Bar those young and sprightly among us, it’s likely many readers will remember a TV programme by the name of The All-Ireland Talent Show.

It ran for a few seasons and the memorable winning act of the first year in 2009 was The Mulkerrin Brothers.

Comprised of brothers Pádraig, Éamonn and Seán from Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands, the trio played traditional music and danced. Seán, who was just nine at the time, played the banjo and attracted much attention for the Sean-nós style in which he danced.

Nowadays, Seán’s feet are still closely watched but it’s mostly on the football pitch as a member of the Galway senior team.

Unfortunately, Seán won’t be on the panel for this Sunday’s big clash against Kerry as he has been out with an injury since the beginning of the year.

Galway and Oileáin Árainn footballer, Seán Mulkerrin, pictured at the launch of AIB’s new series, The Drive, which explores the adversity faced by intercounty players and what drives them to pull on the jersey year after year.

Playing college football for NUI Galway (NUIG) in January, Seán suffered a patella fracture, which is a break in the kneecap. At the moment he is rehabilitating it.

He hopes to be either back for some of the club season or else next year’s intercounty pre-season campaign.

Although an injury is a bitter pill to swallow, Seán doesn’t complain and tries to look on the bright side as much as possible.

“Even to play some part in the club season would be great. If not, then it’s just a long pre-season building into 2023,” Seán explains.

Galway and Oileáin Árainn footballer, Seán Mulkerrin, pictured at the launch of AIB’s new series, The Drive, which explores the adversity faced by intercounty players and what drives them to pull on the jersey year after year.

“It’s a win-win in one sense because you’re giving yourself a bit of a rest if you can’t make club, but if you get back for the club season in some part it would be great too.

“It was my first major injury. I’ve had a few groin tears and a few hamstring tears, which are four to six weeks out, but nothing in terms of this.

This is my first major injury, so of course it’s mentally challenging.

Though, once you get chatting to lads who have been through something similar, it makes it that bit easier, seeing what worked for them and how they got through it.”

Galway and Oileáin Árann footballer, Seán Mulkerrin, pictured at the launch of AIB’s new series, The Drive, which explores the adversity faced by intercounty players and what drives them to pull on the jersey year after year.

The long drive

Seán is the first man from the Aran Islands to play in the national league and championship.

He has been involved in the Galway setup since under-14s, being part of the senior side since 2018.

Of course, living on Inis Mór over the years Seán has had a longer commute to training than just about anybody.

“Throughout my underage career with Galway I would have been coming in and out,” says Seán.

“I was in secondary school on the island, so I was trying to balance coming in and out maybe two or three times a week for the minor team or whatever the case was.

“For the senior intercounty training, it’s actually easier with college for the academic year because I’m in Galway anyway.

It’s more convenient. Then it gets more challenging when you go home and work for the summer.

“That can be tricky to juggle at times because you’re trying to get the ferry out at four or five or get the plane out at half four to make training for seven or half seven.

Then you have to get back straight away first thing the next morning.

You’d have to stay a night on the mainland, but lucky enough I’m renting a place in Knocknacarra in Galway and have been for a while now, which makes it a lot easier these days.”

Galway and Oileáin Árann footballer, Seán Mulkerrin, pictured at the launch of AIB’s new series, The Drive, which explores the adversity faced by intercounty players and what drives them to pull on the jersey year after year.

Despite many people’s fascination (mine included) with the logistics of Seán’s football career, he pays little heed to having to get the boat or plane to training.

He always came off the island two to three times a week in his underage football career for training and matches, playing handball and rugby too for a spell.

“It’s no more than being accustomed to hopping on a bus or getting a train, it’s the exact same. I’m used to it now from a very young age, no more than any other islander.”

Recently, Seán got involved in AIB’s series of social media videos, The Drive.

Hosted by Ardal O’Hanlon, it explores the adversity faced by intercounty GAA players and what drives them to pull on the jersey year after year.

Seán’s club is CLG Oileáin Árann, which takes in the three islands.

Even for club training and home games they have to travel among the islands. They play intermediate football, having won the junior championship in 2014.

Tuned in young

Seán has just finished his final year as a student teacher and for the summer is based on Inis Mór, where he works in the Aran Islands knitwear store.

He and his brothers are also still strong on the music front, playing in Joe Watty’s Bar on the island, as well as in Carraroe on the mainland.

Discussing their musical roots, Seán says that it comes particularly from their mother’s side of the family, as well as being strongly encouraged in school.

“My mother, she could knock a tune out of anything. We’re lucky out on Aran, we all had the opportunity to learn music because there were such small numbers,” Seán says.

“We’re kind of privileged in that sense. Everyone starts off in national school on the tin whistle and you can choose to progress on to the accordion or the banjo or something like that.”

As for the sean-nós dancing, which Seán was notable for pre-football, that came about through his brothers in a way.

“That started off with just some workshop. It was actually my two older brothers going, just to see if they liked it.

I tagged along and went from there. I saw them doing it, so I suppose I wanted to copy them and do it as well.”

As to whether or not he still dances, Seán laughs: “Not at the minute anyway,” alluding to his knee. Seán’s focus at present is undoubtedly getting back on the football pitch.

And whether it’s kicking points or tapping away to a tune, it has always been Seán’s feet for which he is known.

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