In episode 206 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with writer and Swindon Town fan Liam Walsh.
Liam is the author of ‘Red Balloons: A Father, A son: A Memoir’, where he writes about losing his 15-year-old son Patrick in January 2020.
Patrick had gone to a football match to watch Tottenham Hotspur, Liam and Patrick’s second team play and collapsed suddenly for no clear, explainable reason. He died on the streets of west London, held in his arms by his brother Euan.
Tragically, just two weeks later, Liam’s father and his children’s grandparents died too, giving Liam and his family two, unimaginable heartbreaks in a short space of time.
In this episode we discuss the grief of losing his son and his father in quick succession, the bond they forged through supporting Swindon Town, Tottenham Hotspur and Gaelic hurling, the power of community and people who supported him and his family in their time of need.
We also discuss how the book provided Liam with a cathartic tool to help him through his grief, support his wife Kate and his two surviving children Euan and Niamh.
As always, #itsokaytovent
You can purchase a copy of ‘Red Balloons’ here.
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TRIGGER WARNING: this podcast contains a deep and detailed discussion about grief and loss, which some listeners may find upsetting, so please listen with caution.
