A HUNKY former football player has told how a string of family tragedies has inspired him to become a priest.

Niall McDonagh's journey to find faith all began when he almost lost his leg due to a horrific sports injury.

6 Fr Niall McDonagh reveals how he found his faith after a sports injury when he almost lost his leg Credit: FACEBOOK: COLM FLYNN

Just a few months later, Niall's world came crashing down again when his beloved brother Bernard took his own life at 22.

Shortly after that, his cousin, Galway hurler Niall Donohue also died by suicide. And just when Niall believed he was at his lowest point, his father lost his cancer battle.

Struggling to cope with his grief, Niall admits he had no other choice but to turn to God.

The 34-year-old, from Galway city, said on RTE's Nationwide with journalist Colm Flynn on Wednesday night: "My number one priority in life at that time was sport and that's where I used to get all of my happiness from.

6 Fr Niall started to volunteer with missionaries around the world

6 Fr McDonagh's cousin Galway hurler Niall Donohue died by suicide in October 2013 Credit: Sportsfile - Subscription

"I remember after I got injured playing soccer, the surgeon walking into the room saying, 'look Niall, worst case scenario, we're going to have to amputate your leg'.

"And for me at the time, being very vain and caught up in my appearance and basically being very superficial, that sort of news was like a knife to the heart.

"Nine months later, I had to deal with the death of my older brother. When you go through these tragic events in your life, you have to make a decision.

"I couldn't change my circumstances, so in many ways, I was forced to change myself.

6 The former footballer struggled with his grief after the loss of his dad, brother and cousin

"One of my late brother's belongings was his Bible and so late at night, for whatever reason, I began to read the scriptures and I started to develop a relationship with God."

Serious about his faith, Niall started to volunteer with missionaries around the world.

Impressed with their charitable work, he then quit his job as a guidance counsellor in Dublin and moved to New York to volunteer with the homeless and drug addicts.

6 The priest moved to New York to help the homeless

And driven to help people during their darkest hour, Niall then took it one step further and decided to join a seminary.

He said: “I know that my time is limited, everything around me is temporary, so I want to try and use this time in the best way that I can, and there’s no better way than serving God."

While in New York, Niall split his time between training to be a priest and helping vulnerable communities in The Bronx.

Opening up about his path to faith on Nationwide on Wednesday night, he said helping the less fortunate is very satisfying.

6 He also added that his faith has not been impacted by the scandals of the Church

He said: "Although people don't have much here and there's a lack of opportunities, the humanity is beautiful."

Despite decades of abuse scandals within the Catholic church, he insists his faith has not been rocked.

He said: "Me more than anyone, I'm heartbroken over a lot of stuff that went on, some of it was brutal, but at the same time, if anything it only strengthens my mission."

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Niall has now taken a break from studying in the seminary in New York to return home.

He added: "My walk with Christ has been nothing short of an adventure, there's been lots of ups and also lots of downs. I've made the decision to move back to Ireland for the short term, I'm keeping an open heart."

IF you need to talk to Pieta House, www.pieta.ie, contact 1800 247 247 or call The Samaritans on 116 123.