The definitive GAA sports series returns to TG4 this spring for a 17th series. The series follows last year\u2019s new hour-long format, bringing each player\u2019s personal stories to screen. The series features six Laochra with genuine star quality and reveals deeper, fresh and sometimes unexpected insights into the lives of these icons. While their sporting careers continue to provide the backdrop to the story, the series travels well beyond the four white lines. Gripping personal storylines will compel viewers to travel towards territory unique to the GAA television landscape.<\/p>\n
Jackie Tyrrell \u2013 The Journey<\/strong> Director: Hugh Walsh Seamus Darby \u2013 The Man Who Got the Goal<\/strong> Director: Jimmy Duggan Rena Buckley \u2013 The Best Person in the World?<\/strong> Director: Jimmy Duggan Kieran Duff \u2013 Don\u2019t Judge Me<\/strong> Director: Fintan Walsh Andrew O\u2019Shaughnessy \u2013 Shaughs\u2019 Story<\/strong> Director: Paul Jenkins Colm Cooper \u2013 Gooch<\/strong> Director: Cormac Morel Speaking at today\u2019s launch, Uachtar\u00e1n CLG John Horan<\/strong> said\u2026. \u201cI warmly welcome the latest instalment of Laochra Gael, which has long been a mainstay in the compendium of compulsive viewing for GAA members and followers of our games. It dovetails with the excellent coverage afforded to our games by TG4 and Nemeton, coverage and analysis which affords them unique insights into the big games and the big names. The list of top players who have engaged with this series bears testimony to the quality of the viewing and I laud everyone involved in providing us with another set of programmes in the weeks and months ahead.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Welcoming the new series, TG4\u2019s Director General, Alan Esslemont<\/strong> says: The series is produced by NemetonTV, the independent production company from An Rinn in the West Waterford Gaeltacht, which produces much of TG4\u2019s acclaimed sports coverage.<\/em><\/p>\n Laochra Gael on TG4 Wednesdays at 9:30pm from the 20th of February<\/strong><\/p>\n For further information and viewing copies for press, please contact:<\/em><\/p>\n Sarah McCoy, Nemeton \u2013 sarah@nemeton.ie<\/a>, 058 46499 Programme 1: Jackie Tyrrell, 9.30pm, Wednesday 20th February The definitive GAA sports series returns to TG4 this spring for a 17th series. The series follows last year\u2019s new hour-long format, bringing each player\u2019s personal stories to screen. The series features six Laochra with genuine star quality and reveals deeper, fresh and sometimes unexpected insights into the lives of these icons. While their sporting […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":999,"featured_media":100578,"parent":98832,"menu_order":6,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/template-pr.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nJackie was recognised as one of the best defenders that ever played the game. But for a long period Jackie\u2019s own lack of confidence was crippling him, even as he was captaining his county to glory. This programme explores how this self-doubt affected him and how he finally overcame it after meeting a man who would change his whole attitude to life and sport. The programme follows Jackie Tyrrell\u2019s journey from complete lack of self-confidence to all-conquering defender and fashion icon.<\/p>\n
\nParticipants: Jackie Tyrrell, Eoin Kelly, Tommy Walsh, Br. Damien Brennan, Sarah Tyrrell, Eimear Tyrrell, Damian Lawlor.
\nA clip from the first episode grabyo.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n
\nSeamus Darby, the man who scored the most famous goal in the history of the GAA. Darby could never have known the changes that would come when his life changed in an instant. The programme will explore Darby\u2019s story up to that defining moment, and how it came to be that it was he who went on with a few minutes to go. The detail of the dramatic climax of the 1982 All Ireland Final that put an end to Kerry\u2019s \u201c5-in-a-row\u201d dreams, will be relived. The documentary will also delve into Darby\u2019s life since then, and will discuss the difficulties he encountered as a result of being the man who scored the goal.<\/p>\n
\nParticipants: Seamus Darby, Stephen Darby, Eugene McGee, Sean Lowry, Se\u00e1n Walsh, Vincent Hogan.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nThe story of a trailblazer in women\u2019s sport, Rena Buckley. Rena broke some of the biggest records in the GAA. She won 18 All Irelands between camogie and ladies football, more than any other player male or female. She won 10 All Stars and when she lifted the Brendan Martin Cup in 2017 she became the first person to captain an All-Ireland winning team in two codes. This is the story of an ordinary girl from Iniscarra who changed the landscape of women\u2019s sport in Ireland and who inspired a new generation of girls\u2019 participation. But the journey from Iniscarra to the steps of Croke Park was not always easy.<\/p>\n
\nParticipants: Rena Buckley, Mary Buckley, Briege Corkery, Paudie Murray, Eamonn Ryan, Malachy Clerkin.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nKieran Duff was the darling of Hill 16 but he was the subject of much controversy in his playing career. Duff was Dublin\u2019s key forward in the 1980\u2019s but his hard man image made him very unpopular outside The Pale, especially after his sending off in the infamous 1983 All Ireland Final. But was his ill-repute deserved? What effect did that reputation have on his personal life? Is there more to his story than meets the eye? This episode is a deeply personal journey with an iconic GAA figure.<\/p>\n
\nParticipants: Kieran Duff, Mags Duff, Barney Rock, Brian Talty, Vincent Hogan<\/em><\/p>\n
\nAndrew O\u2019Shaughnessy; an extraordinary underage talent whose career was cut short by Multiple Sclerosis. He was the most talked-about young hurling in the country at the turn of the millennium, but O\u2019Shaughnessy\u2019s intercounty career was over by the time he turned 24, after a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis that turned his world upside down. The programme looks back on O\u2019Shaughnessy\u2019s extraordinary underage career, the brief success under Richie Bennis, the controversy under Justin McCarthy, and how O\u2019Shaughnessy has rebuilt his life since receiving the devastating diagnosis.<\/p>\n
\nParticipants: Andrew O’Shaughnessy, Eimear O’Shaughnessy, Denis Ring, Stephen Lucey, Maurice O’Brien, Gr\u00e1inne McElwain.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nThe pressure, heartbreak and joy. The personal story behind the medals. A once-in-a-generation talent who defied convention by showing that Gaelic Football does not have to be a big man\u2019s game. This episode of Laochra Gael delves behind the 5 All Irelands and 8 All Stars and reveals the origins of an extraordinary talent in an ordinary Killarney housing estate. The documentary also explores the personal pain away from the pitch during the years of dealing with his father\u2019s death, as well as looking back on the testimonial controversy.<\/p>\n
\nParticipants: Colm Cooper, Vince Cooper, Vincent Hogan, Marc \u00d3 S\u00e9, Malachy Clerkin, Anthony Lynch, Damian Lawlor, Conor Gormley, Bracker O\u2019Regan, Eddie O\u2019Connor, Noreen Buckley, Michael McCarthy.<\/em><\/p>\n
\n\u2018Part of TG4\u2019s mission since our inception has been to give the credit that is due to our incredible Gaelic Games heroes. I am delighted that we now have hour long episodes which chronicle not only the epic feats on the pitch, but also show the heartbreak and emotional journeys that these incredible men and women undertake, throughout their sporting careers. I would like to sincerely thank all of the players who took part and Nemeton who are doing trojan work in this television genre\u2019.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nTom\u00e1s \u00d3 Neachtain, TG4 – Tomas.O.Neachtain@dev.tg4.ie<\/a>, 091 505050<\/p>\n
\nProgramme 2: Seamus Darby, 9.30pm, Wednesday 27th February
\nProgramme 3: Rena Buckley, 9.30pm, Wednesday 6th March
\nProgramme 4: Kieran Duff, 9.30pm, Wednesday 13th March
\nProgramme 5: Andrew O\u2019Shaughnessy, 9.30pm, Wednesday 20th March
\nProgramme 6: Colm Cooper, 9.30pm, Wednesday 27th March<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"