Offaly hurler Pádraig Horan is next to get the Laochra Gael treatment on TG4

TG4’s acclaimed documentary series Laochra Gael continues its compelling new season that shines a light on some of the most influential figures ever to grace the fields of Gaelic games. The next instalment airs this Thursday 19 February at 9.30pm and focuses on Offaly Hurler Pádraig Horan.

Pádraig Horan was captain when Offaly won the All-Ireland championship for the first time in 1981 - an achievement that marked a turning point for Offaly hurling and cemented his place in the county’s sporting history. Admired for his determination and influence both on and off the field, he remains one of Offaly’s most respected hurling figures. He played the game fearlessly, doing everything he could to overcome any challenges that came his way on the field but in recent years, off the field, he has been battling a much different challenge, Parkinson's Disease.

Contributors include: Pádraig Horan; Carmel Horan; Pat Fleury; Joachim Kelly; Vincent Hogan; Ger Coughlan; Damien Martin; Liam Fennelly; Shane Horan; Cathal Horan; Niamh Horan; Diarmuid Horan; John Kennedy

Alongside Pádraig Horan this new season’s batch of GAA legends also includes Conor McManus, one of the modern greats of Gaelic football and one of the greatest ever to wear a Monaghan jersey; Cyril Farrell, synonymous with Galway’s golden era of the 1980s and later a household name through The Sunday Game; and Grace Walsh, a three-time All-Ireland and All-Star winner and one of camogie’s most decorated figures.

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Also featured is Marty Clarke, whose talent saw him win an All-Ireland Minor title before moving to Australia to play AFL with Collingwood at just 17; Neil McManus, renowned for his work rate, accuracy and commitment to developing hurling in Ulster; and Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh, widely regarded as one of the greatest ladies footballers of all time, who crowned her career in 2024 by helping Kerry end a 31-year wait for the Brendan Martin Cup. The series also includes Kevin McManamon, a key figure in Dublin’s era of dominance, forever remembered for his crucial goal off the bench in the 2011 All-Ireland final that ended the county’s 16-year wait for Sam Maguire.

Ahead of the new series, Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Jarlath Burns said: “Laochra Gael has become a mainstay of the GAA broadcasting landscape a series eagerly awaited by those who play and support our games. Who could have imagined when the concept was first hatched that it would carve out such a special niche, bringing the stories behind the games and the players to life in such a vivid and engaging way. The series has gone from strength to strength, and that is testament to Nemeton and TG4, and to their love of our games and our language. I wish them continued success and greatly look forward to the latest instalments.”

Laochra Gael is produced by NemetonTV, the independent production company based in An Rinn, the Waterford Gaeltacht, responsible for much of TG4’s acclaimed sports output.

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