Cork football icon and sporting legend Valerie Mulcahy has shared that she is in a new relationship and has gone through a divorce from ex-wife Meg Blyth.
The couple married in Cork in 2015 after six years together, but Valerie told Joe Duffy on the season finale of The Meaning of Life that they have since parted ways.
While she described the divorce as sad, she told RSVP Live she is now very happy in her new relationship with Ireland women's field hockey international Nicci Daly.
After opening up about her work on the marriage equality referendum, Valerie expressed that she felt "embarrassed" to go through a divorce after being part of the fight to secure marriage equality.
The winner of ten All-Ireland titles, nine Ladies' National Football League titles and six All Star medals said that while it was a difficult experience, she still respects and cares for her former partner.
"I have gotten divorced, unfortunately. There is obviously a huge loss there. Especially in gay relationships there is a huge closeness and a friendship as well. Inevitably it wasn’t to be," she told Joe.
"Thankfully I am very happy in a new relationship. I look back and feel embarrassed, especially having spoken for marriage equality and having fought for it, but I think I've learned to just be okay with it. That comes with time."
"The relationship was beyond us, which is quite sad, but we're both in a happier place now. There was a lot of compromise in the small things and that became quite hard and we weren’t as compatible."
"I'm so fond of her still and love her, and would not have a bad word to say about her.
"I'm so grateful for that time too, she helped me in being comfortable with my sexuality and just getting on with life. Not seeing it as this big deal that I had made out in my head."
Opening up about her new relationship, the footballer turned teacher shared that she is dating Nicci Daly.
"I'm with Nicci and I'm very happy," she said, before Joe chimed in to confirm that Nicci is an Olympian.
"Valerie continued: "We both are spontaneous, and like to have fun. Quite determined and focused when we want to be.
"She's very entrepreneurial, has a great interest in motor sports, and does a lot for empowering girls."
Tune in to the season finale of The Meaning of Lif e this Sunday, 23rd October at 10.25pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.
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