My Life with Joe Gregory: Joining the circus helped me deal with grief after tragedy

I was on my unicycle juggling in PE while my classmates played football

Joey Gregory who ran away with the circus when he was younger, now tours with his own; Gregory's Entertainment Magic Show. Picture: Moya Nolan

While every child dreams of running away with the circus, I was one of few to follow through on their promise.

I was just a kid when my father took me to see my first big top. I don’t think there’s a child who doesn’t love the circus. However, my father instinctively knew that, for me at least, this was more than a passing phase.