The definitive GAA documentary series Laochra Gael returns to TG4 this spring for its 24th season, continuing a legacy that has reshaped how Irish sporting lives are told on television.
Since its inception, the hour-long format has proved a standout success, combining elite sporting achievement with deeply personal storytelling, and the new series promises eight compelling portraits of figures whose impact reaches far beyond the four white lines.
This season features eight Laochra with genuine star quality, drawn from Gaelic football, hurling, camogie and ladies football. While their sporting careers provide the narrative backbone, the programmes travel into more intimate territory, exploring sacrifice, identity, family, health and life beyond elite sport.
The result is a collection of gripping personal stories that push into areas rarely seen on Irish sports television, reinforcing the series’ unique place in the GAA broadcast landscape.
In a significant development for 2026, each programme will also be released digitally on the TG4 Player ahead of linear broadcast. After the opening episode airs on Thursday night, viewers will be able to watch the following week’s instalment online in advance, underlining TG4’s growing commitment to platform-neutral storytelling and on-demand audiences.
The new season opens on 22 January with Monaghan football icon Conor McManus, one of the modern greats of the game and among the finest ever to wear the county jersey. Renowned for his ability to deliver at pressure points and for scoring seemingly impossible points, McManus’ episode explores what it truly costs to sustain excellence over a long inter-county career. Featuring contributions from teammates, family members and observers of the game, the programme examines the personal sacrifices required to remain, as one contributor puts it, “a step ahead” for so long.
The second episode, airing on 29 January, turns to one of hurling’s most influential managerial minds in Cyril Farrell. Best known for guiding Galway to three All-Ireland titles across separate spells in charge during the 1980s, Farrell is also a household name through his years on RTÉ’s The Sunday Game. The documentary charts his transformative impact on Galway hurling, his enduring love of coaching at all levels, and the sharp wit and insight that made him such a distinctive broadcasting presence.
Camogie great Grace Walsh is the focus of the third programme on 5 February. A three-time All-Ireland winner and All-Star, Walsh’s story is one of versatility, tactical intelligence and longevity. Emerging from Kilkenny’s famed Walsh hurling dynasty, she balanced an elite inter-county career with a demanding nursing role in Dublin. Having stepped away from inter-county camogie in 2025, the episode reflects on a 14-year journey that left a lasting legacy of leadership and inspiration for younger players.
On 12 February, the spotlight moves to Marty Clarke, whose career took an extraordinary path from Down minor success to Australian Rules football with Collingwood, before returning home to play a pivotal role in Down’s 2010 All-Ireland run. Clarke’s story is marked by resilience, particularly following his diagnosis with Addison’s disease, a life-changing moment that forced him to re-evaluate his future in professional sport.
Episode five, airing on 19 February, profiles Pádraig Horan, the captain who led Offaly to their first ever All-Ireland hurling title in 1981. Revered for his leadership and fearlessness on the field, Horan’s programme also confronts his more recent battle with Parkinson’s disease, offering a powerful exploration of courage and dignity away from the spotlight of championship days.
Antrim hurling stalwart Neil McManus is the subject of episode six on 26 February. Widely admired for his scoring power, consistency and leadership, McManus became a central figure in promoting and strengthening hurling in Ulster. The documentary captures both his influence on the pitch and his role as an articulate advocate for the game across the province.
One of the most celebrated figures in ladies football, Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh, features on 5 March. A five-time TG4 All-Star and 2023 Players’ Player of the Year, her career reached its pinnacle in 2024 when she helped Kerry end a 31-year wait for the Brendan Martin Cup. Her episode reflects on resilience, ambition and the significance of finally achieving the All-Ireland success that had long eluded her.
The series concludes on 12 March with Dublin legend Kevin McManamon, a defining figure of the county’s dominant era. Best remembered for his crucial goal as a substitute in the 2011 All-Ireland final, McManamon went on to collect eight All-Ireland medals. The programme challenges the “super-sub” label, highlighting his broader impact and his post-retirement work in sports psychology and high-performance coaching.
The series is produced by NemetonTV, based in An Rinn in the Waterford Gaeltacht, whose work has been central to TG4’s acclaimed sports output.
Ahead of the new season, GAA President Jarlath Burns said Laochra Gael had become “a mainstay on the GAA broadcasting landscape,” praising its ability to bring the stories behind the games vividly to life and crediting Nemeton and TG4 for their enduring commitment to Irish sport and language.
TG4 Director General Deirdre Ní Choistín added that the series continues to be one of the channel’s most popular offerings at home and abroad, noting that the new early-release digital model reflects TG4’s ambition to reach audiences wherever and however they choose to watch.
The new season of Laochra Gael airs on TG4 at 9.30pm on Thursday nights from 22 January, with episodes also available on the TG4 Player.
Image Credit: Pitch
SPORT FOR BUSINESS Upcoming Events
SPORT FOR BUSINESS
Sport for Business is Ireland’s leading platform focused on the commercial, strategic and societal impact of sport. It connects decision-makers across governing bodies, clubs, brands, agencies and public institutions through high-quality journalism, events and insight. Sport for Business explores how sport drives economic value, participation, inclusion and national identity, while holding organisations to account on governance and sustainability.
Through analysis, storytelling and convening the sector, it helps leaders understand trends, share best practice and make better-informed decisions. Its work positions sport not just as entertainment, but as a vital contributor to Ireland’s social and economic fabric.
Find out more about becoming a member today.
Or sign up for our twice-daily bulletins to get a flavour of the material we cover.
Sign up for our News Bulletins here.
