Tiernan Stynes on emulating Jim: 'I never thought I could be so connected to my dad again'

This Saturday in Armenian Melbourne born Tiernan Stynes will emulate his legendary dad Jim by playing for Ireland. 

Tiernan Stynes via Instagram

This Saturday lunchtime in the Armenian capital city of Yerevan, a 20-year-old from Melbourne will emulate something his father once did 34 years ago in Melbourne's own Waverley Park — stand at six foot six inches for the tricolour and Amhrán na bhFiann minutes before playing for Ireland.

All these years after Jim Stynes left Dublin for Australia to become its most beloved adopted son, Tiernan Stynes is in a way rounding the circle and bringing it all back home; over three decades on from his dad playing alongside Jack O’Shea in International Rules, he is suiting and shooting up for the Irish U20 men’s basketball national team in the European championships.