Stynes’ story takes on life of its own

Deep within Irish culture lie notions to do with destiny and honour and the role of the hero.

Jimmy Stynes always said that, outside his family, it was his exposure as a teenager to Irish traditional culture and the philosophy of outdoor education that shaped his life.

What does that mean when expressed in the colloquial language of sport through which most Australians converse? It means, for example, in relation to a recently retired AFLplayer at a loss to know what to do with himself, that Jimmy remarked the player hadn’t “put a value on his life”. Jimmy put a value on his life and he lived that value to the end.