Shairoze Akram: Pakistan-born All-Ireland winner pushing Castleknock to new highs in Dublin

Rewind. Pause. In 2016, when Mayo won the under-21 championship, Shairoze Akram became the first Pakistan-born player to win an All-Ireland medal. In the global village, where everyone knows everyone’s business, word of his triumph made the television news in Pakistan. It might have been served as dessert in the “And Finally” slot, but somebody was paying attention.

A sportswear supplier in Pakistan tracked down Akram on Facebook and sent him the seed of a business proposal. He was looking for a way into the Irish market and suggested Gaelic football gloves as a foot in the door.