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Patrick Blennerhassett

While he hails from the city of Limerick, Ireland sevens player Greg O’Shea has Hong Kong blood coursing through his veins.
O’Shea’s grandfather, Peter Ho, is from Hong Kong and moved to Limerick after the second world war looking for opportunities to better his life.
O’Shea, 24, said Ho made the incredible leap some 70 years ago to start up a restaurant.
“He opened the first Chinese restaurant in Limerick, so he ended up doing quite well. There were basically no Chinese businesses there at all when he got there. So quite the move,” said O’Shea.




O’Shea, who has lived his whole life in Limerick, said his mother, aunt and uncle all worked at the restaurant when they were children, and his grandfather is still alive and kicking in his 90s.
Winger O’Shea said one of his favourite memories of spending time with his grandfather when he was a child was heading over to his house for the Lunar New Year.


“He used to give us lai see, the little red envelopes with your name on it and money in it. And little Chinese New Year calendars, so we would look forward to that every year,” he said.
O’Shea said he considers himself “25 per cent Hong Kong. I’m not sure how to put a figure on it, but that’s what I tell people”.

Some of the Irish support staff with the squad said they didn’t even know O’Shea had Hong Kong roots until he brought it up during a media session on Friday.
As the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens rages on, an eventual battle between Ireland and Hong Kong could still be in the cards on Sunday.
O’Shea and his team beat Jamaica in their first game 26-0, then drew 26-26 with Uruguay before beating Russia 33-7 in their final group game, with O’Shea scoring in the ninth minute.
Ireland look like the team to beat in the qualifying series as they trounced Russia the second time they played them, with O’Shea getting two more tries, and will now face Germany in the other semi-final, while Hong Kong play Chile.

O’Shea, who is visiting Hong Kong for the first time, said it’s been cool to experience the city and soak up the atmosphere and energy of the Hong Kong Sevens, which he said “is like nothing I’ve ever experienced”.
Of course, his focus is on the tournament, sans a quick trip to the Ladies Market in Mong Kok on Friday for a bit of shopping. O’Shea said he’s hoping things go well for Ireland and he can explore the city afterwards.
“There hasn’t been much touring around, this tournament is really important for us, so we’ll save that for afterwards,” he said.
O’Shea graduated from law school at the University of Limerick in 2017 and plans to pass the Irish bar and become a lawyer.
That is a way down the line as O’Shea said he is loving sevens rugby right now as Ireland’s sevens programme, which has only been around for a few years, looks to get its footing within the sport.
“Ah, yeah, that’s for when I retire, life after rugby you could say,” he added.


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Ireland player Greg O'Shea (#10) (left) in action during a game against Jamaica on the first day of HK Sevens 2019 at Hong Kong Stadium. 05APR19 R7 SCMP / Felix Wong

Ireland player Greg O'Shea (#10) (left) on the field during a game against Jamaica on the first day of HK Sevens 2019 at Hong Kong Stadium. 05APR19 R7 SCMP / Felix Wong

Ireland’s Greg O'Shea has a special link to Hong Kong as his grandfather hails from the city. Photo: Felix Wong

Rowan Varty sails off into the sunset as one of Hong Kong rugby’s most decorated players

Rowan Varty in his last Hong Kong Sevens in 2017. Photo: May James

***FOR NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY*** Team Hong Kong #9 Rowan Varty (R) in action during match vs. Team Italy at the Final day of the Cathay Pacific/ HSBC Hong Kong Rugby Sevens 2014 Sunday, March 30th, 2014, at the Hong Kong Stadium, Causeway Bay. 30MAR14

***FOR NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY*** (L-R) Simon Leung Ho-yam, Anthony Haynes, Salom Yiu Kam-shing and Rowan Varty of Team Hong Kong celebrate their victory of the Shield Final vs. Russia at the Cathay Pacific/ Credits Suisse Hong Kong Sevens 2010, Day 3, Saturday, March 28th, 2010, at the Hong Kong Stadium in Causeway Bay. 28MAR10 (FOR NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY/ NO SALES)

***FOR NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY*** Try by Rowan Varty from Hong Kong against Namibia at the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2017 rugby tournament on April 07, 2017. 07APR17 [R7] SCMP / Edward WONG

Rowan Varty

***FOR NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY*** Team Hong Kong member Rowan Varty signs autographs to fans at the first day of the Cathay Pacific/ HSBC Hong Kong Rugby Sevens 2013 Friday March 22nd, 2013, at the Hong Kong Stadium, Causeway Bay. 22MAR13

Rugby Legends tackle cancer Charity game, part of the GFI HKFC Rugby Tens in Hong Kong Football Club, Hong Kong, China, on 4 April 2019. Photo by August Liu/Clique Visuals

Hong Kong Sevens 2019: live scores, schedule and results from Hong Kong Stadium

Fiji beat Australia 31-12. Photo: Wong Wing Chun

Hong Kong Sevens: Fiji unearth another star on unbeaten run to Cup quarter-finals

Sevuloni Mocenacagi (#1) of Fiji passes the ball to teammate Vilimoni Botitu (#7) during a game against New Zealand on the second day of HK Sevens 2019 at Hong Kong Stadium. 06APR19 R7 SCMP / Winson Wong

Ryan Oosthuizen (#4) of South Africa runs with the ball during a game against Scotland on the second day of HK Sevens 2019 at Hong Kong Stadium. 06APR19 R7 SCMP / Sam Tsang

Jerry Tuwai (#9) of Fiji runs with the ball as Joseva Ravouvou (#4) of New Zealand tackles him during a game on the second day of HK Sevens 2019 at Hong Kong Stadium. 06APR19 R7 SCMP / Winson Wong

Johnny Samuelu (#5) of Samoa runs with the ball as he is being tackled by South Africa during a game on the second day of HK Sevens 2019 at Hong Kong Stadium. 06APR19 R7 SCMP / Winson Wong

Livai Ikanikoda is thriving in the cauldron of the Hong Kong Sevens. Photo: Felix Wong

Hong Kong Sevens costumes: check out our fancy dress rogues’ gallery from tournaments past

Fans dressed as Vikings in the South Stand at 2017 tournament. Photo: Edward Wong

Hong Kong Sevens 2019: watch the 10 best Sevens TV commercials of all-time

Sebastien Chabal, dressed as a French maid, acting as a human alarm clock. Bravo to the Marriott International Asia-Pacific for pulling off this commercial. Photo: YouTube

Sport

Rugby

HK Sevens


Greg O’Shea’s grandfather left Hong Kong after the second world war and headed to Limerick to open a restaurant in Ireland
Winger, who could face Hong Kong in the finals, said his grandfather is still alive and kicking in his 90s



Greg O’Shea’s grandfather left Hong Kong after the second world war and headed to Limerick to open a restaurant in Ireland.
