The Glens of Antrim are renowned for a few things. Its breathtaking volcanic emerald scenery, the world-famous Giant’s Causeway and, above all else, one of the finest hurling strongholds in Ireland. Yet, few are as celebrated or revered as the towering figure of Terence ‘Sambo’ McNaughton. A legendary name of the game that has become…
The values of Lent and the celebrations of Easter – sacrifice, reflection, service – were instilled early in McManus’ life, writes Éanna Mackey. Easter Sunday will see parishes across the country alive with the joy of the Lord’s resurrection. But in the Glens of Antrim, a different kind of devotion – just as serious…
Seán Óg Ó hAilpín’s life has been anything but ordinary. Born in Rotuma, some 600km off the coast of Fiji, with a native mother and his father hailing from Fermanagh, he moved to Ireland as a child and carved out a legendary hurling career. Neither Fiji or Fermanagh a hurling stronghold as the old saying…
Séamus Hickey has seen hurling from nearly every angle – player, mentor, and now observer. A former Limerick hurler, he was a tenacious defender, winning Young Hurler of the Year in 2007 and representing his county for over a decade before becoming an eventual All-Ireland winner in 2018. But his insights into the game extend…
Born and raised in Clonlara, Co. Clare, Darach Honan’s life has been shaped by both his love of hurling and the strong sense of community that defines his home. The once towering full forward, one of the most recognisable of Clare’s All-Ireland winning team in 2013, is known not just for his black and red…
Growing up in Crossmaglen, Co. Armagh during the turbulent 1980s, Paul Hearty’s world was shaped by more than just Gaelic football. The shadow of the Troubles loomed large, with the border town finding itself at the very centre of the sectarian conflict. The colossal British army barracks also cast a dark cloud over the very…
An ever-present in the emerald green of Limerick for sixteen seasons Graeme Mulcahy has seen it all. From the doldrums of the hurling strike in 2010 to the glory of the four in a row, the thirty-four-year-old Kilmallock native has etched his name as one of the all-time Limerick greats. Having retired shortly after the…
As an athlete, being second choice is never easy. But when the man ahead of you is often regarded as the greatest of all time, the challenge becomes both humbling and motivating. Now retired, thirty-five-year-old Barry Hennessy had spent nearly a decade as part of Limerick’s golden generation, a key member of one of the…