Boxing fans will get the chance to meet an Olympic hero when Kenny Egan comes to Kilkenny in the coming weeks.
Egan, who won a silver medal in Beijing, has seen his story made into a DVD, which will show what life is really like in and out of the ring.
Since winning a silver medal at the Games Egan has seen his life turn full circle. Kenny was recently invited to New York to see the Joe Calzaghe fight in Madison Square Gardens and had various meetings with prospective promoters with a view to turning professional – a decision he will make over the next few weeks.
I caught up with Kenny to find out how much his life has changed since returning home and asked him few personal questions.
Speaking to Kenny you instantly feel at ease. His wonderful, charming manner makes you feel you've spoken to him a thousand times before. His cheeky laugh and genuine nature make him one of the most exciting interviews I have conducted to date.
"When I arrived in Beijing I was blown away by the whole experience," he said of the beginning of his Olympic adventure. "It was unreal, you know. Here were all these sporting legends in the same place as me and they were all there for the same reason- to win medals. It was an amazing time for me."
When I brought up the controversial fight where it was shown that Kenny lost out on vital scores over poor judging he was very philosophical.
"It wasn't my opponent's fault, that's for sure," he said. "When you have judges sitting around and 14,000 Chinese supporters screaming and chanting, it could have swayed the judging."
When I asked about him turning professional he spoke a lot of sense.
"I haven't made up my mind yet - in four years when the next Olympics in London come around I'll be 30," he said. "Not only that, people would assume that I'm already through, but I would still need to win All-Irelands.
"There is also a lot of talent coming up the ranks so it may not be a definite that I would get there. So, for me, there is a lot to think about. People will learn a lot more of this when they watch the DVD."
While Kenny has some amazing moments since returning home he has also had to deal with some tough times, including a public break-up with his girlfriend Karen.
"It was very hard on us when I came back from Beijing," he admitted. "All the attention put enormous pressure on the relationship.
"We had gone from a normal life to having cameras following us. Then, if I was snapped with another girl I was going out with her or we were an item – and none of it was true!
"I can't say what the future holds for Karen and I or whether we would rekindle some day but right now there is so much going on in our lives it's not something I can properly think about."
Despite the low points, there has been plenty also for Egan to be happy about since returning home an Olympic hero.
"I am delighted and really happy to be going to schools talking to the children," he said. "I'm honoured too at being asked to do official openings. So many doors have opened for me because of the Olympics – it's been a great adventure."
Kenny Egan will appear at Heartbeat City in the Market Cross on December 6 to meet people and sign copies of his DVD as part of a nationwide signing tour.
Back From Beijing is a fly-on-the-wall documentary featuring Kenny Egan on his return from winning a silver medal in Beijing and his subsequent hero's welcome. It also features Kenny in training mode, at home with his mother (a Kilkenny woman ) and fuels speculation on whether Kenny will stay on as an amateur boxer or turn professional.
