Across Ireland, elite Gaelic Hurlers are utilising their prominent sporting platforms to champion vital social causes, transforming their national status and unique lived experiences into powerful vehicles for public advocacy far beyond the field of play. This dedicated group features courageous voices breaking down long-standing stigmas around mental health struggles, eating disorders, and gambling or substance dependencies, alongside passionate trailblazers fighting for anti-racism, LGBTQ+ visibility, refugee integration, and enhanced accessibility for individuals with physical or cognitive disabilities. By engaging directly with local schools, partnering with national charities, and pushing for proactive structural reforms within the GAA, these high-profile players are actively reshaping modern Irish society, ensuring that grassroots clubs and local townlands evolve into safer, more inclusive, and profoundly welcoming environments for everyone.
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Name: Tony Browne
What County/club do they represent: Waterford / Mount Sion
Advocates for: People with disabilities
Tony Browne remains celebrated as an incredibly resilient and successful hurler, lining out for the Waterford senior inter-county squad across an amazing twenty-two seasons between 1992 and 2014. Playing mostly as a wing-back or midfielder, his time on the field was characterised by top-tier fitness, reading of the game, and astounding endurance. Browne acted as the driving force behind Waterford’s modern competitive revival, guiding the county to four Munster Senior Hurling Championship crowns in 2002, 2004, 2007, and 2010, alongside a National Hurling League title in 2007. His masterclasses on the pitch earned him three All-Star awards in 1998, 2006, and 2007, and he reached the pinnacle of the sport when named the 1998 Hurler of the Year.
Browne has continuously used his prominent sporting reputation to champion the rights of individuals with disabilities and foster greater community inclusion.
He has invested substantial energy into helping regional disability charities, special education schools, and adaptive sporting groups throughout Munster. Browne has pushed the GAA to upgrade its grounds, match-day services, and community coaching camps so they are completely open to those with various physical and cognitive needs. By offering his influential backing to public campaigns and jumping directly into inclusive local sports events, he strives to ensure that people with disabilities get a fair chance to enjoy Gaelic games as both players and lifelong fans.
Name: Joe Canning
What County/club do they represent: Galway / Portumna
Advocates for: People with disabilities
Joe Canning is widely looked upon as one of the most uniquely skilled and impactful forwards to ever play Gaelic games, anchoring the Galway senior inter-county line-up from 2008 until stepping away in 2021. Figuring mostly as an imposing centre-forward or full-forward, the Portumna native was the definitive icon of modern Galway hurling. Across an outstanding thirteen-year senior career, Canning guided the Tribesmen to a historic All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship trophy in 2017, along with three Leinster titles and a pair of National Hurling League medals. He concluded his inter-county days as the highest scorer in All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship history, racking up 27 goals and 479 points. His spectacular talents were rewarded with five All-Star awards and the 2017 Hurler of the Year title.
Canning has steadily used his national sporting profile to assist individuals with disabilities and advocate for charitable endeavours centred on social equity. He has acted as a long-term ambassador and prominent voice for global groups like UNICEF Ireland as well as regional respite facilities, regularly giving up his time to spend with children in special schools, medical units, and inclusive sports clubs.
Canning has strongly backed the modification of sports training for youth with physical and intellectual disabilities, reinforcing community-level integration schemes that open up sport to every child. By deploying his nationwide fame to anchor charity drives and awareness movements, he works to secure better facilities, funding, and equal opportunities for those with additional needs in sport and wider society.
Name: Lee Chin
What County/club do they represent: Wexford / Faythe Harriers
Advocates for: Anti-racism
Lee Chin stands out as one of the most powerful and athletic hurlers of the modern era, acting as a crucial component and long-serving captain of the Wexford senior inter-county team since breaking through in 2012. Playing primarily as a powerful half-forward or midfielder, the Faythe Harriers player is celebrated for his imposing physical style, high-fielding skills, and leadership qualities. Chin was the central figure during Wexford’s contemporary resurgence under manager Davy Fitzgerald, leading the Model County to a memorable Leinster Senior Hurling Championship title in 2019. His top-tier displays have been regularly praised across the country, winning him an All-Star award in 2019 alongside numerous nominations over the years.
Chin has established himself as a vital and brave advocate for anti-racism and cultural inclusivity within modern Irish sports. Born to an Irish mother and a Malaysian-Chinese father, he has endured high-profile racial abuse during his playing career, particularly at club fixtures and during an inter-county challenge game in 2023. By regularly taking a stand against these actions and highlighting the painful toll discrimination takes on families, Chin has driven an essential national dialogue about racism in sports and communities. He works hand-in-hand with anti-discrimination projects like “Show Racism the Red Card” and initiatives backed by the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) to educate local communities, demand tougher penalties for bias, and guarantee that Gaelic games offer a welcoming environment for players from all heritages.
Name: Iggy Clarke
What County/club do they represent: Galway / Mullagh
Advocates for: Mental health and emotional well-being
Iggy Clarke is a deeply respected icon in Galway hurling folklore, playing for the senior inter-county team from 1972 until 1984. Anchoring the defence as a commanding half-back, the Mullagh clubman was a driving force behind the Tribesmen’s transformation into a major national power during the late 1970s and early 1980s. He was a vital pillar of the legendary Galway squad that won the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship in 1980, a historic triumph that ended a 57-year wait for the county. Throughout his exceptional playing days, he also collected two National Hurling League titles, and his individual class was heralded nationally with consecutive All-Star awards in 1977 and 1978.
Clarke has committed his life to social welfare, mental health advocacy, and therapeutic counselling.
A former priest who subsequently trained as a professional psychotherapist and marriage counsellor, he has spent decades aiding individuals and families working through emotional distress, anxiety, and depression. Clarke has been a frontrunner for mental health openness within the GAA, frequently partnering with grassroots communities and athletic associations to give presentations on mental fortitude, stress reduction, and emotional wellness. His empathetic advocacy centres on building understanding, judgment-free networks within grassroots clubs, urging people of all ages to look after their psychological wellness with the same dedication they give to physical conditioning.
Name: Dónal Óg Cusack
What County/club do they represent: Cork / Cloyne
Advocates for: LGBTQ+ rights and player welfare
Dónal Óg Cusack is ranked among the most impactful and game-changing goalkeepers in the history of Gaelic games, guarding the net for the Cork senior inter-county hurling team from 1996 to 2012. Introducing a radically strategic approach, the Cloyne native completely altered the modern role of a hurling goalkeeper with his accurate, short puck-out tactics and exacting preparation methods. Across a magnificent inter-county career, Cusack was an indispensable anchor for the Rebels, winning three All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship medals (1999, 2004, and 2005), five Munster crowns, and an All-Star in 2006. He also spearheaded historic Cork player strikes, showing an unyielding dedication to elite standards and collective player rights.
Cusack created a milestone in Irish society in 2009 by becoming the first prominent, active male elite sports star in Ireland to openly come out as gay.
His autobiography, Come What May, proved to be a turning point for the country, shattering long-standing biases in the sporting world. From that point on, he has been a bold and highly effective champion for LGBTQ+ rights, striving to ensure sports clubs and local communities are completely safe, inclusive, and encouraging for individuals of all sexual orientations. Alongside his diversity work, Cusack has given decades to athlete welfare as a founding member and former chairman of the Gaelic Players Association (GPA), pushing relentlessly to create robust educational, financial, and mental health support services for inter-county players across the nation.
Name: Shane Dooley
What County/club do they represent: Offaly / Tullamore
Advocates for: Mental health and cancer research awareness
Shane Dooley stands out as one of the most high-scoring and committed forwards in the modern era of Offaly hurling, lining out for the senior inter-county team from 2007 until ending his inter-county journey in 2023. Operating primarily as a deadly inside-forward and free-taker, the Tullamore player was the attacking spearhead for the Faithful County for more than a decade. As the son of Offaly hurling icon Joe Dooley, Shane forged a phenomenal legacy of his own, retiring as one of the top point-scorers in championship history. His individual flair, remarkable precision, and on-field leadership earned him numerous inter-county honours, stand-out displays in the Leinster Championship, and an All-Star nomination.
Dooley has regularly channelled his high-profile national sporting reputation into backing critical medical and community initiatives.
He has been a passionate and committed voice for cancer research and local healthcare support networks, a path deeply shaped by his own family’s encounters with the disease. Dooley has thrown his weight behind various charitable movements, major fundraisers, and public drives designed to boost cancer treatment units and research projects throughout Ireland. Furthermore, he remains an active contributor to player wellness and mental health campaigns, working with grassroots groups to inspire young sportspeople to discuss emotional struggles openly and care for their mental state.
Name: Barry Hennessy
What County/club do they represent: Limerick / Kilmallock
Advocates for: People with eating disorders
Barry Hennessy is an acclaimed goalkeeper who played a crucial role within the legendary Limerick senior inter-county hurling panel during their era of unmatched success under boss John Kiely. Defending the Shannonsiders from 2010 until his inter-county retirement in 2022, the Kilmallock man offered vital squad depth, high training standards, and a dependable pair of hands in goal. Throughout his twelve-year senior inter-county career, Hennessy gathered five All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship medals, four Munster titles, and three National Hurling League titles. For his club, his quick reflexes and guidance steered Kilmallock to several Limerick Senior Hurling Championship titles and a Munster Club Senior Hurling Championship victory in 2014.
Hennessy has shown incredible personal bravery by developing into one of the most vocal and genuine figures in Irish sport regarding eating disorders.
Following his exit from the inter-county scene, he spoke publicly about his ten-year struggle with bulimia nervosa, explaining how the extreme mental burdens of top-tier sport, body image concerns, and rigid eating regimes worsened his illness. By displaying his vulnerability in major media interviews, Hennessy has worked endlessly to break down the shame attached to eating disorders, especially among men and sports stars who often suffer in secret. Partnering with player welfare groups like the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) and mental health charities, he campaigns for better public awareness, early detection tools, and a rewrite of how physical shape is evaluated in high-performance sports environments.
Name: Hurling for Cancer
What County/club do they represent: Various
What do they advocate for: Cancer
Hurling for Cancer Research is an annual charity hurling match founded in 2011 by racehorse trainer Jim Bolger and jockey Davy Russell to support the Irish Cancer Society. It has raised nearly €1.7 million for cancer research across Ireland. The event brings the hurling world together with racing, TV, and sports stars for a unique exhibition match that attracts thousands of fans each year.
The hurling side features a galaxy of Ireland’s top inter-county players. Recent editions include All-Stars like TJ Reid, Patrick Horgan, Jake Morris, Darragh McCarthy, Lee Chin, Noel McGrath, and Ashling Thompson, alongside retired icons such as Joe Canning, Ollie Canning, Brendan Cummins, Peter Duggan, Richie Hogan, Jackie Tyrrell, and Tommy Walsh. Ten players from the previous All-Ireland hurling final featured in one match, with teams split between Jim Bolger’s Stars and Davy Russell’s Best, managed by legendary figures like Liam Griffin, Brian Cody, and Davy Fitzgerald. Overall, dozens of hurlers and camogie players participate annually, supported by selectors, officials, and umpires from the GAA community.
Name: Kieran Joyce
What County/club do they represent: Kilkenny / Rower-Inistioge
Advocates for: Mental health awareness
Kieran Joyce is a highly decorated and adaptable defender who formed a vital part of Kilkenny’s backline during the final chapters of Brian Cody’s historic management era. Turning out for the senior inter-county team from 2011 to 2017, the Rower-Inistioge player cemented his place as a top-class half-back, respected for his physical aerial presence, clean tackling, and reading of the game. Over his seven-year senior stint, Joyce collected four All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship medals (2011, 2012, 2014, and 2015), along with five Leinster crowns and four National Hurling League titles. A proven big-game performer, his masterclass in the 2014 All-Ireland final replay secured him the official Man of the Match award, reinforcing his status as a dependable winner when the stakes were highest.
Joyce has been a focused and prominent advocate for mental health openness and emotional well-being in both elite athletic circles and local communities.
Drawing from his own journey through the immense mental pressure, public oversight, and stressful conditions of inter-county sports, he has steadily backed the value of mental resilience. Partnering with player welfare programmes and community wellness groups, Joyce highlights the urgent need to modernise views on vulnerability, inspiring youth and athletes alike to share emotional struggles and utilise expert support networks. His work aims at incorporating proactive mental health frameworks directly within local GAA systems, making sure that psychological care is backed with the same focus and funding as physical training.
Name: John Leahy
What County/club do they represent: Tipperary / Mullinahone
Advocates for: Addiction recovery
John Leahy stands as one of the most resilient and accomplished hurlers in the annals of Tipperary hurling, lining out for the senior inter-county team from 1988 until 2003. Playing primarily as a powerful, hardworking half-forward or midfielder, the Mullinahone native was an essential asset for the Premier County across three separate decades. Over his fifteen-year senior career, Leahy secured three All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship medals (1989, 1991, and 2001), alongside four Munster titles and two National Hurling League medals. His relentless work rate, high-fielding prowess, and vital scoring knack earned him three All-Star awards in 1991, 1993, and 1997, locking in his legacy as an elite Tipperary sports icon.
Leahy has been an exceptionally honest and influential trailblazer for addiction recovery and substance abuse education within Irish sport and society. Following his departure from top-level sport, he spoke unreservedly about his own intense, long-running battle with alcoholism during his playing days, illustrating how dependent drinking nearly ruined his life before he found sobriety in 1999.
Professionally, Leahy translated his personal recovery path into a career aiding others, spending many years as an addiction counsellor and working as a Health Service Executive (HSE) alcohol worker. Through public talks, media pieces, and local outreach schemes, he has dedicated decades to warning youth, sports associations, and rural areas about the threats of substance misuse, working actively to eliminate the shame around addiction while charting clear roads to sustainable recovery.
Name: Diarmuid Lyng
What County/club do they represent: Wexford / St Martin’s
Advocates for: Irish language and cultural identity
Diarmuid Lyng remains one of Wexford’s most engaging and influential hurling figures from the 2000s, turning out for the senior inter-county team from 2004 until 2013. Operating primarily as a versatile midfielder or half-forward, the St Martin’s clubman was celebrated for his leadership skills, massive work rate, and standard-setting performances on the pitch. Lyng captained the Model County senior squad during a highly competitive era in Leinster hurling, steering them through numerous gruelling championship campaigns with his trademark resilience and heart. His knack for popping up with vital scores and motivating those around him made him an indispensable asset in the Wexford camp and a widely admired competitor throughout the nation.
Lyng has transitioned into a prominent cultural champion, investing his energies into examining the profound ties between the Irish language, historic heritage, and contemporary identity.
Charting a path away from standard post-playing roles, he has backed a balanced, traditional approach to Irish culture, organising schemes and seminars that prompt people to reconnect with nature, ancient history, and their native tongue. Through his media projects, public speaking, and grassroots initiatives, Lyng focuses on how language acts not merely as a communication tool but as a bedrock of individual and shared identity. By nurturing a vibrant, accessible model of Irish heritage within sports teams and youth assemblies, he aims to ensure that new generations appreciate the deep historical foundations underpinning modern Irish life and sport.
Name: Zak Moradi
What County/club do they represent: Leitrim / Clement Chadd
Advocates for: Anti-racism, diversity, and refugee integration
Zak Moradi stands as one of the most distinctive and motivational personalities in contemporary Gaelic games, lining out for the Leitrim senior inter-county hurling squad during a historic era for the county. Born inside a refugee camp in Ramadi, Iraq, to Kurdish parents escaping the Saddam Hussein regime, Moradi arrived in Ireland in 2002 at eleven years old, making a home in Carrick-on-Shannon before eventually relocating to Dublin. He built a reputation as a highly talented and enthusiastic forward, famously driving Leitrim to a Lory Meagher Cup triumph at Croke Park in 2019 by firing over a critical point to cement the championship title. His passion on the field earned him immense respect nationwide as an example of hurling’s expansion into new territories.
Moradi has established himself as an eloquent and internationally lauded champion for anti-racism, inclusivity, and the welcome of refugees into Irish communities.
As a prominent Kurdish-Irish sports figure, he has used his unique sporting platform to show how community sport, particularly within the GAA, can act as a powerful tool for social harmony and blending displaced families into local neighbourhoods. Moradi works closely alongside anti-discrimination groups, community integration networks, and human rights charities, using his personal life story to guide youth and push back against prejudice. His energetic advocacy aims to ensure that incoming immigrants and refugees get a fair shot, appropriate resources, and welcoming spaces to completely weave themselves into modern Irish society.
Name: Dan Morrissey
What County/club do they represent: Limerick / Ahane
Advocates for: Youth development and community health
Dan Morrissey ranks as one of the most physically imposing, dependable, and highly decorated defenders of his era, acting as a vital foundation of Limerick’s historic run of inter-county hurling crowns under John Kiely. Lining out for the senior side since 2014, the Ahane clubman has shown incredible versatility, capturing All-Ireland medals and All-Star honours across both the half-back and full-back lines. Over a phenomenal career, Morrissey has gathered five All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship medals, five Munster titles, and several National Hurling League trophies, building a stellar reputation as an unshakeable big-game defender who defines modern defensive positioning and aerial strength.
Morrissey has utilised his professional expertise in finance along with his high-profile sports reputation to champion youth advancement, grassroots sports investment, and civic health schemes.
He is a strong believer in making sure young people from every background enjoy access to structured athletic activities and active, healthy lifestyle tools. Morrissey regularly backs community growth initiatives, charitable fundraisers, and school programmes designed to boost physical fitness and collaborative skills.
Name: Domhnall Nugent
What County/club do they represent: Antrim / St John’s
Advocates for: Mental health and addiction recovery
Domhnall Nugent is a prominent modern figure in Antrim hurling, celebrated for his displays as a powerful target-man forward for his club, St John’s, and the Antrim senior inter-county team. Playing mainly at full-forward or centre-forward, Nugent’s athletic journey has been defined by his imposing frame, high-catching skill, and stubborn work rate. He was a vital asset to the Antrim team that lifted the Joe McDonagh Cup in 2020, striking a crucial, late equaliser against Carlow in the group stages to guarantee the Saffrons’ passage forward. Renowned for his high pain tolerance and dedication, he famously bagged 3 goals and 3 points during a 2020 Antrim Senior Hurling Championship semi-final while battling through nearly the entire game with a dislocated elbow.
Nugent has evolved into one of Irish sport’s most transparent and impactful advocates for addiction recovery and mental health openness.
Following his own rehabilitation path, he has spoken without hesitation about his intense historical encounters with substance abuse, explaining how deep dependency on alcohol and cocaine culminated in a spell of homelessness before entering residential care at Cuan Mhuire in 2019. Since rebuilding his life, Nugent has invested himself in professional and voluntary care networks, working as an addiction facilitator, founding the “Let’s Face It” welfare hub, and anchoring the Movember “Ahead of the Game” mental wellness programme within the GAA. His advocacy prioritises equipping young sportspeople with emotional awareness and practical psychological tools, working across all 32 counties to tear down the shame around dependency and mental health trials in sport and townlands alike.
Name: Seán Óg Ó hAilpín
What County/club do they represent: Cork / Na Piarsaigh
Advocates for: Anti-racism, diversity, and multiculturalism
Seán Óg Ó hAilpín stands as one of the most legendary and successful dual players in the modern history of Gaelic games, playing for Cork in both senior inter-county hurling and Gaelic football. Born in Fiji to a Rotuman mother and an Irish father, Ó hAilpín arrived in Cork at ten years old and forged a legendary senior career extending from 1996 to 2012. Playing mainly as an athletic, powerful wing-back, he was a foundation stone of the Cork hurling side that claimed three All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship titles in 1999, 2004, and 2005, famously lifting the Liam MacCarthy Cup as captain in 2005. His individual class was rewarded with three straight All-Star awards (2003, 2004, 2005) and the 2004 Hurler of the Year crown. In football, he also collected a Munster Senior Football Championship medal and played in the 1999 All-Ireland Football Final.
Ó hAilpín has been a groundbreaking figure for anti-racism, integration, and cultural variety within Irish sports and society. As one of the first prominent, mixed-heritage stars in the GAA, his high-profile triumphs remapped traditional ideas of Irish sporting identity. Throughout his playing days and into retirement, he has steadily used his standing to foster integration, supporting the inclusion of new immigrant populations and various ethnic backgrounds into Gaelic games. Ó hAilpín has worked deeply alongside networks like “Show Racism the Red Card,” utilising his own life path as a fluent Irish speaker born in the South Pacific to show how sport and identity can bind communities together. His advocacy centres on education and local club participation, ensuring modern GAA clubs adapt into open, inclusive arenas for an evolving, multicultural Ireland.
Name: Richie Power
What County/club do they represent: Kilkenny / Carrickshock
Advocates for: Addiction recovery (gambling addiction)
Richie Power is recognised as one of the most successful and naturally gifted forwards in the history of Kilkenny hurling, lining out for the senior inter-county team from 2005 until recurring physical problems forced his retirement in 2016. Figuring mostly as an incredibly accurate full-forward or centre-forward, the Carrickshock clubman was a central piece of Brian Cody’s iconic “four-in-a-row” roster and the broader Kilkenny dynasty. Over a stellar eleven-year senior run, Power gathered an amazing collection of medals, securing eight All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship titles, nine Leinster crowns, and five National Hurling League medals. Acclaimed for his exceptional high-fielding, sharp goal-scoring vision, and strength, his individual genius was confirmed with two All-Star awards in 2010 and 2011, establishing his place among the elite attackers of his generation.
Power has shown profound personal strength by turning into a key national advocate for addiction recovery, specifically targeting compulsive gambling.
Following his departure from high-level athletics, he spoke with complete openness regarding his own intense, long-running struggles with gambling dependency, detailing the massive financial, emotional, and mental damage it inflicted on his life. By detailing his path across major media spots and the RTÉ GAA Eile documentary project, Power has fought relentlessly to lift the silence and shame surrounding dependency in athletics. Partnering with player welfare organisations like the Gaelic Players Association (GPA), he regularly travels to clubs and youth groups to warn young sportspeople about the traps of online betting apps, prompting a shift toward transparency and proactive care for those battling addiction.
Name: Henry Shefflin
What County/club do they represent: Kilkenny / Ballyhale Shamrocks
Advocates for: People with disabilities and accessible healthcare
Henry Shefflin is widely hailed as one of the finest hurlers to ever play Gaelic games, lining out for the Kilkenny senior inter-county team from 1999 until concluding his inter-county days in 2015. Operating primarily as a clinical half-forward or full-forward, the Ballyhale Shamrocks native was the benchmark player for Brian Cody’s legendary Kilkenny era. Across a phenomenal sixteen-year senior career, Shefflin gathered an unmatched haul of honours, winning eleven Leinster titles, six National Hurling League medals, and a record-setting ten All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship medals on the field. His unmatched excellence was toasted with eleven All-Star awards, and he was selected as Hurler of the Year three separate times (2002, 2006, and 2012), safeguarding his legacy as a true icon of Irish sport.
Shefflin has consistently used his massive national sporting profile to champion the rights of people with disabilities, community inclusion, and adaptive medical care.
Driven by direct family insight, particularly after his young son endured a life-altering accident with a lawnmower in 2016, Shefflin has committed substantial energy to supporting child rehabilitation, physical therapy groups, and organisations that assist those with physical challenges. He has campaigned for better public understanding, funding, and resources for advanced rehabilitation centres in Ireland, such as the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH). Moreover, Shefflin has lent his name to initiatives urging GAA clubs and regional towns to upgrade their physical access, ensuring sports facilities, grounds, and local fixtures are fully welcoming and accessible to people with diverse physical and intellectual needs.
Name: Conor Whelan
What County/club do they represent: Galway / Kinvara
Advocates for: Youth mental health awareness and road safety
Conor Whelan is one of the most explosive, reliable, and sharp-shooting inside-forwards in the modern game, standing as a leading force for the Galway senior inter-county squad since his brilliant championship arrival in 2015. Figuring mainly as a dangerous corner-forward or full-forward, the Kinvara native is celebrated for his searing pace, upper-body strength, and clinical point-scoring from incredibly tight spaces. Whelan was a cornerstone of the historic Galway team that lifted the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship in 2017, the same season he scooped the Young Hurler of the Year award. His individual class has been regularly heralded on the national stage, collecting multiple All-Star awards and cementing his status as one of the premier attacking talents in the country.
Whelan has drawn on his professional life as a secondary school teacher and his prominent sports profile to become an active champion for youth mental health and emotional well-being.
Attuned to the distinct trials, academic stress, and digital oversight confronting contemporary teenagers, he works closely alongside school programmes and mental health charities to foster open dialogue and build psychological fortitude. Furthermore, Whelan has put his name to crucial civic safety drives, including road safety campaigns across the West of Ireland, delivering vital advice to help educate young motorists about careful driving. His advocacy prioritises supplying the next generation with the practical skills and psychological attitude required to tackle life’s hurdles both on the field and in their daily lives.