The Vienna Gaels player profiles return, this week we talk with Barry Guihen about his love of tea, Paul Walker and playing dress up with the other Barry’s in the Vienna Gaels men’s squad. Barry is a member of our football, handball and hurling squads, as well as having represented the auld enemies over the border, the Slovak Shamrocks in handball. It’s a long story, but rumors persist of a high fee for his performance on the day, like at least a tenner.
Name: Barry Guihen
From: Navan, Co. Meath
Age: 29
Occupation: Researcher in technology, law and ethics, quizmaster.
Funniest (PG) story from your time with the Vienna Gaels?Anything Katie Riley has said that wound up in Darren’s little black book, ‘The Chronicles of Darnia’.
Most memorable trip with the Vienna Gaels? The hurling tournament in Den Haag was a highlight. Being assured by a fella so drunk he was fighting a losing battle with his own equilibrium that he “had played at the highest level” truly was the inspiration my life had been lacking.
If money was no object, what would you do all day? Count my bitcoin and continue to pretend it’s worth anything at all.
Tell us something about yourself we don’t know? Sometimes I do, in fact, stop talking.
What makes you angry? Making a cup of tea and realising I don’t have any milk.
First sporting hero? Meath hero Ollie Murphy.
Ideal date? Quiet pint on a Monday evening, safe in the knowledge that the Gaels are all at training.
Name three things that are always in your fridge? Milk (though it goes so quickly I sometimes get caught out, and then I get angry), cheese and the female characters from my failed novels.
Your last meal before training and first food afterwards? I usually don’t have time to eat as I rush from work. Afterward, a cup of tea cures all.
One team-mate you’d have in your corner in tag-team MMA?
Baxter, although he’d have to promise to only go for the other team!
Who is the best and worst dresser in your squad? Best is maybe Noel and his shoes? John Sullivan’s got a style to him as well. Worst? I suppose it has to go to Barry Lunn in my t-shirts.
Who is the prankster in the squad? Simon, but he’s got an heir to the title in Noel.
Any football superstitions? Only that it takes divine intervention for my shots to not go wide.
What makes you nervous? Extended silence or hearing that Sullivan is leading training.
Last time you cried? Watching Furious 7 in the cinema and that fecking send off to Paul Walker had me in floods.
Who would you like to be stranded on a desert island with? Anne Murray or Simon Deignan. Anne because there’s no way she wouldn’t force a solution to it. Simon because the place could be deserted completely, and he’d still know someone who could help us out. After annoying them first.
Who’s the most famous person you’ve met? I got drunk with Will Ferrell once. That was a good time.
Who is the most under-rated Vienna Gael? We’ve so many players who put the head down and just get stuck in, but maybe Anita for both how she plays and the trojan work she does behind the scenes.
What’s your most prized possession? I have this mug for tea that my parents gave me and it is perfect in every way.
Best advice you’ve ever received? Stop talking.
Best thing about being a Vienna Gael? Too many reasons to count but it’s probably the fashionable jerseys.
Worst thing about being a Vienna Gael? When we forget to wash the fashionable jerseys.
Describe yourself in three words? Very lucky indeed!