Corkonians Abroad: ‘Wherever life takes me, Cork is my home’

Q: Where are you from originally, Martin, and what was life like there?

I was born in Cork and spent my early years growing up in Douglas before moving to Youghal when I was 11.

While Cork city shaped a lot of my early life, Youghal is the place I really call home. It’s where I spent my teenage years, made life-long friends, and built a strong connection to the community.

Family has always been at the heart of everything. My dad’s side of the family run Kenny Bros on Tramore Road, which is well known in Cork. The Kennys are a big family name in Cork, and my mum’s side, the Walshs, are equally well spread out in Youghal.

Between both sides, there always seems to be a relative or family connection wherever I go when I’m home.

My Scottish wife still can’t quite get her head around just how many of us there are. Big families, strong roots, and thankfully we all stay in touch.

Rugby has played a massive role in both my life and my family’s life. While I might not have set the rugby world alight as a player, I’ve been heavily involved in the game through coaching and club development for more than 12 years, along with volunteering at club level.

I served as Chairman of Bannockburn RFC in Scotland while at the same time my younger brother Stephen was President of Youghal RFC back home - a great honour for us both and at the same time a family honour.

My dad, Ted Kenny, also held this role in the past, so rugby leadership clearly runs in the family.

Our late mother is also remembered every year through an award presented in her honour at the club, which is something we’re all incredibly proud of.

It’s safe to say, there’s plenty of Munster blood in the family.

Q: What drove you to move to another country?

I studied Hotel and Bar Management at Cork Institute of Technology, which gave me the bug for travel and hospitality.

After college, I wanted to challenge myself, experience something different, and see what opportunities existed outside Ireland. That led me to move to Bochum in Germany, which was my first big adventure abroad and a huge learning experience.

Q: Where do you live now, and what is it like there?

I now live in Bannockburn in Stirling, Scotland. It’s a fantastic place to live, with a great mix of history, community, and access to the outdoors.

Scotland feels familiar in a lot of ways — good humour, strong communities, love of sport, and a healthy appreciation for pubs and social life. (Plenty of rain, sounds familiar)

Q: Do you have family where you live now?

I live with my wife, who I often jokingly refer to as “the current Mrs Kenny”. We’ve built a brilliant life together here in Scotland.

She has faced her own personal battles with cancer and thankfully is now on the right side of that journey.

Off the back of that experience, she has thrown herself into charity fundraising and has raised more than £60,000 for various causes so far. It’s something I’m incredibly proud of and always happy to support.

Family is hugely important to me, and I’m also a proud dad to two sons — my eldest, Ryan Patrick Phipps Kenny, who is currently living in Glasgow and getting married this year to a lovely woman from the Orkney Islands, and my youngest, Kian Phipps Kenny, who is currently in Japan after spending more than two years years in Canada.

It’s great seeing them both carving out their own paths and adventures, even if it means the family is fairly spread out these days.

Q: What has been the most memorable moment in your new home?

Receiving the Civic Award in 2014 for contributions to sport in Stirling from the Lord provost of Stirling, is definitely one of the stand-out moments for me.

It was a real honour to be recognised for giving back through rugby and community involvement and it made me feel genuinely part of the local community.

Q: What is your job/career where you now live?

I currently work in construction technology and access control, supporting sites with workforce management, compliance, and access systems.

My role involves helping launch new building projects while also supporting existing sites, ensuring operations run safely and efficiently. I might need to come home and support the Irish building process next

Q: How might you spend your weekend?

A typical weekend might involve meeting friends for a few pints, watching rugby, socialising, or supporting fundraising events with my wife.

I’m also involved in the local community in Bannockburn, where for the last six years or so, I’ve helped a great group of locals put up and take down the Christmas lights each year, and other projects like Bannockburn in Bloom.

Q: How is the culture where you live different from Cork/Ireland? How is it the same?

Scotland and Ireland have far more similarities than differences, which made settling in much easier.

The humour is similar, people are welcoming, communities are strong, and sport is still a major focal point.

There’s a similar sense of pride in local identity, and a good appreciation for not taking life too seriously.

Q: What do you miss most about Cork?

Family, life-long friends, Cork banter, and that familiarity you only really appreciate once you move away.

I also miss a proper pint of Beamish and being able to dip in and out of home life so easily.

Q: Do you get to go home to Cork often? What do you do when you return?

I travel home at least four times a year. Trips back are always busy with family catch-ups, seeing old friends, visiting Youghal and Cork city, and squeezing as much into the visit as possible.

Around 25 years ago, I also set up a rugby/social group that travels every second year back to Youghal, with friends coming over on alternate years to Stirling.

These trips have grown into a fantastic tradition, often bringing 30-plus lads together simply to enjoy the town, the people, and a good weekend away. It’s become more than just a trip too — three of the lads have ended up finding wives, partners, or starting families from connections made through these weekends. So you could say we’ve been quietly building links between Cork and Stirling for years.

To make it even more of a small world, one of my school friends also ended up settling in Stirling after meeting his wife in Santa Ponsa, and he’s now been here for more than 25 years too. Two lads from Youghal ending up in Stirling — life works in funny ways.

Q: Any special mentions to family/friends back home in Cork?

A big hello to all family and friends back in Cork, Youghal, Douglas, and everyone connected through rugby, family business, and friendships over the years. No matter where life takes me, Cork is always home.

Q: If you could spend an ideal day in Cork, what would that entail?

An ideal day would start with breakfast somewhere in Cork city, a wander through town, catching up with family, maybe a spin to Youghal or along the coast, and finishing with a few pints of Beamish with good friends in a proper Cork pub.

Q: What are your plans for the future?

To keep progressing professionally, continue supporting community and charitable causes, stay involved in rugby and local life, and keep building a great life in Scotland while staying closely connected to home.

Most importantly, continuing to support my family, wherever in the world they may be, is always a priority.

Q: Any other information you wish to add?

No matter where I’ve lived — Cork, Germany, or now Scotland — Cork has always remained a huge part of my identity. My roots are firmly there through family, rugby, and community.

You can take the man out of Cork, but Cork is never leaving the man.