David Shanahan has been impactful through his game since he joined Georgia Tech as a punter. He was born in Castleisland, Ireland and was the first player of Irish nationality to gain a full scholarship to play American college football. Waived by the Yellow Jackets in 2021, Shanahan plays for Georgia Tech and is famous for the effective punts and great performance demonstrated by him.

Shanahan’s parents played a very crucial role in motivating him towards Georgia Tech. From the beginning, they supported his dream of playing college football in the US. Despite their initial unfamiliarity with the sport, they backed his move to Australia for training. Let us now dwell on these personalities who shaped David’s career.

Who are David Shanahan’s parents?

David Shanahan’s parents’ names are Jack and Eliza Shanahan. Jack is a pharmacist, he runs a community pharmacy in Castleisland, Ireland and Eliza is a school teacher. Both of them have raised four children, with lots of hard work and affection from their side. Jack’s experience working in the healthcare sector and Eliza’s experience working in the education sector as parents have influenced their parenting techniques by encouraging perseverance.

They have had the privilege of watching their young boy grow from a Gaelic football and rugby star to a future prospect of a football punter. Their careers have supplied structure in their home lives as well as support for a family, which in turn helped David to become both successful and professionally developed.

How did David’s parents support his journey to American football?

Jack and Eliza’s encouragement and belief in David and his football passion was very strong, even if they didn’t understand the game at the start. His parents had done what many simply can’t when eighteen-year-old David said that he wanted to go to Australia to train at Prokick Academy. They appreciated his zeal and commitment towards the sport of punting, even if that implied accepting the change, a completely different sport, and moving halfway across the world.

This support included many tangible things, such as Eliza taking David for Gaelic football punting at the field, even during bad weather. They were ready to help him achieve his dreams at the price of great personal loss, which shows their great concern for him.

What roles did David’s parents play during his training?

Eliza actively took part in David’s training exercises by offering him a means to get to the Gaelic football field, where he practiced his punting technique. She was committed, as she regularly took him out during harsh weather so that David could practice regularly. Regular encouragement from her was equally important to keep up the morale of David and his focus towards strict training sessions.

However, Jack’s effort was also remarkable, especially when David struggled to contribute much during the COVID-19 pandemic and had to go back to Ireland. Supporting his son’s dreams, Jack helped David practice at their family farm during his training process, which proves that he is ready to back the young man up in any possible way. This resourcefulness and support were instrumental in David’s growth as a punter for the next season.

What was their reaction to David’s decision to move to Australia?

First of all, Eliza and Jack were worried when David decided to go to Australia to attend Prokick Academy. The decision took a lot of faith from his parents. Due to the fear for her son and the unknown nature of American football, Eliza, at first, did not agree.

Later on, Eliza’s apprehensions were put to rest by seeing that David was completely into, what he wanted to be and do. Even Jack becomes fully supportive of David’s decision, for he believes in the potential of his son. Their acceptance in the long run of David’s move showed how much they trusted his decision and commitment to the dream.

How did David’s parents react to his scholarship at Georgia Tech?

Jack and Eliza were extremely proud and happy when they heard that their son David had been awarded a full scholarship to play football at Georgia Tech. Both of them responded by expressing joy and amazement at a feeling that they were shocked that their son had made such a feat in a sport so foreign to Ireland. It was a big feat in David’s journey, and he said that it was all thanks to their support and the hours he spent working towards his scholarship.

Their enthusiasm was, however, fuelled by additional factors, such as the fact that what David did was different and possibly a once-in-a-lifetime chance for him. For him, it was not only a great victory, but perhaps the biggest source of pride for the family that had nourished him through all the steps he made to reach American football, which was unconventional then.

How do David’s parents feel about him playing in Dublin?

Jack and Eliza couldn’t be happier and are proud of David’s chance to play in Dublin at Aviva Stadium. They were quite eager to watch David perform in front of a home crowd, which they equated to a dream come true:  a result of years of support and sacrifice. For the Shanahan’s, the fact that their son is performing in their home country, in such a stadium as Aviva, watching David is exhilaration.

This game is not only a victory for David but also for his family because they will be able to witness his performance in a very big match for the first time.