Determined Healy back for Galway four months after giving birth
Galway's Shauna Healy pictured at the 2026 Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Camogie Championship Final Media Day, Maldron Hotel Croke Park, Dublin.Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/James Crombie
By John Harrington
Less than four months after giving birth to her second child, Pippa, Shauna Healy has put herself in the frame to be part of the Galway camogie panel that contests Sunday’s Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Final against Cork.
Anyone who has ever seen the veteran defender play for Galway over the years will know she’s a seriously tough bit of stuff, but that’s still a remarkable achievement.
True to form, the straight-talking Ardrahan woman doesn’t see why you'd make a fuss about it.
“What other way would you have it?” she says. “I mean, why not? You're long enough sitting down and being retired. So, when the body is able we'll give it another go.
“To be honest, I'm more so there now to help and encourage the younger girls. If I can offer something to them, then happy days.
“If I can offer something on the training field and put a bit of pressure on someone to make them better, then that's my job done then.
“It’s great to be back in amongst the camp and in with the girls. I'm really enjoying it now. I feel good, thank God.
“The girls have been so supportive and Cathal and his management team have been so supportive and good to me.
“And at home I've had great support. Getting back on the field has been great. The physios have done serious work with me to just get the basics right again.”
Shauna Healy of Galway is tackled by Laura Treacy of Cork during the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship final match between Cork and Galway at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile.
Healy was lacing her boots back up just two months after giving birth and has spent the last seven weeks working hard with the Galway physios and coaches to get back into top physical shape.
“It's all about the pelvic floor, lads!” she says with a laugh. “It's all about trying to get the core engaged again properly and just getting your muscles to work properly.
“That's the most important thing, and just doing basic weights. Very basic stuff. I stripped it right back and I was never much of a gym bunny anyway to be honest. I just went right back to basics and I found it made a huge difference.
“It was hard work. I would have kept it up throughout the pregnancy, when I was able. So that really stood to me.”
When Galway won last year’s epic All-Ireland Final against Cork, Healy had the joy of celebrating with her one-year-old son Billy on the pitch afterwards.
Pippa made her big-match debut at Galway’s All-Ireland semi-final win over Kilkenny and will be in Croke Park on Sunday along with her older brother.
Is there any chance the first match she ever sees her mother play for Galway will be an All-Ireland Final?
“Arra, I wouldn't say so now,” says Healy. “Look it, you wouldn't know. The girls are mighty and are flying it. Look it, I'm there anyway.”
It’s a serious achievement that she is.
And given the grit she’s shown to make it back and the defiance with which she has always hurled for her county, you wouldn’t be at all surprised if Cathal Murray threw her into the fray.