Greg Cunningham relishing hometown life with Galway United

As the saying goes, home is where the heart is and for former Republic of Ireland international Greg Cunningham, it was always going to be a case of Galway calling.

Seventeen years after the Mervue United graduate signed for Manchester City to kickstart a long stint in the English game, the 34-year-old returned to his home county last July to join Galway United and add the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division side to a CV that already read Leicester, Nottingham Forest, Bristol City, Cardiff City, Blackburn Rovers and Preston North End.

The latter club would mark Cunningham's final staging post in England between 2021 and June 2024. But the chance to move to Galway United had already been brewing in the background, as manager John Caulfield told RTÉ Sport at Wednesday's launch of the new League of Ireland season.

"The conversation happened probably 12 months before that because he is a Galway lad, his wife is from Galway and the view was that he was looking at coming home at some point and it was trying to get him to come home as soon as possible," said Caulfield of a player who has already assumed the captain's armband.

Cunningham had the second half of last season to acquaint himself with the LOI and life back out west and he couldn't be happier with his decision as he prepares for his first full campaign at Eamonn Deacy Park during 2025.

"I've settled in nicely. From a personal point of view, it's great to be back, family is enjoying life in Galway again after being away for so long and on the football front it's been a breathe of fresh air. I'm enjoying the challenges and the adventure we're having at Galway United," he told RTÉ Sport at the launch in Dublin's Mansion House.

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