Waterford hurler Dessie Hutchinson's life in UK, famous family, relationships and age

Dessie Hutchinson has enjoyed a busy life in GAA since swapping his budding football career in England to come home and play hurling.

In his four years back in Waterford he has won four Waterford county titles, one Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship and an All-Ireland club championship. He also played in an All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship final.

Here, we take a look at his busy sporting career across Ireland and England, his well-known family and his life away from the pitch.

Waterford Career

Dessie, aged 28, was called into Waterford county hurling panel in 2023 after moving home. He was part of the team that reached the 2020 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final in Croke Park.

The Deise were on the losing end of Limerick's second win in three years.

He was part of the Waterford team that won the National Hurling League 1B title in 2025.

Life in England

Dessie made the decision move to England in 2015 to pursue a professional soccer career after years of underage success at home.

While based in the UK he played alongside Jayson Molumby at Brighton. He played for the youth set up between 2015 and 2017 before moving on to the adult side.

He was also invited for trials with Dundee and Sheffield United.

While growing up he balanced the two sports that he loved and the teacher played hurling for Ballygunner and soccer for Bohemians FC Waterford.

He made four appearances for the Republic of Ireland U19 team, scoring a goal against Azerbaijan.

Hurler Dessie Hutchinson (Ballygunner, Waterford) pictured at the launch of this year’s AIB Club Championships which for the first season sees a single sponsor unite four codes of Gaelic Games, honouring #TheToughest players (Image: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan)

Family Life

Dessie his the younger brother of hurling legends Wayne and JJ Hutchinson. The trio have all played together for their local club Ballygunner, where they have had incredible success.

"It's unbelievable, it was always in the back of my mind to come back and to just be out there with all of the lads, my two brothers, my mother and father, my sisters, another brother, girlfriend, the whole lot, it's just unbelievable," he said after a county final win.

"I look up to Wayne and JJ. Wayne was going into his 17th county final there so the experience of that was unbelievable and JJ coming on rallying us, it's great to be involved with the two of them and it's probably the best day I've ever had in sport. I've done a lot, I've played for my country, went away, everything, but that was special."

Dessie has no regrets about leaving England to return home to Waterford to play GAA thanks to his big medal hauls over the last few clubs seasons.

The 28 year old told SunSport: "I was only talking to Pauric Mahony about this the other day.

"We had a few drinks over in Portugal and we talked about how, in four years playing senior hurling, I have won one Munster club and one All-Ireland.

"I have lost the Munster club final, I have lost the Munster final with Waterford, I have lost an All-Ireland final with Waterford and I have lost an All-Ireland semi-final with Waterford.

"It is a lot to take in in four years. It has been brilliant."

Life Away From Hurling

After coming back to Ireland Dessie started studying Business and Religious Studies degree in MIC Thurles. He graduated from the college last year.

His sporting commitments mean it is hard to get a perfect work/life balance, especially because Ballygunner's success means that the season goes right through winter.

"You're going all year round," he told the Irish Examiner. "It's a good complaint to have, when you know you're doing well with your club and you're going from one season to another.

"But I'd like to see something done about it anyway in terms of a month where there might be nothing at all for teams, whether it's club or county.

"That's easier said than done too, in terms of the schedule, but it definitely does have an impact on the body. I'm probably at it now five years where there's been no real pre-season or anything like that.

"It's tough and when you go back to your county team, you're kind of behind in terms of your fitness because you're maintaining the one fitness level all year round. You need that break to get right back into proper shape, leading into an inter-county championship."

Girlfriend and Relationships

Dessie stepped out with Kellie Manning for the 2022 GAA/GPA All-Star awards in the convention centre in Dublin. The pair were pictured together on the red carpet.

It is not known if he is currently in a relationship.