Aidan Walsh on why he transferred from Kanturk to An Ghaeltacht 

Former Cork dual player Aidan Walsh admits it was a very difficult decision to transfer from his beloved Kanturk to Kerry outfit An Ghaeltacht.

The 35-year-old made the move official at the start of March after a hugely successful playing career with Kanturk. He helped the team in green and white win numerous counties in both codes which now sees the Duhallow club play at the Premier Senior level in hurling and Senior A grade in football.

Walsh has been living in the An Ghaeltacht parish for the past number of years with his partner Doireann and they have a young child, Macdara, who is three years of age.

“I should have probably done it two years ago,” he told BBC’s The GAA Social podcast with regards the transfer.

“But, I had a fierce drive to get Kanturk up the grades and try and make them a dual senior club. That was a big ambition for me and thankfully we achieved that in 2022. It made the transfer then a bit easier, but it was very difficult to be honest given the connection I have with Kanturk. My father is manager of the hurling team and my brother and cousins play.

“The journey we had too, from when I started to now. It was very hard to leave all that behind. But, family is more important now or at any stage. Having my son watch me play for however many years I have left, is more important than anything now. I am living down here in Kerry and the travelling was taking its toll. 

“It has been a big change, but one I am trying to enjoy and grasp. When you go over the border and play in Kerry, it’s trying to prove that you have something to offer and are capable of doing something beneficially for An Ghaeltacht.” 

Walsh is enjoying life at the present time in the Kingdom, but one thing is proving to be a challenge at the moment.

“I fell in love with a Kerry girl many years ago. I saw Doireann working behind the bar in Páidi Ó Sé’s and the rest is history. We have a beautiful son now, Macdara. Life is good. We are living right by the sea in west Kerry, a beautiful part of the country.

“Speaking Irish can be difficult at times. I wouldn’t speak it terribly well. They are extremely passionate about speaking Irish down here. I am trying to grasp it and learn it. Even playing with An Ghaeltacht, it’s a new experience as all the players speak Irish.

“I try to leave my football do the talking. It’s hard to be fair not speaking Irish. I am trying my best though to learn it. The tactics board is great. I am the eldest on the team at 35 years of age, the next oldest is 31. I would like to think I have a bit of knowledge of the game.

“When I try to give my own speech, I talk in English and that’s hard. The club and players have no issue with that obviously, but I do feel uncomfortable with that. It’s all fun though.” 

The former Kanturk and Cork dual player admits he’s pleased to be concentrating on just the one code after so many years of balancing both.

“With hurling being so competitive in Cork, when I was playing dual with Kanturk, we would train at a ratio of 80/20 in favour of hurling because we would focus on our fitness in the football. We would have good quality footballers anyway.

“Now I am gone to no hurling and 100 percent football, which is enjoyable. I would consider myself a good footballer. It’s nice to focus on one. I am really motivated by that challenge. It’s refreshing and exciting. 

"For the last 20 years or so, I had been doing both and you feel you are not getting the most out of yourself because you are trying to do well in both codes. I am happy down here, learning every day. It's all good. Looking forward to the future."