GAA star shares heartbreak of fertility journey amid fifth IVF attempt

Sunday World

11-06-2025

Johnny Glynn and his wife Serena have suffered numerous miscarriages
GAA star Johnny Glynn has shared his heartbreaking fertility journey amid his wife Serena's fifth attempt to conceive via IVF.
The Galway native recently captained the New York GAA team as they won the Lory Meagher cup in a win against Cavan at Croke Park in May.
The 31-year-old married his long-term love Serena Walsh in 2021.
Johnny Glynn
News in 90 Seconds - June 11th
Opening up about their journey to parenthood, Glynn told the GAA Social Podcast that 'nobody in the world deserves a child more' than his wife.
'Unfortunately, we've had few miscarriages. We've had an ectopic pregnancy. We've done a few rounds of IVF and it's a heavy thing.'
'We're after finishing our fifth round of transfers and they've all been unsuccessful so far.
'So to be honest with you, where we're at, I don't know exactly, but I do know we're going to have kids,' he added.
'I don't know how we're gonna get there, yet we're gonna get there.'
The hurler said their struggle has been 'very tough' on his wife
'For me, the whole thing is like, I'll be fine as long as Serena's fine.
'I will be okay as long as she's okay, and the toughest thing of the whole thing for me is just not being able to sort this out for Serena,' he said.
'Over the last two years, what upsets me is seeing her so upset, like I can do everything else, we can go on all the holidays in the world.
'We can do whatever else, but this is the one thing that is out of my control that I can't do for my wife.'
'That's the hardest thing. It's a f**king killer,' he said.
Johnny said he firmly believes that the couple will become parents one day.
'I think it was actually when we had the ectopic pregnancy a few people heard.
'And obviously you get nice messages and different things, but there was one message, it was out physio for the senior footballers.
'She sent me a message and she just said 'kids won't pass deserving parents', and I do believe that,' he continued.
'I firmly believe that me and Serena are meant to be parents, and it's going to happen.
'Might be taking a little bit longer, but it's going to happen.'
Johnny said he's been left stunned by the kindness they've received amid their pain.
'One of the lads in New York, he'd a bad enough reputation – gets in a row here or there – he handwrote me and Serena a letter after hearing about our journey, gave us miraculous medals,' he explained.
'He dropped it to the house. If you knew the lad you'd say 'no way', but when you talk about this stuff, people surprise you.
'There's some great people out there.'
Johnny and his wife Serena got engaged in 2018, and tied the knot during a festive ceremony in December 2021.
If you've been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can contact Féileacáin, The Miscarriage Association of Ireland or Eptopic Ireland for support and information.