When Maurice Shanahan needed help with his mental health, the GAA was there

Maurice Shanahan picked up a hurling All Star a couple of weekends ago, and by revealing his struggle on the evening of the event, he hoped to encourage others to seek help, just as he did, writes Michael Moynihan

The lunchtime crowd was emptying out of the Dungarvan pub when a middle-aged couple broke away to approach two big men putting away BLTs in the corner. The couple shook hands with the two men and congratulated the younger one in particular.

“And not just on the All Star, either. What you said was very important, not just for you, and not just for Waterford either. Well done.”

After a few more pleasantries about Lismore’s chances of returning to the senior ranks next season, they were gone out and along the quayside, and Maurice and Dan Shanahan returned to their sandwiches.

Ever since the younger of the Shanahan brothers spoke frankly and bravely about his battle with depression, such encounters have been occurring regularly. Maurice picked up a hurling All Star a couple of weekends ago, and by revealing his struggle on the evening of the event, he hoped to encourage others to seek help, just as he did.

“I’m overwhelmed by the reaction to what I said, to be honest. People have come up to me on the street, like they did just now, and been very encouraging, saying I’m brave and so forth.

“But I didn’t talk about it for that reason. It was to try to encourage people, particularly kids, who may be struggling with depression. It’s great to have people say to you ‘well done’ or whatever, but the real point is to help other people, and if I can help other people with what I said, and am saying, that’d be great.”

When he sought help, he turned to family first, and then to a wider circle. Clubmates. The county set-up. Derek McGrath, the Waterford manager. The Gaelic Players Association.

“They’ve all been very good to me, Derek, all the lads,” says Maurice.

“As soon as we got in touch with the GPA they sent Conor Cusack down to my house. There weren’t a lot of people I was talking to, but when he knocked on my door I thought, ‘here’s a guy who was a hurler himself, he understands the set-up’. He was outstanding.”

No-one was prouder than his big brother. Dan Shanahan’s goals and grin made him one of the best-known hurlers of his time, and now, as a Waterford selector, Maurice is one of his charges.

“It was fantastic. I was delighted he came out and spoke about it. This is something that affects every family, but when it comes so close to your own door you learn what it’s like.

“It’s to his own credit to come out and speak about it like that, to try to encourage other people, young and old. I’d say there isn’t a family in Ireland that hasn’t been touched by depression.

“The coverage will hopefully encourage people to talk. I suppose it’s come to the fore in the last three or four years, people seem to be more aware of it - maybe people just didn’t feel comfortable talking about it before that. It was a problem always and it’s a problem still, but there’s help available to people, no matter where they are.

“That’s the most important message to get out — that there are people who can help, that you don’t have to go through it alone.”

If the younger Shanahan got the support one might anticipate from the expected sources, he was also helped by some less obvious ones. One old foe came through for the big youngster.

“Davy Fitzgerald was the one who put me on the Waterford senior panel first day when he was manager here,” said Maurice.

“He gave me my start. And when he heard I was struggling, he picked up the phone and rang me.” Fitzgerald went further. He travelled to meet Maurice and talked to him for hours. He said he’d keep in contact and he’s been as good as his word.

“He was good to me and he still is. We’re still in touch. That’s the hurling community for you, the way people row in and help you even if they’re on the other side from you all year. That’s why hurling is unique.”

He had a fine season as the tip of Waterford’s attacking spear, hitting crucial scores in their successful league campaign and voyage to the All-Ireland semi-final. The statuette he got earlier this month underlined that.

“It was great for myself, at the start of the year I sat down and wrote out three goals — the Munster championship, an All-Ireland, and an All Star. I got the third, but even though we didn’t achieve the other two goals, we lost to the Munster and All-Ireland champions, the only two games we lost all year.

“Picking up an All Star was special. It was.” And where’s the award now?

“It’s out in the boot of the car, it’s seeing a lot of the country at the moment as I go around.

“Willie Kiely, the boss (with Iverk Produce), and his wife have been very good to me — in difficult times and when the hurling is going well, it doesn’t matter. They’re very accommodating, and it’s the same for all the lads I work with. Their support has been fantastic.”

“It was great for my mother and father when he won the All Star,” says Dan. “They’re very proud of him, obviously, and it’s a great boost for the family. The GAA, the club, they’re massive parts of our family. And since Maurice spoke out other people have been in touch with them asking what to do in similar situations, what to expect, so they’re involved in it as well, trying to advise people where to go and what to do.

“For Maurice, the turnaround for him in hurling was huge between 2014 and 2015. It was great for him to get that recognition. Hurling is just a game, though. Life is life.”