Georgia Tech’s punter, David Shanahan, is from County Kerry, Ireland. He grew up playing Gaelic football, but practiced punting to cows on a relative’s farm. In his return to Ireland as a college football player, Georgia Tech just knocked off No. 10 Florida State in Dublin.
David Shanahan’s trajectory—from Kerry, Ireland, to playing a key role in Georgia Tech’s victory over No. 10 Florida State in Dublin—is a powerful example of how diverse backgrounds contribute to high-performance outcomes. His dedication and unique journey exemplify the resilience and adaptability that drive success at the highest levels.
This is just the start of the incredible stories that will unfold throughout this college football season.
As a passionate Georgia Bulldog with a deep-seated rivalry against Tech, I have to acknowledge they've done something right.
☘️☘️🇮🇪☘️☘️
Was a great game
If you didn’t know, David is an alum of the legendary ProKick Australia. Made his way to Australia from Ireland, trained with the best in the business in Nathan Chapman and John Smith, and is now playing in the biggest stages in college football! Congrats to him, and can’t wait to see where his career takes him!
Having coached David underage, it is no surprise he's gotten to where he is now. He fully immersed himself into the position from day 1. Early mornings you could see him at the Desmonds GAA pitch punting a ball, which is still a common sight when he's home for the summer, although now he can be seen at anytime of the day. The town of Castleisland couldn't be happier for him, he's a great representative for our community.
Business Development Manager at Designworks, Brand Collective
2moLove hearing these stories. Plenty of talent in the Republic. Here in Australia, we've had a few Irish players make a name for themselves in the AFL - Tadgh Kennelly at the Sydney Swans, Zach Tuohy at Geelong and Conor Nash at Hawthorn to name a few.