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The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Inside Ryan McHugh's life from GAA family dynasty to wife & job as he aims to finally lift Sam Maguire
RYAN McHugh will be aiming to join his father and brother this weekend in becoming an All-Ireland winner. 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. Advertisement 7 He and wife Bridget own a coffee shop together Credit: @ryanmchugh2 7 They tied the knot in December 2023 Credit: @ryanmchugh2 7 He'll be cheered on by the whole family this Sunday at Croke Park Credit: @ryanmchugh2 7 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. Advertisement Read More On GAA 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. Advertisement Most read in GAA Football 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 Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. 7 The half-back possesses one of the best gas tanks in Gaelic football Advertisement 7 Martin McHugh was a star centre-forward in his day 7 Senán McHugh was born last month
Irish Examiner
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Donegal's Ryan McHugh hoping to christen son with Sam Maguire glory
New father Ryan McHugh is hoping to christen the recent arrival of his son by emulating his father Martin and brother Mark and winning an All-Ireland SFC medal on July 27. Senan arrived safely into his and his wife Bridget's lives three weeks ago and McHugh is leaning on her heavily as preparations now kick in ahead of facing Kerry. 'It changes things, it changes life. But to be fair to my wife Bridget, we've sort of made a wee agreement that until the end of the year, she's doing the night feed, so I'm still getting my sleep. 'He was up at the game (v Meath) with Bridget, it just makes everything that wee bit extra special. I know he'll not remember or anything like that, but you've got a new cause in life and you're doing it for a different thing now.' A minor when Donegal last lifted the Sam Maguire Cup in 2012, McHugh joined the senior panel a year later so is the odd one out. It appears to the source of some ball-hopping among the McHugh men. 'It makes it tough at the breakfast table and dinner table at home, because Dad and Mark have one!' he smiles. 'But listen, it's all part of it.' Believing he didn't well in the 2014 All-Ireland final, McHugh admits that defeat to Kerry stung twice as badly. 'It was very difficult, no point lying. I've actually never watched the game back, to be honest with you. I have watched wee clips but never watched the full game back. 'You thought at that time, you were going to be in semi-finals, finals every year. But I think it was up to last year it took us to get back to an All-Ireland semi-final. So listen, we want to make the most of it; it could be another 11 years until we get back again.' McGuinness has been involved in all four of Donegal's All-Ireland final appearances, this being his third in charge. McHugh marvels at his consistency of his message and the intensity of it. 'The way I like to answer this question is, he brings it every single night. Although, we didn't win it, I've been fortunate enough to be involved with him in an All-Ireland final – and he is on it on the first night we meet in December, or whenever it is, until the last night in an All-Ireland final. And it's the exact same, every single night. Ryan McHugh breaks away with the ball during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship semi-final. Pic: Daire Brennan/Sportsfile. 'And I know that sounds easy, but it's actually an extremely difficult thing to do. You could have problems off the pitch, family issues, work issues, different things, but he is on it every single night. And demanding the most of us, and putting in the best. And to be fair, the team he's around him, it's all so professional.' Michael Murphy's impact is that such that McHugh wonders if he would have made a difference had he come out of retirement last season. 'Nobody knows what would have happened if Michael was there last year.' For the way he plays but also the manner in which he carries himself, McHugh can't stress enough the importance of Murphy's presence. 'It's similar to Jim, it's hard to put into words, but his whole leadership qualities, and I think the two of them bounce off each other so well. 'To be fair to Jim, in 2011, he made Michael Murphy his captain – who was 21, 22 years of age. If you think of that now, it'd be like Donegal making Finnbarr Roarty captain. So, the trust that he has in him. 'He's a phenomenal person, so he is, Michael. He's a phenomenal footballer, obviously, everyone sees that. But he's a phenomenal person. The way he lives his life off the field is just unbelievable, and I think it's helped all the younger boys – just watching him. 'If I touch on Finnbarr Roarty, he was probably six when Michael lifted the cup in 2012. He was his role model, he was his hero growing up, and to get to play with these boys. 'I know myself coming in, Karl Lacey was my hero. I just worshipped him, I followed every move he was making. And the younger boys are the exact same with Michael.'
Irish Times
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Donegal's Ryan McHugh: ‘We're going to have to put in our best performance to beat Kerry'
It has been a busy few weeks for Ryan McHugh – helping Donegal get back to an All-Ireland final and becoming a father for the first time. Senán McHugh was born just hours after Donegal beat Louth in an All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final three weeks ago – and the latest addition to one of Donegal's most storied GAA families was in Croke Park last Sunday for the semi-final win over Meath. 'It changes things, it changes life. But to be fair to my wife Bridget, we've sort of made a wee agreement that until the end of the [championship] year she's doing the night feed, so I'm still getting my sleep,' said the Donegal playmaker with a smile. 'Listen, it's changed my life and Bridget's life for the better, it's great. He was up at the game [on Sunday], it just makes everything that wee bit extra special, I know he'll not remember or anything like that but you've got a new cause in life and you're doing it for a different thing now.' READ MORE McHugh (31) played in Donegal's last All-Ireland final appearance in 2014 when they lost to Kerry. It's not a game he has ever watched back, though. He just missed out on the 2012 Sam Maguire triumph, making his senior debut the following season – but his brother Mark was part of that triumph 13 years ago. And their dad, Martin, was a key player when Donegal won the county's maiden All-Ireland title in 1992. Donegal's Ryan McHugh showed no sign of sleepiness in the semi-final win over Meath. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho 'It makes it tough at the breakfast table and dinner table at home, because Dad and Mark have one,' he said with a laugh. 'But listen, it's all part of it. No, I was a minor in 2012 and I came in with the seniors in 2013. But listen, personally I feel like I've had a great career with Donegal. 'No regrets, well obviously an All-Ireland final is a big regret, but in terms of my career I think I've had a great career but this will be the cherry on top of it all. 'But it's going to be a massive challenge, we're going to have to put in our best performance all year. I think Kerry , to be fair to them, are coming really good at an important time. 'Their performances against Armagh and then Tyrone the last day, were unbelievable. David Clifford's hitting form at the exact right time, so it's going to be massive. But it's one we're going to cherish and one where we're going to give it our all and hopefully we can come out the right side.' McHugh believes Donegal's upturn in form over the last two seasons has been sparked in no small way by the returns of Jim McGuinness and Michael Murphy. 'I think the two of them bounce off each other so well,' said McHugh. 'To be fair to Jim, when he came in as manager in 2011 he made Michael Murphy his captain – who was only 21 or 22 years of age at the time. 'If you think of that now, it would be like Donegal making Finnbarr Roarty captain. So, the trust that he has in him is huge. Michael is a phenomenal person, he's a phenomenal footballer, obviously, everyone sees that, but he's a phenomenal person. The way he lives his life off the field is just unbelievable and I think it's helped all the younger boys – just watching him. Donegal's Michael Murphy showing the benefit of living his life right. Photograph: Tom O'Hanlon/Inpho 'In elite sport you look for those one and two per cents, and Michael definitely adds that. Nobody knows what would have happened if Michael was there last year. As a team and as a squad we're delighted to have him back, and thankfully we're in the final this year.' But Donegal are certainly no one-man team – they had 12 different scorers, all from play, in Sunday's win over Meath. 'It's great [to have such a spread of scorers[ but I think that's the modern game,' said the Kilcar man. 'And I think every team has to be fit to do that if they're going to win big games, in Croke Park especially. 'You need threats coming from everywhere and thankfully we have that at the minute, from our full-back line to our full-forward line, everyone is fit to score, and I think we've shown that all year.'
Irish Daily Mirror
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Katie Taylor's mother pays emotional tribute to fighter ahead of Serrano fight
Katie Taylor and her mother Bridget shared an emotional conversation ahead of the fighter's trilogy bout with Amanda Serrano. The undisputed super-lightweight champion and the Puerto Rican clash once again at Madison Square Garden as they return to the venue of their first fight in April 2022. Ahead of the bout, Taylor and her mother, who is a vital part of her boxing team, told the 39-year-old how proud she is of her. "I'm so proud of you," Bridget told her daughter in a video shared by Netflix. "You're an amazing person and we believe in you. She added: "We've always believed in you and not just in your boxing abilities but in who you are. "I think I'm more proud of that than anything. You are an incredible person. "I'm always saying you're a very integral person. You bring that across even in your boxing." The 2012 Olympic champion, visibly emotional, also paid tribute to her mother and her family in the video. "I'm super grateful for my amazing family, especially my ma, who has been there through the highs, the lows," she said. Taylor defends her super-lightweight belts against Serrano at the New York venue, with the bout being fought at a 136-pound catchweight. And the Bray Bomber is confident she can produce the best performance of her career. "I feel like people haven't seen the best of me yet and I can't wait to showcase that on Friday night," she stated this week. "I can definitely make the fight a lot easier for myself. "I just can't wait to step in there now and actually perform the way that I know I can perform and produce the best performance of my career."
Irish Times
11-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
The cost of living in Ireland is nuts. Even nuttier are the reasons supposed to explain it
'Stick 'em up!' That's what it should say. Instead, the email's subject line says: 'It's time to renew your car insurance'. The quote is €100 more than it was last year. 'But didn't the insurers promise us the price would come down after the Government reformed the personal injuries law?' 'The reasons for the increase are numerous and complex,' purrs the soothing voice on the other end of the phone. 'You can look around but you won't get it cheaper anywhere else.' Brace yourself, Bridget, as the fella once said. Coffee is called for. READ MORE 'That'll be €4.30,' says the lad behind the counter, handing over the cappuccino-no-chocolate. A bowl next to the pay-by-card thingummy wants to be fed 'tips'. On the Costa del Sol, the lovely, milky coffee comes in a ceramic cup with an integrated holder for your complimentary ice-cream cone. Total price: €2. The world and her husband know the global price of coffee has shot up, but how can it be more than double the price in Ireland? Torremolinos isn't twice as close to Guatemala and Colombia, is it? 'Tsk, it's the minimum wage,' explain those who purport to know. The legal eagles must all be on the minimum wage. How else to explain the prohibitive cost of going to court? The business lobby ISME reckons defamation actions started in a single year generate €30 million to €50 million in fees for 'a small group of lawyers'. That damned minimum wage. Maybe we should start a go-fund-me for the Law Library. Landlords could do with a handout too. The ones who own trophy commercial buildings are barely managing to put bread on the table. Who else but the low-paid workers could possibly be to blame for making Grafton Street the world's 17th most expensive rental address? Surely not the pension companies, investment funds, property developers and wealthy families who own the street. Workers' wages were not the issue when a Circuit Court judge halved the €1. 46 million annual rent Bewley's Cafe was paying a Johnny Ronan company. [ Who owns Grafton Street? Wealthy Irish families and faceless funds control 119 of Dublin's most valuable buildings Opens in new window ] The cost of living in Ireland is nuts. Even nuttier are the reasons supposed to explain it. Take insurance. The Injuries Resolution Board reported on Wednesday that €76 million was saved last year by a reduction in insurance litigation in the courts. Yet motor insurance prices rose by 8.4 per cent in the past year and the Central Bank said last week they'll go on rising because of increasing claims and vehicle repair costs. But then the Courts Service annual report said this week that awards for damages almost halved in 2024. If you're not bamboozled, you must be an actuary. Next, take hospitality. More than 500 restaurants have shut up shop this year. Lobbyists say the antidote is to cut the sector's VAT rate from 13.5 per cent to 9 per cent. That would cost the national exchequer €545 million, with no guarantee customers could get a mug of tea and a fruit scone for less than Jeff Bezos's wedding bill. Cafe owner Jamie O'Connell, writing in The Irish Times last year , said the rent of the building accounted for 21 cent out of a – rather modest – €3.50 cup of coffee. The rest of us must have been snoozing when the Restaurants Association of Ireland was demanding the Government do something about that. Go into a supermarket (please do, Peter Burke , Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment) and try to figure out how the €13.50-an-hour minimum wage can feed a family. According to Conor Pope's research , a kilogram of chicken breasts priced at €4.99 in 2022 now costs €11. There's an extra 27 cent on a two-litre carton of milk since last year and butter is the new caviar at €5.49 a pound for Kerrygold . 'It's a good thing I'm a millionaire,' exclaimed the woman standing beside me as she surveyed the bread shelves. After she walked away, leaving the bread on the shelf, the word 'not' hung in the air. Kenneth Harper, a regular Letters-to-the-Editor correspondent, wrote about his holiday in Cyprus this year. 'A decent supermarket wine' was €5.50, a litre of unleaded diesel €1.32 (€1.74 in his home county of Donegal at the time of writing) and a two-bed furnished flat with access to a swimming pool was €850 per month. A survey by Barnardo s children's charity has found that four in 10 parents are foregoing meals or cutting their portions so that their children get enough to eat. These vicissitudes are not confined to households. High prices for insurance, legal services and commercial rents percolate through the system. It's no surprise the number of visitors to Ireland is declining. The Central Statistics Office said there was an 8 per cent reduction in visits from continental Europe in April compared with the same month last year. And this when experts tell us holidaymakers are fleeing to cooler climes such as ours to escape the continent's sweltering temperatures. Laments about 'the high cost of doing business in Ireland' have replaced the Celtic Tiger's 'soft landing' and 'the fundamentals are sound' audio track of the age. Ireland is Europe's second most expensive country. For the luxury of living in it, you might have to sleep in the street, queue on a hospital trolley, despair of your child getting a school place, wait months for a water connection and cough up gold to afford a packet of rashers. Still, the Government refuses to introduce mandatory reporting for supermarkets so we might understand why they're charging us so much. Remember two years ago when junior minister Neale Richmond hosted a 'supermarket summit'. Please, bring your prices down, he asked them nicely. Now grocery prices are rising at twice the rate of general inflation. Good work, Neale. The Government benevolently doles out one-off payments to subvent the people's spiralling bills, like some feudal lord riding through the village on his snorting stead, throwing oranges to the peasants. It's time it got down off its high horse and fixed the causes – the opaque pricing, insurance claptrap, greedy commercial rents and lawyers' ludicrous fees. These are the costs of doing business in Ireland. Doing the customer is not the solution.
