'My mortality was brought right in front of me'

Passion exudes through every pore of Tim McCarthy.

The former Irish senior men's basketball captain and coach, who represented his country with distinction on 103 occasions, has enjoyed a successful sporting and business career, achieved with the positive mindset that's clearly evident as he recalls his life's journey to date.

That zest for life was tested in 2018, however, when the Kiltoom resident was diagnosed with prostate cancer and his "mortality was brought right in front of my face".

"I will never forget the moment I was told that I had prostate cancer. It was February 28, 2018, at 11.01am. When my consultant Eamonn Rogers gave my wife Ann and I the news, I just started crying inconsolably.

"All that you have achieved up to that point, captaining and coaching the Ireland men's basketball team, commentating at the Olympics, achieving a successful career in business, is completely irrelevant. All that matters in that moment is your family, the rest is just noise," Tim said.

With his mortality suddenly to the forefront of his mind, Tim questioned whether he would be able to overcome the aggressive form of his cancer, which had spread outside of his prostate.

"The fact that the cancer had spread resulted in more intensive post-surgery treatment. Post chemotherapy, I had to undergo 35 radiotherapy sessions and two years of hormone treatment," Tim said.

With his newly-established business (Tim McCarthy Consultancy) in its infancy, he maintained a positive outlook to his cancer treatment and carried on working "when my body allowed me to do so".

His battle with cancer had not finished, however, and in 2022 his consultant found a spot on his spine which necessitated further treatment. Tim underwent stereotactic radiotherapy which "basically blows the cancer from the spine". As 2022 was coming to a close, the Cork native noticed he was having bladder issues and upon further investigation it was found that a blockage had developed and the cancer had returned.

"On this occasion the treatment was even more intensive, 2023 being a really difficult year," Tim said.

While 2023 proved a difficult year from a health perspective, the year was also notable for two significant moments in Tim's life. He walked his daughter Karen down the aisle on her wedding day, and was also inducted into the Basketball Ireland Hall of Fame.

"Hall of Fame recognition was a significant honour and I wanted to be at the ceremony. I looked so ill at the time that many of my peers were worried that this would be the last occasion that they saw me in person," Tim said.

Describing his Basketball Ireland Hall of Fame accolade as the "greatest sporting honour" that he could receive, Tim said he was "blown away" to be inducted in 2023.

"Captaining your country is the greatest accolade you can receive as a player. Basketball is a 32-county sport so I was proudly representing the island of Ireland. Coaching your country is a different emotion, being one of a select group of players to captain and guide your country.

"However, being inducted into the Hall of Fame superceded both of these experiences," Tim said.

For a player who retired from international basketball at 29, the Hall of Fame induction illustrates Tim's staunch contribution to the game. His love for the sport is clearly evident from his famed commentary which has been a standout feature of RTE's Olympics coverage through the years.

Starting with the Athens Olympics in 2004 Tim has captured the imagination of audiences globally with his colourful basketball parlance gaining increasing traction with each successive Olympics.

"I started as an analyst with RTE in the early 1990s and was then asked to assist as a co-commentator at the Athens Olympics in 2004. It was there I got my lucky break when the programme director asked me to fill in as commentator on a women's basketball game which had a close finish."

His descriptive and emotive commentary resulted in a director asking him to stand in as the main basketball commentator for the remainder of the 2004 Olympics.

Five Olympic Games later, Tim's commentating prowess reached its peak in Paris last year when his work on the microphone generated "overwhelming" positive feedback.

"There was genuine affection for my commentary. It was humbling. As a commentator my job is to inform, entertain and engage the audience. Having played the game at an elite level gives me a distinct advantage when commentating, as I know what the players and coaches are trying to do in certain game situations," Tim explained.

Such was Tim's global appeal as a commentator - using memorable phrases such as 'downtown', 'coast to coast' and the infamous 'boomshakalaka' - he was the subject of a post-Paris Olympics interview in The New York Times.

Commentating at the Olympics is a "privilege" but one Tim doesn't take for granted.

"The year before each Olympics you are waiting to receive an email from RTE wondering if you are available to commentate, but I don't assume that I will automatically be the broadcaster's choice for Los Angeles in 2028," Tim said.

His love of basketball is palpable, but despite being in the prime of his playing career, Tim said he made the "clinical" decision to retire from the game in 1989. He had just been awarded the 'Player of the Decade' accolade.

"I had three young children, David, Brian and Karen to raise and I wanted to grow my professional career," Tim said.

It was this decision that eventually brought him to Athlone 26 years ago where, as CEO of One Direct (now An Post Direct), he brought his sporting passion into the business arena with the aim of establishing the company in the Midlands.

"Cork will always be home but once Ann and the children joined me in Athlone one year after I started my One Direct role, life became more settled. The children were all schooled in Athlone. Initially, it was tough on Anne, as I was working long hours building the business, but thankfully she found an outlet in Athlone A Cappella and she enjoys spending time with the group," Tim said.

While cancer treatment ceased in 2023, Tim remains on intensive medication all of which bring "harsh side-effects", but he now adheres to five beliefs in his daily life.

"I believe in my medical people, and the advice they give, I have great faith in Our Lord, I have a positive mindset, my nutrition is good, and I regularly exercise," he said.

A keen golfer, he plays off a handicap of seven and when energy levels allow he takes to the fairways of Athlone Golf Club as his preferred mode of exercise.

In moments of health toil, Tim reflected on how much is family meant to him and he is determined to "leave memories to those who will be there beyond us".

To that end, he ticked off a bucket list item when he travelled to Orlando in June with his wife, three children, their partners and ten grandchildren where two weeks of "magic moments" were created.

"In times of illness, family and close friends are all that matters," Tim said.

A positive mindset has certainly served Tim well in his personal, sporting and business careers. With a mantra of "not judging yesterday against today and enjoying the moment for what it brings," it's clear this outlook continues to serve him well on life's journey.