Galway and AIT camogie legend set for Laochra Gael treatment

Galway and AIT camogie legend Thérèse Maher will be profiled in the Laochra Gael documentary series on TG4 tonight (Thursday) at 9.30pm.

Maher finally secured a previously elusive All-Ireland senior camogie medal in 2013 when Galway defeated Kilkenny in the final.

But her influence on camogie in Athlone IT will never be forgotten either and the Athenry woman was inducted into the Institute's sporting Hall of Fame some years ago. Maher helped AIT to win the Ashbourne Shield during her time in Athlone.

AIT Sport & Recreation Manager Gordon Brett encouraged all those with connections to sport in AIT to watch the Laochra Gael programme on Thérèse, saying it is "not to be missed".

As the following paragraph from the programme's promotional material demonstrates, Maher has a very interesting and poignant story to tell:

"The eighth of eleven children from a famous hurling family, Thérèse stood out from a very young age. She made her Galway debut at just 16, and it seemed that she was destined for success. But the win on the big day eluded her and Thérèse lost five All-Ireland finals. On top of this, she lost both her mother and her father during this time. And so, there was widespread jubilation when, on All-Ireland final day in 2013, in her last ever game, Thérèse Maher fulfilled her destiny."

The new series of Laochra Gael began earlier this month, with the profile of former Donegal football star Kevin Cassidy receiving plenty of plaudits. Tipperary native and former Dublin hurler Ryan O’Dwyer was the subject of the second programme of the acclaimed series.

Following the documentary on Thérèse Maher, the often flamboyant St Brigid's, Roscommon and Athlone Town goalkeeper Shane Curran will feature next week (January 28).

Then it will be the turn of another colourful figure in former Birr and Offaly hurling star Johnny Pilkington (February 4).

Kildare's Dermot Earley (son of the Roscommon football legend of the same name) will be profiled on February 11.

The series will then take a break and return in March with another six incredible stories featuring: Eoin Larkin (Kilkenny), Pete McGrath (Down), Briege Corkery (Cork), Bernard Flynn (Meath), Seán Cavanagh (Tyrone) and Liam Griffin (Wexford).

The Laochra Gael series is produced by NemetonTV, the independent production company from An Rinn in the Waterford Gaeltacht which has produced much of TG4’s sports coverage.

Laochra Gael 2021 - upcoming programmes

(All 9.30pm)

Programme 3: Thérèse Maher (Thursday, January 21)

Programme 4: Shane Curran (Thursday, January 28)

Programme 5: Johnny Pilkington (Thursday, February 4)

Programme 6: Dermot Earley (Thursday, February 11)