Shane Horgan will be a familiar face to Six Nations viewers this evening as one of Virgin Media’s main pundits for the championship. However, the former Leinster winger may find himself overshadowed in terms of wider recognition by members of his own family.
His sister, Sharon Horgan, has achieved significant success as an actor and comedian in Ireland and the United Kingdom. Among her notable credits are roles in the television series Pulling, Catastrophe, and Bad Sisters, the latter two of which she also created. She won the Best TV Actress award at the 2008 British Comedy Awards for her work on Pulling and has received seven BAFTA nominations. She has also been recognized at the Irish Film and Television Awards (IFTAs), securing five wins across writing and acting categories.
Another accomplished member of the Horgan family is Shane’s younger brother, Mark. He is a producer known for his work in radio and podcasts, including Off the Ball, Second Captains, and the investigative podcasts Where is George Gibney? and Stakeknife. Where is George Gibney?, co-produced with the BBC, won the top award at the Irish Law Society Justice Media Awards in 2021. Stakeknife was honored as Best Documentary and Drama at the All-Ireland Podcast Awards last year. The podcast details the story of Freddie Scappaticci, a high-ranking IRA member who was a double agent for the British Army.
The Horgan siblings also include Maria and Lorraine, both of whom work in the entertainment industry as a producer and actor, respectively.
The siblings grew up on a turkey farm in Bellewstown, County Meath. Sharon Horgan recounted in an interview with 3rd Hour of Today that their upbringing motivated them to pursue careers outside of the family business. “We were brought up on a turkey farm so…[we wanted to do] anything but that. We can not end up [working in that profession]. [We] didn’t want to be in the turkey business,” she said. She added, “It really ruined Dad. That’s why we have a lot of deep-seeded trauma. I thank the Lord all the time for that very thing that we don’t have both a Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day with turkey dinners!”
Shane Horgan’s Professional Life
While qualified as a solicitor, Shane Horgan currently serves as the Managing Director of Soccer Aid, the annual UNICEF fundraising event. The charity football match features a team of celebrities and former professional footballers from England competing against a Rest of the World XI.
Personal Life
Shane Horgan has been married to Emma Hodson since . They welcomed their daughter, Neala, in and currently reside in London.
Interestingly, the family’s roots trace back to Ireland and New Zealand. Their mother is Irish, while their father was of Irish descent but born in New Zealand. Their maternal grandparents hailed from Midfield, County Mayo. Their father passed away in December .
Shane Horgan himself earned 65 caps for Ireland between and , playing as a winger. He was part of a backline that included well-known rugby players such as Brian O’Driscoll, Rob Kearney, and Johnny Sexton.
