin. I think he is only talking to me as I am wearing an Indians cap.

As he grew into the Irish League TK also proved valuable to the Irish Team in the European Championships in Austria in 1998, Croatia in 2000 and during the Rhode Island/New England tour of 2001.

''Since I did not have citizenship until 2002, I travelled with the team as a coach in Austria in 1998 and Croatia in 2000.''

Having lived in Ireland for so long (TK met the eligibility requirements, living in Ireland for over five years) and with a clear Irish lineage in his family the next step was naturally to pursue Irish citizenship. TK reached out to a friend, Senator David Norris who was able to help expedite the process for him. With shiny new Irish Passport clutched in his sweaty little palms TK eagerly 'signed on the dotted line' and was a major part of the Irish National Team that finished fourth in the Pool B European Championships held in Sweden in 2002.

TK was an integral part of the teams in 2002 (Sweden), 2004 (Germany) and 2006 (Belgium), often batting lead off and playing sensational outfield.

Fascinatingly, showing just what a small world it really is, TK actually has two distant relatives who both have played and still play on the Irish National Baseball Team. Brothers Sean and Kevin Corrigan, also from Cleveland, Ohio, have played huge parts on the Irish Team. Amazingly their grandfathers were cousins, both hailing originally from Achill Island.

His own personal favourite tournament was the 2004 tournament in Regensberg Germany, where the team that managed a third place finish and bronze medal had, he felt, 'something special'.

Author, Chris Foy, TK (Back) and Pat Nolan after the Silver medal presentation in Belgium, 2006

No game illustrated TK's role on the Irish Team more than the Irish 'coming out' party against Austria in Germany in 2004. The Austrians had always beaten us to that point but in a crucial group game we beat them 8-2 in extra innings. While the game was still tied at 2-2, TK made a sensational, diving, sliding catch in left field to end the inning and bring Ireland back up to bat, where we scored 6 runs to win the game.

When asked about that wonderful catch now, TK replies humbly;

''I would also say that my favourite game was Ireland v Austria 2004. I made a catch that saved the game, but more importantly this was the game that Ireland really came onto the Euro scene as a contender.''

TK's efforts for the Irish Team are not restricted to just making great catches to turn games, he is also heavily involved in the Irish Baseball organisational committee, helped director John Fitzgerald with the Emerald Diamond movie and held one of Baseball Ireland's most successful fundraisers ever, in his home town in Cleveland. In his own words;

'' I wanted to bring Cleveland closer to Irish baseball, since myself and the Corrigans had been playing for the national team and there is a huge Irish-American population there. I got three local bands to perform for free at Brendan O'Neil's pub in Cleveland, sold tickets and merchandise. The event grossed $4,000.''

In the time he has been in Ireland TK has also spent several years as Captain of the Dublin Hurricanes, leading them to Championships in 2003 and 2005 whilst also driving them to several close finish second places. His verve and leadership have kept the Hurricanes at the top of Irish Baseball battling the Spartans and Panthers in particular over the years to some classic end of season finishes.

The Hurricanes are also, to date, the only Irish Club Baseball side to travel abroad for tournaments and competitions. With the 'Canes TK has travelled to England, the Czech Republic and Belgium. He plans to lead the Hurricanes into action in the Czech Republic later this summer, hoping to improve on the Hurricanes second place tournament finish last summer.

TK and Pat Nolan in Prague

Before he ventured to Ireland, TK was just a kid dreaming of playing for any of his childhood teams, the Cleveland Indians, Browns, Cavaliers and Ohio State. Instead, he came to Ireland, and through Baseball Ireland and the Hurricanes has won tournaments, made great friends, and travelled to the States, Austria, Germany, Croatia, the Czech Republic, England and Sweden.

For now, in the baseball offseason, TK is preparing for the year ahead while working managing 'Study Abroad' programs for US Universities.

The final words go to TK himself, let them be a warning to anyone planning on coming to Ireland for a short stay. From a recent interview with the great man;

Q: How long have you been in Ireland now?
TK: 12 years
Q: Roughly how many times have you said 'I am only staying this year'?
TK: Roughly, 12 times.