Tadhg and Derry Fleming celebrate €2,000 Buncrana Hearts Re-turn winners

TikTok sensations Tadhg and Derry Fleming were in Buncrana last week to celebrate with Buncrana Hearts FC as they were awarded €2,000 from Re-turn. 

The Inishowen league champions have been named one of ten finalists in Re-turn’s Small Town, Big Difference campaign. 

The nationwide initiative invited community groups, clubs and schools across the country to share inspiring stories of how they are making a big difference in their local area through the Deposit Return Scheme.

The campaign received 340 entries from across Ireland. From these entries, ten finalists, including Buncrana Hearts FC, have been selected – and now, a panel of judges, including broadcaster Jennifer Zamparelli and social media stars Tadhg and Derry Fleming, will choose five winners.

These winners will go on to feature in a national advertising campaign – appearing on billboards, bus stops, and radio ads – celebrating the big difference that the smallest of donations can make.

The Flemings, who have been taking the internet by storm since 2017, visited the Buncrana Hearts club, which caters to over 450 players, including its Football for All programme, which caters for kids with special and additional needs.

The Flemings, who are big believers in recycling, became viral overnight sensations after a Facebook video showed Derry Fleming trying to catch a bat in the kitchen.

Derry said that as a family, they know that recycling is very important.

“The Re-turn’s incentive is just unbelievable. We have always been big into recycling, and I think it is so important with the benefits to the environment and to the local communities as well, because there is a social aspect to it, which is bringing a lot of people together.”

Tadhg agreed with his father and added.

“The five or six communities we saw, it's all based around recycling qualities and what they can do and bring to their groups and charities and sports groups.”

The duo said that the benefits can be witnessed since the introduction of the Re-turn scheme, “even in the environment,” adds Derry.

Tadhg added that they could even witness the benefits when visiting another competitor in County Longford. “Melview school in Longford has a full astro turf pitch from recycled bottles.”

Derry interjects and adds: “It's little bottles bit by bit and the next thing they have an astroturf by everyone doing their bit together you see the bigger picture.”

The father and son had a kickabout with the youngsters from Buncrana Hearts during their visit to Inishowen and afterwards, they praised the talent on display.

Tadhg, a die-hard Manchester United supporter, said: “If half of them don't play for Ireland or in the Premiership then I don't know what to say, they are unbelievable.”

Derry added that he is “getting worried with the fitness levels shown by these kids today. If the Donegal team is anything like this then Kerry will be in trouble this year.”

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Tadhg’s content shows glimpses of his life and that of his family to his 3.1 million TikTok followers, 1.1 million Facebook followers, 817,000 on Instagram, and 77,000 YouTube subscribers. 

His father Derry, mother Maureen, sisters Sadhbh and Maryanne, wife Alannah, and baby daughter Rae feature in the videos.

The Flemings from Ballymacelligott in County Kerry have been entertaining the nation for the last eight years since Tadhg filmed his dad Derry’s hapless efforts at trying to chase a bat from their house with hilarious commentary.

In the footage that has been viewed more than 30 million times, Tadhg can be heard roaring: “Come on Derry, catch him! You’re going to need a bigger towel! That’s it, get him now!” as the bat rampages around the room. Derry clambers up on a kitchen chair to try to grab the beast, but to no avail, and swaps to a larger towel in a bid to capture it. While Tadhg's terrified mother Maureen is seen hiding behind a door with her nose pressed against the glass, watching as the unusual drama unfolds.

Commenting on the response to the Small Town, Big Difference campaign, Ciaran Foley, CEO of Re-turn, said, “We are delighted to support Buncrana Hearts FC with a €2,000 donation and wish them continued success with their fantastic club.”