All is quiet in the picturesque village of Castleconnell, just over 10km outside Limerick city. An elderly woman barely holding on to her Zimmer frame negotiates the footpath on the main street, and you’re half expecting to see a television camera poke out from behind a bush or tree to capture a cackling Killanaskully-type character as he kicks the walking aide into the gutter, takes the woman in his arms, makes her laugh and waltzes her off into the sunset.
Instead, the real Pat Shortt — who has lived in Castleconnell for some years — comes into view at the village hotel. He looks the picture of health — fresh-faced, mid-forties, with an air of both success and apprehension.