PADRAIC MAHER will open up on his life before, during, and after hurling on the premiere of the new season of Laochra Gael.
The Tipperary GAA legend is one of a host of top names that will populate the new season, the first episode of which airs on TG4 on Thursday night.
The six-time All-Star, 35, is considered one of the most decorated players to have come out of the Premier, having won three All-Irelands and five Munster titles.
Ahead of the new Laochra Gael Series GAA President Jarlath Burns said: “I warmly welcome the announcement of yet another series of Laochra Gael showcasing as it does some of the greatest players from the wider Gaelic gamesfamily.
“TG4 and Nemeton’s support of our games has been one of the hallmarks of its success story and it is something we value highly.
“Away from their innovative live match day coverage, Laochra Gael adds greatly to their oDering promoting both the language and our games and all through the prism of great scéalta and great storytelling.
“The celebration of a 23rd series speaks for itself in terms of longevity, and I look forward to seeing the latest hour-long offerings. Well done to all involved in this latest project.”
Ahead of the release of the upcoming episode of Laochra Gael, SunSport takes a look at the man behind the Tipperary legend.
How old is Padraic Maher and where is he from?
‘Paudie’ was born on February 9, 1989, making him 35 years of age.
He is originally from Thurles in County Tipperary, and first showed his skill for hurling with Thurles Sarsfields.
Maher progressed throughout the ranks at his home club, winning back-to-back medals at minor (2006 and 2007) and U21 (2007 and 2008).
He carried his prodigious talent into the senior ranks, winning seven county crowns and a provincial honour.
Is he married?
Padraic Maher married his beloved partner Claire in May 2023 – just two days before retaking his coaching duties with Tipperary for the Munster championship against Cork.
Maher’s wedding was booked long before Liam Cahill asked him to come on board last July after he was forced into retirement with a neck injury.
The happy couple went to Kerry for a short break but a proper getaway had to wait until Tipp’s Championship romance was over.
Speaking ahead of that game against the Rebels, Maher smiled: “The honeymoon is going to land in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday!
“Ah, we’re going away for a few days to Killarney all right afterwards, after the Cork game. There will be no honeymoon until the end of the year unfortunately.
“This was all booked and sorted before Liam asked me to get involved. We kind of knew what was going to happen. That’s the GAA, the way it works. We’re well used to it. It’s going to be a busy few weeks. It’s enjoyable.
“We knew what we had coming up, I think she’s kind of used to it over the last number of years with me playing.
“We were putting things off or postponing things or certain events and things we couldn’t attend so she still kind of had that, she was still kind of in that mindset.
“So, we’ll get away at the end of the year and enjoy ourselves and we’ll enjoy next week as well but she was very considerate towards the decision.”
Why did he retire?
His honour-laden career was cut short in 2022 at the age of only 32.
He’s now detailed the severity of the health problems that prompted him to have to hang up his hurl for good.
The mini-stroke occurred during the 2021 Tipperary final where his club Thurles Sarsfields faced Loughmore-Castleiney.
Recalling how he just about managed to play through his symptoms, he said: “I went to do the warm up, and I was all over the place. It was like I’d been out all night, just wasn’t right.
“Somehow I managed to drag myself through the game and we drew and I just felt then I’ve two weeks till the replay to get myself right but the exact same thing happened.”
Maher wound up “seeing double or trouble” as the match wore on but soldiered through as it wound finishing in a draw.
However, in the fortnight before the replay his primary symptom of dizziness didn’t subside.
That led to a few visits to specialists before his ailment was finally diagnosed.
He said: “One MRI led to another MRI and I met the specialist in Limerick and he just laid it out on the line for me really that I effectively had a mini stroke kind of thing.
“There were little blood bubbles going up into my brain and that’s what was causing me to be dizzy.
“As soon as I was doing physical activity or getting hits – obviously hurling is a physical game – so he said that was causing [me] to get that feeling, the way [I was] feeling, during those matches with the club.
“The consequences of keeping going were probably too extreme for me, putting myself at too much of a high risk, so it was pretty black and white for me there.
“Speaking to my mother and obviously (my wife) Claire at home there was only going to be one answer from them as well, the health is more important.
“That’s what I wasn’t expecting to be hearing – going into his office that day and coming out basically retired.”