The Dodger: DJ Carey and the Great Betrayal

There was a time when DJ Carey didn’t need a surname. The star player of a Kilkenny hurling team that dominated the sport for a decade, he had a rare, natural talent that led his county to five All Ireland titles and won him nine All Stars. DJ wasn’t just a hero on the pitch - his easy charm, generosity, and readiness to meet young fans made him a national treasure. Throughout his meteoric rise, strange rumours followed him. In 2003, shocking claims that DJ was dying of cancer swept the country. Who would spread such a story about one of Ireland’s most beloved sporting legends? And what could possibly be gained from it? Two decades later, the truth emerged. DJ Carey was arrested and charged with deception and forgery - accused of faking cancer to con money from those who trusted him most. For years, he had been telling the same lie to generous supporters who believed they were funding life-saving treatment in the U.S. In this riveting exposé, Eimear Ní Bhraoná in uncovers the extraordinary fall from grace of a national icon, and how he betrayed the fans that once loved him.

Eimear Ní Bhraoná in is a journalist deeply rooted in her community. She previously worked as midlands and south-east correspondent of the Irish Independent, and in more recent years spent almost a decade working as a local broadcaster with KCLR (Kilkenny Carlow Local Radio). Since leaving her presenting role in May 2023, Eimear has been running her communications firm, Eimear.ie, based in County Carlow.