Between 1999 and 2005, Ciara Gaynor was a cornerstone of Tipperary's formidable defensive unit, one of the best camogie teams of all time.
A player who won five All-Ireland medals and the player of the year award in 2003, Ciara and her team inspired a generation of young Tipperary girls to follow their dreams.
The years of her youth, led by her father Len, stood with Ciara and at nineteen years old she already had her first All-Ireland senior medal. But after winning the 3rd Final in a row, an incident that occurred in her professional life as a Guard put the prospect of her fourth championship in a row in jeopardy.
After the match in 2005, with 5 Finals under her belt, Ciara announced her retirement.
She focused her newfound energy on family life and her lifelong love of horses.
Today Ciara's competitive spirit is embedded in one of the most demanding global sporting events - IRONMAN. Not surprisingly, she qualified for the 2023 World Championships in Hawaii.
Blaiseadh den sraith nua de 'Laochra Gael' atá ag tosú ar 25ú Eanáir ar @TG4TV 👇🤩
⭐️ Richie Power
⭐️ Tony Scullion
⭐️ Lindsay Peat
⭐️ Tony Griffin
⭐️ Alan Kerins
⭐️ Pat Critchley
⭐️ Ciara Gaynor
⭐️ Kevin Hughes@nemetontv #LaochraGael pic.twitter.com/XVPHwLHqBg— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) January 16, 2024
More about Ciara Gaynor's Laochra Gael
Director: Moira Sweeney
Participants: Ciara Gaynor; Len Gaynor; Therese Brophy; Sinéad Millea; Darragh Ó Conchúir; Eileen Gaynor; Sinead Gaynor; Sheila Gregan; Charlie Cairns; Jeremy Cairns; Stephanie Dunlea
Along with Ciara Gaynor- this new season’s batch of GAA legends also includes Richie Power one of the most skilful forwards to ever play for Kilkenny, with 8 All-Ireland medals in his collection.
Tony Scullion who came from a family that struggled against poverty, but Tony made sure that his dream of playing football with Derry, came through.
Lindsay Peat who reached elite levels in four different sports representing her country in soccer, basketball and rugby all the while playing intercounty football with Dublin.
Tony Griffin at the peak of his powers, made the decision to leave hurling and travel across Canada and raise money for cancer care and also to honour his late father Jerome.
Alan Kerins who holds the unique distinction of having won All-Ireland Club medals in both hurling and football and is the only man to ever do so with different clubs.
Pat Critchley was a mainstay of the Laois GAA hurling team of the 1980s. He is often referred to as “Laois’s only hurling All Star”.
Kevin Hughes along with his team mates, was naturally euphoric after magnificently bringing home the coveted Sam Maguire football trophy in 2003.
Ahead of the new Laochra Gael Series Uachtarán CLG, Larry McCarthy said: "Few could have predicted that when TG4’s excellent Laochra Gael series first aired, that in 2024 we would welcome the 22nd edition of what is an incredibly popular programme."
"To say that it has stood the test of time is an understatement," he added.
"While games lie at the heart of the allure, the personal stories of some of the biggest and most popular names in Gaelic sports adds immeasurably to the offering and it is a credit to the programme that so many former players have agreed to provide context to careers that have illuminated Irish sport. This series will see the 200 programme milestone passed. Here’s to the next 200."
The series is produced by NemetonTV, the independent production company from An Rinn in the Waterford Gaeltacht which has produced much of TG4’s acclaimed sports coverage. The new Laochra Gael season will air on TG4 at 9:30pm on Thursday evenings starting January 25th.
✨Looking forward to Friday Night's Tipperary Camogie Medal Presentation ✨
We are delighted to have @TippFMSport Sports Editor Paul Carroll as MC and 5-time All-Ireland Winner, Ironman and Laochra Gael Ciara Gaynor to present the medals 🏅@PCarrollSport pic.twitter.com/nycO9xPQC0— Tipperary Camogie (@camogietipp) January 17, 2024
Laochra Gael Series:
Programme 1: Richie Power, 9.30pm, Thursday 25th January
Programme 2: Tony Scullion, 9.30pm, Thursday 1st February
Programme 3: Lindsay Peat, 9.30pm, Thursday 8th February
Programme 4: Tony Griffin, 9.30pm, Thursday 15th February
Programme 5: Alan Kerins, 9.30pm, Thursday 22rd February
Programme 6: Pat Critchley, 9.30pm, Thursday 29th February
Programme 7: Ciara Gaynor, 9.30pm, Thursday 7th March
Programme 8: Kevin Hughes, 9.30pm, Thursday 14th March
