Having retired from Kerry football after a glittering career, Aidan O’Mahony has swapped his boots for Cuban heels on Dancing With The Stars and two-stepped his way into the hearts and homes of the nation.

However, as well as tearing up the dancefloor every Sunday night, he and his wife Denise Healy are looking forward to welcoming their first baby in the coming weeks, while also putting the finishing touches to their new home in the countryside.

And considering that Aidan is fitting rehearsals around his work as a garda and his studies for a degree in strength and conditioning, life is busier than ever for the farmer’s son.

In next week’s Irish Country Living, Aidan and Denise will share their Dancing With The Stars journey as well as their hopes for the next chapter in their lives, but here is a sneak preview ahead of his waltz with partner Valeria Milova this Sunday night, live on RTÉ One at 6.30pm.

The voting lines will open on the show once all the dancers have performed. To support Aidan, text Aidan to 53125 or call 1513 71 71 01, stating Aidan’s name.

Aidan on his farming roots

“My dad would have had cattle and sheep when I was growing up, so I suppose going to a country school, I would have been involved in it myself and it’s actually funny now to think back on that and then seeing the ‘country’ lad above Dancing With The Stars.”

Denise on the strength of their relationship

“Myself and Aidan have been through a lot: we lost three parents really since we’ve been together. We’ve come through all those hard times, and we just appreciate everything.”

Aidan on swapping his football boots for dancing shoes

“Being from a sporting background, you kind of think you should pick it up straight away and it doesn’t happen that way a lot.

“But it’s a good thing because it mentally challenges you a lot and it takes you outside of your comfort zone, whereas on the football field I would have been very comfortable.”

Denise on the public support in Kerry

“The unity in Kerry is unreal and the support and they’re so genuine: they really know how to pick somebody up.”

Aidan on coming back stronger this week after the judges’ criticism

“It’s like picking up a paper on a morning and you play a match and you get a rating of five and someone has a cut off you: you go back training the following week, you work harder again.

“I think life is like that. It’s all about hurdles and how you get over them or around them and it’s about proving people wrong; and the dancing is no different.”

Aidan on retirement from Kerry football

“I said to myself if I was to come back with Kerry, you’d need to be doing it 110% and you have to have your priorities as well. We have a baby on the way, we’ve our house and that wasn’t the reason, but it’s like I’m 37 years of age this year and I’m getting older and I think the one thing I always say about Kerry is you’re judged on your last game, so I didn’t know what I had to offer them.

“I think Éamonn (Fitzmaurice) would have thought, ‘He’d give the young lads guidance’, which I’d have no problem doing, but at the same time, I’d hate to be there in June and Éamonn coming up to me saying, ‘Do you know you didn’t make the first 15, you didn’t make the first 24,’ and I’d be telling myself, ‘Maybe you should have walked away the start of the year?’

“But I just thought it was the right time.”

On what will happen if the baby decides to arrive during the live show!

Denise: “Well, I think he’ll prioritise that!”

Aidan: “The baby comes first and Denise comes first!”

Don’t miss next week’s Irish Country Living for the full interview with Aidan and Denise.