MENTION of Listowel and most people will instantly state that it is a famous literary town in Co Kerry, most notably associated with John B Keane. If pressed for another well-known influence, they might say that it has a special place in the hearts and minds of horseracing fans.

In the first instance it is home to the eponymously named racecourse, while equally noteworthy is the fact that it the birthplace and home to the extended Healy family, the sport’s much loved photographic firm. Now the town can lay claim to a third central force in racing, the place that gave us Jerry Hannon, the newest ‘Voice of Irish racing’.

It is hard to imagine the Irish racing scene without the sound of Dessie Scahill resonating around the racecourses of this island. The baton now passes to a man who holds his predecessor in the highest regard. “Dessie has been an inspiration to me. From the age of seven I can recall watching him rather than the racing at Listowel. It’s a dream come true to succeed such a legend of Irish racing.”

The announcement this week that Jerry is to fill the commentator’s shoes being vacated by Dessie came as no shock, given that the younger man has served a long and distinguished apprenticeship in the role. He has also been a full-time co-commentator for the past two years. The long road to today’s position started at Downpatrick in May, 2000, the venue for his first racecourse commentary. Prior to that he cut his teeth on the point-to-point and pony racing circuits.

To say that Jerry has a love for racing and his role would not do it justice. Passion is a far more accurate description. The seeds were sown by Jerry’s late father who took his son racing and encouraged him in every way. His dad had only one rival for being named Jerry’s biggest fan, and that is his mum Teresa. It was Jerry’s dad who gave him one of the most valuable pieces of advice he ever received. “He once told me to treat every race as if it was the Derby or the Grand National, so if I get a little excited at times that’s the reason why.”

Living in exile in Dublin now, Listowel still has a great pull on Jerry’s heartstrings, and few racing festivals mean as much to him as the week-long Kerry version. No visit home is complete without nipping around the corner to the Healy’s, a place where he spent a year after leaving school. He travelled racing with Liam senior and 21 years ago took what he considers his best picture when Paul Carberry won the Galway Plate on Stroll Home.

Jerry worked out of the industry for a while, selling Cadbury’s chocolate, before an eight-year stint with the Paddy Power organisation in a number of roles. However the lure of racing on the track could not be resisted and Jerry is proud to say that he is “at my happiest now.”

“Getting to where I am today took a lot of graft and sacrifice at times. However, it is very gratifying that my loyalty over the years has been rewarded in the best possible way, and I thank the Association of Irish Racecourses for this opportunity. I look forward to making a very positive contribution to Irish racing which is one of the best in the world.

“On a personal level, the appointment reminded me of the huge influence my dad and Liam Healy had on my life, encouraging me in all I did.

“ I owe them everything.”