A 41-YEAR-OLD Irish woman has spoken out about how playing Gaelic football has helped her grieve the passing of her young son.
Etna Flanagan lost her three-and-half-year-old son Rioghnán just over two years ago.
The toddler suffered from a heart condition and was awaiting a heart transplant when he died.
Etna, who plays for Sligo as a corner-back, is the oldest player in the TG4 All-Ireland Championship and is just one step away from Croke Park after Sunday’s quarter-final victory over Roscommon.
Etna told Jerome Quinn from the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) that she has no intention of hanging up her boots anytime soon.
“Once you’re able to keep playing, why should you stop?” she said.
“I’ll play until I see other girls giving it up and I don’t see the reason. I love it, I’ll keep going as long as I can – if the legs will carry me.”
But it’s Etna’s story away from the field that has defined her life in recent times.
In January 2015, she took a break from GAA after her son Rioghnán passed away before his fourth birthday.
Ms Flanagan returned to the squad last summer, and her teammates have honoured Rioghnán’s memory this season by wearing tee shirts supporting Organ Donor Awareness.
She admitted it wasn’t easy to return to the sport after the tragedy.
“I went back to the club shortly after he died but it was tough, I didn’t go back to county (football), I found it too hard,” she said.
“Your whole heart and soul has to be in county football and mine wasn’t.
“Football has helped me through it all, it just gives you a reason to get out, just to black everything out of your head just for an hour."
She added: “It helped me immensely through it all, and still does every day.”
The Irish woman has taken become something of an unofficial spokesperson for Organ Donor Awareness since making her return to the GAA scene.
She hopes the message of her story will convince people to carry an Organ Donor card.
“Your organs are no good to you if you’re dead,” she said. “Someone else can make use of them.”
Etna returns to action in the Intermediate Championship semi-final against Tyrone on September 2 – with an outing at Croke Park just a win away.
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