Rory’s raising hell

Carving out a well-established career in comedy, the 35-year-old has become a household name thanks to his satirical sketches. But the larger-than-life comic admits he felt out of his depth while braving the military bootcamp last year. “There was a moment on the first morning when we were stripped down to our boxers. And I am looking over at Peter Stringer, an Irish rugby legend, and double Olympian Melanie Nocher, and then there’s Rory O’Connor who played midfield Junior B for his club two weeks ago with a belly and arse hanging out, and thinking: ‘What am I doing here?’” jokes the Meath man. “I just relied on my mental strength to get me through. I don’t think I would do it again.” It’s the same mental endurance that helped the dad-of-three bounce back after the family almost became homeless three years ago. “It’s horrible, we moved into my mam and dad’s house during the first lockdown and we count our blessings every day when we sit down on the couch. “Like everyone, we’d love a bigger house and a bigger back garden. But at the end of the day, we have a roof over our heads, and we are very thankful for that. “In April 2020, I was sitting in my parents’ front room having a cup of tea, and my job was a comedian on stage. Nobody was allowed look at each other, nevermind sit together. “I couldn’t have been further away from getting a mortgage, but we got in there and got it. So keep the positive vibes going and just do your best,” he urges. “I know that’s easy to say when I have my house, but I have been that soldier, sitting in my mam’s feeling useless with kids upstairs not having a house for them — but you will get there.”

• Hell & Back, sponsored by Londis, takes place at Killruddery Estate, Wicklow, throughout June-October, 2022. Register at hellandback.ie