Blaine Hughes: Off-Field Career, Relationships, and GAA JourneyBlaine Hughes: Off-Field Career, Relationships, and GAA Journey Blaine Hughes is not only a talented GAA player but also a busy entrepreneur and family man. Professional Life: Hughes is currently pursuing a degree in Strength and Conditioning at Setanta College. He previously trained as a carpenter at Southern Regional College Newry. Since 2020, he has been a co-owner and coach at H&G Performance, specializing in personal training and strength and conditioning. GAA Career: Hughes debuted for Armagh’s senior team in 2017 and quickly became a prominent goalscorer. In 2022, he played a crucial role in Armagh’s early league wins. However, he later stepped down to focus on his business. In 2023, he returned to the panel and has remained a valuable member since. Personal Life: Blaine Hughes has been in a long-term relationship with Shauna Hickey since 2018. The couple welcomed their daughter Mallaidh in October 2023. They became engaged in December 2023.
Blaine Hughes may be a great goalscorer, but he also has a lot to do outside of the sporting world.
The past year has been incredibly busy for him, from becoming a father for the first time to his engagement.
Yet he managed to do all that, run his own business and help Armagh through its final season.
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What does Blaine’s day-to-day work entail?
According to his social media, Blaine is studying strength and conditioning at Setanta College. He previously studied carpentry at Southern Regional College Newry between 2012 and 2016.
Since 2020 he is co-owner and coach of H&G Performance. They focus on small groups and personal training, with online coaching and strength and conditioning training.
When did Blaine make his senior team debut?
Blaine made his senior debut for Armagh in 2017 and quickly established himself as one of the team’s top goalscorers.
He was the goalscorer in Armagh’s first three league games in 2022, which resulted in wins against Dublin and Tyrone and a draw against Monaghan.
However, in late 2022, it was announced that Blaine would step down from the panel to focus on his business.
Blaine Hughes from Armagh at the Allianz Football League Division 2, BOX-IT Athletic Grounds, Armagh 16/3/2024 ©INPHO/Leah Scholes
“Blaine (Hughes) has unfortunately walked away to focus on his business,” Armagh assistant Ciaran McKeever told Belfast Live at the time.
“We wish him all the best. Ideally we would like to have him with us, but different players have different priorities.
“Right now, Blaine wants to focus on his business and there’s nothing we can do about that. We tried to keep him on board, but it was his decision.”
He was replaced by Ethan Rafferty midway through the season. However, Ethan broke an ankle playing for his club and Blaine was asked to return to replace him. He has remained on the panel ever since.
Who is Blaine’s partner?
Blaine Hughes and his fiancée Shauna Hickey with their daughter(Image: Instagram)
Blaine is in a long-term relationship with his partner Shauna Hickey. The couple went Instagram official in September 2018.
Over the years they have shared photos from their travels around the world, including trips to Marbella, Spain and Chicago, United States.
The couple welcomed their first child together on October 18, 2023. They posted adorable snaps of their daughter in the hospital, captioning it: “Mallaidh Hughes 18/10/23”.
They announced their engagement in December 2023, with Shauna showing off her stunning sparkling diamond ring. The couple captioned the photo, “Forevermore.”
