HAVING agonised over his decision for weeks, an emotional Tadhg Kennelly finally conceded the time was right to retire from the Sydney Swans at the end of this season.

The first Irishman to ever win an AFL premiership, a feat he achieved in 2005 when he famously danced a jig on the victory dais, Kennelly will play out the season before heading into retirement.

Earlier this season Kennelly spoke of his desire to play on for at least one more season, but he has struggled for form over the latter half of the year and finally had to admit to himself the time was right.

"It's been a difficult decision. The last couple of weeks I've been battling with myself to figure out whether to play on or not," Kennelly told a packed press conference filled with his teammates.

"But I've decided I'm in a good place at the moment and I'm quite happy to go out at the end of the season.

"I'm looking forward to playing Brisbane on the weekend and going deep into September."

Kennelly arrived at the Swans as a 17-year-old Gaelic footballer who knew little about Australian football.

But he worked incredibly hard at his task and has since played 194 games.

He returned home in 2009 and fulfilled a lifelong dream by helping Kerry win the All-Ireland Gaelic football championship before returning to Sydney last season.

This year has been a grind for Kennelly and he was dropped in round 22, before earning a reprieve against Geelong last weekend.

He said if he had made the decision to retire earlier, he would have been more relaxed and his form might have improved.

"There was some anguish and mental stress I've been putting myself under and worrying about it," he said.

"Hindsight is a wonderful thing and I wish I'd made the decision earlier. It would've helped my performance.

"It was extremely emotional (telling my teammates). It's a very hard thing to do.

"You don't want to give it away, you just want to play football with your mates.

"It was extremely difficult and something I don't want to do again.

"The boys have been great and that's what I'm going to miss most."

Kennelly is undecided about his exact plans after football, but it is likely he will remain in Australia and is keen for a career in the media.

"It's a pretty easy gig. Ask a few questions and go have some lattes in Coogee afterwards," he joked.

"That's what I want to do after footy."

But he leaves the game proud of what he has achieved, with some clear highlights.

"Probably doing that jig in 2005 was a pretty good highlight," he said.

"There's been quite a few.

"I think the main one is just people I've met and mates I've made.

"On field success is great but it's the relationships you have which are fantastic.

"It's been an unbelievable journey and an unbelievable ride and something I would do again.

"I came out as a 17-year-old knowing nothing about the game, 15,000 kilometres away from your family.

"It was hard, but the more you put into it the more you get out of it."