Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh: 'We wanted to help each other'
Kerry's Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh at the launch of TG4's award-winning Laochra Gael series at the Light House Cinema in Dublin. The biography series returns with eight new legends of Gaelic Games profiled for Season 24, with the first episode airing on January 22nd. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile
By Cian O'Connell
"Spiorad, Croí, Caid, Teanga," Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh says about what makes An Ghaeltacht.
A gorgeous chapter in the An Ghaeltacht story was written recently. Silverware, trips to Croke Park, and sheer sporting drama. "I suppose everyone has heard that we're our own tribe, back there, and we're very proud people and proud of where we come from and proud of our heritage and our culture," she adds. "It's a special spot with special people."
Accomplished footballers have represented the club on Kerry teams throughout the decades. Ní Mhuircheartaigh's own journey was about passion and perseverance.
Ultimately, it ended in All-Ireland glory. Being involved in the TG4 Laochra Gael series afforded Ní Mhuircheartaigh an opportunity to reflect. "I suppose it's a special programme," she says.
"It was very hard to look back on the bad memories, but all those good memories make up for it.
"I suppose the bad times make it even more special; what happened in 2024. It's something special to have, especially for my family and friends."
What were some of the chief reasons Kerry eventually found a way to secure All-Ireland glory? "I suppose the hurt of the two previous finals definitely drove us on a bit," Ní Mhuircheartaigh replies.
"We matured a lot together as a group as well. And look, we loved each other so much on and off the pitch, we wanted to help each other on the pitch as well as off it.
Kerry's Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh celebrates with Declan Quill and Darragh Long, left, looks on following the 2024 All-Ireland Ladies Football Final at Croke Park. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
"Even when we weren't training, we wanted to be together and I think that really helped us to get through some of those tough games in 2024.
"Definitely the hurt of the two previous years drove us on and I suppose helped us over the line and I suppose we knew, a lot of us, that the time was coming to an end as well and we just wanted to do it for one another. A
"Management staying on was a huge factor as well."
Declan Quill and Darragh Long were significant contributors to the Kerry cause. "The main thing is that they helped us to believe in ourselves and believe as a group that we could actually win an All-Ireland because the morale was so low in the team when they came in," she responds.
"We were just kind of putting on the jersey for the sake of just wearing it for the pride and the love of it.
"They actually really did help us believe that we could actually achieve what other teams had achieved before. They just instilled that belief. They brought in a huge amount of energy, commitment, and dedication.
"When we saw them bring that in, we said, ‘come on now, we need to up it here and do it for them as well.’ So, we all kind of did it for one another. We were a family, I suppose, really.
"We knew there was something special about the management team when they came in and we all just, as I said, loved each other and wanted to do everything we could for each other on and off the pitch."
Laochra Gael Series:
Programme 1: Conor McManus, 9.30pm, Thursday 22nd January
Programme 2: Cyril Farrell, 9.30pm, Thursday 29th January
Programme 3: Grace Walsh, 9.30pm, Thursday 5th February
Programme 4: Marty Clarke, 9.30pm, Thursday 12th February
Programme 5: Pádraig Horan, 9.30pm, Thursday 19th February
Programme 6: Neil McManus, 9.30pm, Thursday 26th February
Programme 7: Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh, 9.30pm, Thursday 5th March
Programme 8: Kevin McManamon, 9.30pm, Thursday 12th March