Roy Keane Tells NFL Legend Tom Brady: “You Have To Get To Cork”

Roy Keane could not resist putting Cork on the map when he sat down with NFL legend Tom Brady for the latest episode of Stick To Football.

The former Manchester United captain joined fellow panellists Gary Neville and Ian Wright for a wide-ranging conversation with Brady, one of the greatest athletes in sporting history and a seven-time Super Bowl champion.

While the discussion covered everything from American football and family to life after retirement, it was a conversation about Ireland that caught the attention of Cork fans.

Brady revealed that he was preparing for another visit to Ireland, a country he has grown increasingly fond of in recent years.

The former New England Patriots quarterback explained that he would be travelling to Ireland with his father for a golfing trip, with plans to visit some of the country’s most famous courses.

The mention of Ireland immediately sparked Roy’s interest.

The Cork man has never been shy about promoting his home county and he quickly seized the opportunity to make sure Cork was part of the conversation.

As Brady outlined his travel plans, which included stops at Royal County Down, Portmarnock and Adare Manor, Keane had a suggestion of his own.

“But Tom, you have to get to Cork,” he told him.

Keane then pointed Brady towards one of Cork’s most spectacular attractions, Old Head Golf Links in Kinsale.

Widely regarded as one of the most breathtaking golf courses in the world, Old Head sits on a dramatic headland stretching out into the Atlantic Ocean and attracts visitors from every corner of the globe.

Fortunately for Keane, Brady needed no introduction.

“The Old Head, of course,” Brady replied. “I played there a while ago. Loved it.”

For anyone from Cork, it was a proud moment to hear one of the most famous sports stars on the planet praising a local landmark.

Old Head has long been considered one of Ireland’s premier golfing destinations, combining stunning coastal scenery with a world-class golfing experience. The course has welcomed celebrities, business leaders and sporting legends over the years, and Brady is clearly among its admirers.

The exchange also produced one of the lighter moments of the interview.

Despite recommending one of Ireland’s most famous golf courses, Keane admitted that he has never really been a golfer himself.

When Brady questioned how an Irishman could have so little interest in the sport, Keane’s answer was typically straightforward.

“I didn’t have the patience for it,” he laughed.

The timing of the conversation is particularly interesting given that the 2026 FIFA World Cup is currently underway across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Keane is part of ITV’s World Cup coverage team and has been providing his trademark analysis throughout the tournament.

Unfortunately for Irish supporters, the Republic of Ireland are not involved after failing to qualify for the finals, extending the country’s long wait for a return to football’s biggest stage.

While Keane is spending his summer talking football with some of the world’s biggest names, there is little doubt he has also been keeping a close eye on events much closer to home.

The Cork legend has never hidden his love for hurling and, like many people across the county, we have no doubt he was glued to Sunday’s All-Ireland quarter-final as Cork booked their place in the All-Ireland semi-final.

In fact, there could soon be a sporting dilemma that even Roy Keane might struggle to solve.

The All-Ireland Hurling Final takes place on Sunday, July 19th. The FIFA World Cup Final is also scheduled for July 19th at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

So if Cork make it all the way and Roy is working World Cup duty, what gets the bigger cheer from the Keane household?

The biggest football match on the planet or Cork chasing Liam MacCarthy?

Knowing Roy, he would probably tell everyone he doesn’t care, criticise both teams for switching off defensively, and then secretly spend the day checking the hurling score every chance he gets.

One thing is certain. If Cork are in an All-Ireland final, there will be plenty of red jerseys being watched from New Jersey.

And if Tom Brady does decide to take Roy’s advice and head back to Cork, he can be sure of one thing, he’ll receive a very warm welcome.