New York City is famous for its skyscrapers – perhaps it’s little wonder Joe McCarthy stands so tall.
Born in the Big Apple, the Leinster and Ireland second row is Australia-bound for his first Tour with The British & Irish Lions after a meteoric rise for club and country.
Yet while the mullet-haired 'Big Joe' is more than at home getting into the thick of it on the rugby pitch, he is a gentle giant off it.
Late bloomer
At first glance, McCarthy's rugby journey suggests he was always for destined for greatness.
Born stateside, the towering lock was forged in Blackrock College and Trinity College, Dublin.
From there, it was onwards and upwards, with a Test debut against Australia in 2022 preceding impressive displays at the 2023 Rugby World Cup and the 2024 Six Nations, where McCarthy memorably marked his first-ever game in the competition with the 'Player of the Match' award after helping Ireland to a 38-17 opening victory over France.
But McCarthy's journey was anything but routine. In fact, his journey came close to ending before it even got off the ground.
“I meet people from school now and they’re kind of shocked that I’m playing professional rugby. I mean, I wasn’t even near the Junior Cup team, he told Rugby World.
“I always loved rugby and had a drive to get better. I really wanted to be on the first team the whole time but I was on the thirds.
“I’d put in the effort and I wasn’t anywhere near it and I was kind of considering giving up.
“But without rugby I didn’t know what to do with myself, so I went back.
“I loved the physical side of the game and being able to dominate in contact, and in sixth year it started to happen for me. I made the first team. I stuck at it and, eventually, it came good.”
Becoming 'Big Joe'
Aside from McCarthy's powerful frame, it is difficult to miss the mullet proudly sported by the Leinster star since making his Six Nations debut.
Meant as an act of mischief from compatriot, club teammate and fellow Lion Hugo Keenan, McCarthy instead embraced his new locks.
He revealed to the Irish Examiner: “The prank haircut? Yeah, Hugo Keenan’s mate did my hair cut. He did a few dodgy haircuts that day. He’s usually quite good but he had a bit of an off-day.
“He’s an accountant by trade, definitely not a hairdresser by trade. I kind of liked it though, it’s memorable.”
And so too was his performance, with his fellow Blackrock alumnus Brian O’Driscoll using his platform as a TV pundit to wax lyrical about Ireland’s new second row.
"Speaking from experience, when you have a barnet like that, you have to play well,” he said.
"My god did that boy play well, he was everywhere. He was the standout player of the match. He just had a physicality that maybe Irish teams of the past have lacked.
"I just thought that he was everything that we needed.”
Having boldly announced himself to the world as 'Big Joe' against Les Bleus, McCarthy stole the hearts of the country when he presented his award to his older brother Andrew, who has Down's syndrome and who was stood in the stands alongside their parents.
McCarthy revealed to the Irish Independent: "It was hard to miss him there.
"He was looking like a leprechaun in the crowd in a big Irish blazer. It was good to see the family after the game, it was special.”
Brotherly love
One member of the clan missing that day was their younger brother Paddy, a precocious loosehead beginning to carve out his own legacy for Leinster and Ireland.
The talented prop is an U20 Grand Slam winner and U20 World Cup finalist and will one day hope to join his brother in the Ireland set-up, having been named in their squad for the summer internationals.
Sport holds a special place in the hearts of the McCarthy family and Joe has delighted in writing his story alongside his two brothers.
“Paddy is one of my best mates,” he said. “It’s handy having a brother who knows what you’re going through in rugby. I think I’m more social than him, more outgoing; he keeps to his own more than I do but he loves the craic as well.
“And then there's Andrew. He has Down’s syndrome, but no way is he letting the condition get in his way. He plays with a tag rugby team called Seapoint Dragons, loves his basketball, is big into Manchester United and adores Leinster and Ireland rugby.
“I’ve also realised, through Andrew mostly, that sport can play a massive role in people’s lives. It’s an incredible force for good.”
