Joe Canning and wife Meg went through IVF journey before welcoming daughter Josie

The former Galway hurler opened up about their journey to parenthood and how his late mother Josephine played a role in that - and in their wedding day in November 2022.

Joe Canning and his wife Meg went through IVF before they became parents to their daughter Josie at the end of May.

The former Galway hurler opened up about his experience with fertility for the first time, saying that they count their lucky stars to have welcomed her into the world.

He also revealed how believed that his late mother Josephine was there watching over them on their wedding day in Limerick and through their journey to parenthood last year.

READ MORE: Joe Canning opens up about fatherhood and 'spiritual experience' before wife's pregnancy

READ MORE: RTE viewers praise 'gentleman' Joe Canning after Late Late Show appearance

Joe said: "We went through IVF. I think that is something that has become more common with couples now.

"We went through that journey and we were very lucky. [We got pregnant on the] first time. It is madness to go through it and then have Josie. You count your lucky stars."

Joe and Meg noticed a butterfly at home while going through the IVF.

He said on The Laughs of Your Life: "I said it in the book, when we were going through the injection part of it at the start there was a butterfly in the house for the first couple of weeks. I think we were doing it for three weeks or so, and there was a butterfly in the house."

The Galway GAA legend also noticed a butterfly in the church on day he married Megan almost two years ago.

He said: "When we got married, we got married on the 25th of November, and in the church there was a butterfly. It was really strange, because in November there is no chance of butterflies around.

"Father Tommy was talking about Mam, and the next thing everyone is just looking up behind him at the altar, and then there was a butterfly.

"We had the presence of mam being there on our wedding day and then through our fertility part."

The RTÉ pundit continued: "But, the second we got the positive news, that Meg was pregnant, it was gone out of the house."

Joe is really adapting to life as a dad and there is nothing more he loves than seeing little Josie smiling up him.

He said: "It’s brilliant. She’s deadly. She’s four months old now. It was special... her name... mam passed and mam is Josephine so that’s why we picked the name Josie. It’s a bit old school.

"She’s getting her own little attitude and stuff like that but she’s great.

"Put it this way, you think you love something but there is a deeper love when your kid comes along. It’s more than loving anybody else.

"When she smiles it is the best feeling ever."

Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts.