Shane Walsh's family life, girlfriend, alcohol stance and surviving car crash
The Kilkerrin-Clonberne man his debut with the Galway Senior Football team back in 2013 and has been a mainstay in the Tribesmen team ever since
Galway will be looking for a big performance form Shane Walsh in Sunday's All-Ireland football final against Armagh.
The Kilkerrin-Clonberne man his debut with the Galway Senior Football team back in 2013 and has been a mainstay in the Tribesmen team ever since, reports RSVP LIVE.
Here, we take a look inside Shane's life on and off the pitch.
Galway Career
After success at schools level with St Jarlath's of Tuam it was clear that he was destined for success.
He was called into the Galway senior set up in 2013 by then manager Alan Mulholland in the same year he won provincial and national honours with the U21 team. The following year he was nominated for both an All-Star and the Young Footballer of the Year.
Padraig Joyce named him as captain for the 2020 and 2021 seasons. He was then replaced by Seán Kelly.
Throughout his senior career Shane has won five Connacht Senior Football Championship medals. He was also part of the Galway team that reached the 2022 and 2024 All-Ireland deciders.
He won his first All-Star in 2022
Family life at Home in Galway
Shane grew up in a sporty household in the village Clonberne in the north of county Galway and his mother won All-Ireland medals in cross country and javelin.
As the youngest of the family, Shane learned a lot from his older brothers and sisters Barry, Ashling and Brian. Ashling is also GAA mad and she recently won an All-Ireland LGFA Club Championship medal. He also regularly shares pictures of his nieces and nephews on social media.
Girlfriend
Shane been in a relationship with girlfriend Rachel Molloy for a number of years. He regularly shares pictures of her on Instagram, including from their glamourous trips across the world.
The the couple sparked engagement rumours last year when the All-Star shared a range of loved up snaps together alongside the caption: "Only took her 5 years to make up her mind".
Move to Dublin
Shane made the national headlines in the summer of 2022 when it was revealed he was transferring from his Galway club Kilkerrin-Clonberne to Dublin's Kilmacud Crokes. This created a big controversy in the GAA community.
He won his first All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship the following year, scoring 1-3 in the final in Croke Park.
“I suppose all the noise that was around with it was a huge off-put for me coming back into the intercounty season, whereas now I’m on my own terms and the noise is all over with,” he told The Irish Times.
“I’m just doing the same as every other player is doing and that’s great for me because my focus is kind of clear and I’m able to just focus on my body and get myself ready and, look, I owe a lot to the Galway lads there.
“They rely on me at times as well in games and I didn’t deliver and, you know, I expect it of myself as well and that wasn’t there.”
Day Job
Shane began working in banking after school, but he later pursued PE teaching given its connection to the world of sport.
"I was in the Bank and, in fairness, had absolutely no issues with working with that. For me, I just said I need to be involved in sport and I'd love to go into coaching as well down the line," the 29 year old told GAA.ie.
"So for me, teaching PE was the next step for that. Going in teaching PE is the same as me going in coaching as well.
"I always say that if I can get the sort of improvement out of somebody else that I got out of myself, then I'll be loving life then."
Car Accident
In 2015, Shane was seriously injured in car accident. He broke his hand in a fatal two car collision which claimed the lives of two men in Galway.
A spokesman for the Galway County Board said that that the accident was a tragedy and their thoughts were with the family of the deceased man.
He said: “The accident happened in the early hours of Saturday morning. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the deceased man. It’s a tragedy.
“He was heavily involved with football in Tuam. Galway footballer Shane Walsh received injuries in the crash. We won’t know the full extent of his injuries until Monday.
"Our thoughts are with Shane and the other person involved in the accident. We hope they make a swift recovery."
Age, Height and Where He's From
Shane was born in 1993, making him 31 years of age. He is 6ft 1 in height.
Not Drinking Alcohol
The GAA star doesn't drink alcohol and has been a teetotaler all his life.
“It probably gives me a bit more leniency when I am away,” he hold the BBC last year. “They are not going saying, ‘He is going to be doing the dog on it,’ or anything like that.
“It’s just a case of whether I am eating a few desserts. That’s always the slagging in the dressing room.
"I don't drink at all. I never have. There's no particular reason. When I was younger I said I am not going to make that decision that young.
“I know when you are younger and there are youth discos going on and people are sliding in bottles here, there and everywhere, it just never interested me.
“I just said I would make my decision up as I go along. I'm still making that decision as I go along.
“I'm not set in stone for life. If I do want one in time, I'll have one.
Honours
- 1 Connacht Under-21 Football Championship - 2013
- 1 All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship - 2013
- 5 Connacht Senior Football Championship - 2016, 2018, 2022, 2023, 2024
- 1 All-Star - 2022
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