Inside Ryan McHugh's life from GAA family dynasty to wife & job as he aims to finally lift Sam Maguire
Despite being a veteran of the Donegal panel, the 31-year-old just missed out on their 2012 triumph as he made his debut the following year.
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He and wife Bridget own a coffee shop together
Credit: @ryanmchugh2
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They tied the knot in December 2023
Credit: @ryanmchugh2
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He'll be cheered on by the whole family this Sunday at Croke Park
Credit: @ryanmchugh2
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Brother Mark picked up an All-Star award in 2012
He did come awfully close in 2014 against Kerry. The pain from that day lingers to the extent that he's
By the end of his second season at the highest level, he was already an Ulster Championship winner and Young Footballer of the Year — nevertheless, his quest for the holy grail is ongoing.
Here, SunSport finds out a bit more about his life away from the Gaelic football pitch:
WHAT IS RYAN McHUGH'S JOB?
He and wife Bridget run a coffee shop in Donegal Town. It opened a little over a year ago and is wittily named McBrew.
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Previously he'd predominantly worked in sales. A graduate of Ulster University in Business Studies, he'd held various sales roles across companies like Ocean Knowledge and C & C Group.
The latter is a food and drinks giant so that would've given him the grounding (no pun intended) on striking out on his own in the coffee industry.
Only last month Bridget
The two-time All-Star made sure to thank all of the staff who had ensured Bridget and Senán received the best of care over the past few days.
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He wrote: "Senán McHugh 23/06/2025.
"I would just like to thank Letterkenny Hospital for the wonderful care they took of Bridget and Senán over the past week. Thankfully everyone is doing good and back home."
Henry Shefflin picks RTE Sunday Game Hurler of the Year but wants no blame for selection for best 15 picks
DAD AND BROTHER
Those of a certain vintage will remember Mark as being a rampaging half-forward during Jim McGuinness' first stint in charge of Donegal.
The 34-year-old actually made an entertaining cameo before this month's
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He and Paul Shankey
Those of an even older vintage will remember their father Martin also being a menace in his day.
Not only was he on the 1992 team that lifted Sam Maguire for the first time in the Ulster county's history but he was duly awarded Footballer of the Year.
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All three McHughs are proud members of the Kilcar club who play on a pitch by the ocean.
Even by Donegal standards it's a particularly stunning backdrop.
The village is located in the Gaeltacht region in the south-west of Donegal near Muckross.
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The half-back possesses one of the best gas tanks in Gaelic football
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Martin McHugh was a star centre-forward in his day
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Senán McHugh was born last month
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