A COUNTY rich with history and culture.
We are celebrating some fine athletes and sportspeople from the great county of Galway today.
The county is home to some of the most beautiful parts of Ireland, and it has produced some excellent sportspeople over the years too.
Here are five of our favourites:
Sean Purcell - Gaelic Football
Named one of the most influential people in Galway's history, Purcell was an easy choice when making this list.
Nicknamed 'The Master', he made it into the GAA's 'Team of the Century' and 'Team of the Millennium' at centre-half-forward, showcasing just how talented and respected he was.
A master of his craft indeed.
Paul Hession - Athletics
While Ireland is not necessarily a sprinting stronghold, Hession did make it two different Olympic games (2008 and 2012), and did himself proud on both occasions.
He set Irish four national records at 100 metres and 200 metres, and will forever be in the discussion of our greatest ever sprinters.
Joe Canning - Hurling
Canning can do things with a hurl on a pitch that others could only dream of. He has represented Galway since 2008, and has notched 27 goals and 473 points in that period of time.
Not bad, really.
Add to that the three Leinster titles, five All-Stars and an All-Ireland, and you see why he can't be kept off of this list.
Therese Maher - Camogie
If ever anyone deserved an All-Ireland winner's medal, it was Therese Maher, and she got it in 2013 after years and years of hardship.
However, during this period, her skills did not go unrecognised.
She received five All-Stars, a Player of the Year award, and is remembered fondly as one of the county's greats.
Aaron Connolly - Football
We feel it's only right to include another current athlete who has the potential to make the county proud over the next 10 years or so, and Aaron Connolly is our talent of choice.
Because he has been around for a while, it's easy to forget that the young man has just become 21 years of age. He has established himself as a Premier League footballer, and while he still has work to do (staying fit being the main thing), he has what it takes to have an excellent career.
We're rooting for him.
