Laois Ladies legend Sue Ramsbottom featured in Laochra Gael this week

Sue Ramsbottom

The definitive GAA sports series returns to TG4 this spring for a 20th series. The series hour-long format has proved a huge success, bringing each player’s personal stories to screen. The series features six Laochra with genuine star quality and reveals deeper, fresh and sometimes unexpected insights into the lives of these icons.  While their sporting careers continue to provide the backdrop to the story, the series travels well beyond the four white lines.  Gripping personal storylines will compel viewers to travel towards territory unique to the GAA television landscape.

The acclaimed Laochra Gael returned for an 20th series in early January

Sue Ramsbottom

Laochra Gael continues with one of the greatest players in the history of Ladies Football, Sue Ramsbottom. A child prodicy, she played senior football at just 12 years of age. Sue suffered heartbreak on the field time and time again, but in 2001 she finally fulfilled her dream of winning an All Ireland medal. 6 years after winning the All Ireland with her, Sue’s life long friend, Lulu Carroll passed away after a battle with cancer. After over twenty years at the top of her sport and a military career across the world, Sue, with her two daughters, is now back in her beloved home county, Laois. 

Director:  Paul Jenkins 

Participants: Sue Ramsbottom; James Ramsbottom; Connie Conway; Daragh Ó Conchúir; Caoimhe Burke; Emma Burke; Máire Ní Bhraonáin; Michael Ryan; Ceannfort Caroline Burke

Along with Sue Ramsbottom – this new season’s batch of GAA legends also includes Terence McNaughton who became the heartbeat of the team that pulled off the biggest shock in the history of Gaelic Games, a team that will be remembered forever, Michael Darragh Macauley who overcame personal tragedy to become the beating heart of the greatest team in history.  Joe Quaid who bore his family legacy with distinction in the face of sporting heartbreak and personal tragedy. Kieran Fitzgerald who emerged from the darkness of grief and found rejuvenation with the Corofin football team. And the season finale explores the rise and fall of Johnny McGurk who won the All Ireland with Derry but who ended up in prison.

Ahead of the new Laochra Gael Series Uachtarán CLG, Larry McCarthy said: “TG4 has made a major contribution to Irish life since it first launched 25 years ago, and from its earliest days, it has carved a niche in the excellence of its GAA coverage and of club games in particular.“Aside from the matches, the Laochra Gael series has become a staple of the GAA supporter’s TV diet. Season after season they produce magnificent programmes that not only relive glory days but bring us inside the dressing room through their iconic player profiles. “I look forward to seeing the latest batch of heroes being brought to our screens and wish the programme and the channel continued success.”

 “Laochra Gael” returned to our screens on Thursday the 13^th January 2022 and continues on TG4 at every Thursday for 6 weeks at 9:30pm.  

The series is produced by NemetonTV, the independent production company from An Rinn in the Waterford Gaeltacht which has produced much of TG4’s acclaimed sports coverage.