When you think hurling there is only one name that comes to mind.
Joe Canning.
The Galway man retired in 2021 to the shock of not just Galway supporters but fans around the country. Despite being one of the best known GAA stars in the country, Joe is bashful to the idea of being a celebrity, let alone a role model.
“I never really saw myself as a role model as such. I just play hurling with my club and my county, that’s all I did,” he tells VIP Magazine at the GAA Championship Launch.
“There are parts to that where people see you in a different light. But to me it was never about that kind of thing. I was just lucky enough to play a sport that I loved from a young age and play in big stadiums. That was it.”
He continues: “I was never conscious of the outside noise. It never interested me, because I think people felt like they owned me in a certain way. That’s the beauty of GAA, you could walk down the seat and meet someone who played in Croke Park in front of thousands of people.”
He admits that his family find it quite funny when he is stopped by fans.
“I never really thought about it too much, I have nephews and nieces who think it’s very funny when someone comes up for an autograph. They’re laughing their arse off about the whole thing.”
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After almost two years, Joe is moving onto the next stage of his career, taking on a punditry position in The Sunday Game. However, he admits that he never expected to take up a mic after hanging up his boots.
“I never saw myself as a journalist or anything like that. Now I have The Sunday Game and I do pieces for the paper,” he admitted.
“I have a lot more spare time. I’m still involved with the Galway minors. At the start, I never thought I would be involved in this line of work. I’m enjoying it so far.”
As a veteran in sports, he also spoke about the progression for women in the sporting field in recent years.
“There’s a huge progression in women’s sports. 100 per cent. We’ve seen that with all the coverage they’ve been getting,” he tells us.
“The one thing that can progress it now is that the Ladies Football and Camogie join with the GAA. A lot of people don’t realise that they’re not part of GAA.
“So to progress them even more they need to join and in fairness to the GAA they have been trying to get both associations on board with them for the last number of years. From what I hear it’s closer than it has ever been it just needs the final push.”
As for other sports he admits there has “definitely” been a huge progression.
“You see the Irish ladies soccer team going to the World Cup. The women’s rugby as well, obviously with boxing with Katie and Kellie with what they’re doing. And we have Rhasidat Adeleke what she’s doing in athletics is phenomenal and Leona Maguire! It’s better!”
