Gort hurler takes different kind of All-Ireland crown

A Gort hurler bagged a unique double weekend on and off the field, with a big win first in the county hurling championship – and another on the catwalk.

Because after Gort senior hurler Wayne Walsh helped his side to secure a vital 1-19 to 1-16 championship victory over a resilient Mullagh on Saturday, he traded the sliotar for a suit and landed the title of Mr Ireland the next day.

Wayne was crowned the 2018 Mr Ireland in Dublin’s Helix theatre in front of a packed house – and this week the new King of the Catwalk described the experience as ‘surreal’.

“I can’t believe it; the phone hasn’t stopped ringing,” he said, after joining the new Miss Ireland, Cork model Aoife O’Sullivan on the winner’s podium.

Wayne only began modelling four years ago when he was spotted by Mandy Maher of the Catwalk Modelling Agency at a fashion event.

But his win on Sunday marks the second year running that a Catwalk Agency model has taken home the Mr Ireland title, with Wayne succeeding last year’s winner, Roscommon man Darren King.

Despite his modelling success, Wayne will not allow hurling to take a back seat, as he remains an integral part of Gort’s championship aspirations.

And although modelling is an unlikely pairing with hurling, Wayne’s teammates lead him their full support.

“There was a bit of slagging at the start, but they became very interested in my modelling career as time went on, offering me loads of encouragement,” he said.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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