THE WOMEN’S WORLD CUP
This is a story about the World Cup. It is also a story about my wife. When myself and Leanne met, I didn’t work in sport - but I watched it on TV non-stop, supported it any chance I’d get, and played it a lot. About a fortnight after our first date, I was...
BE THERE FOR THE JOURNEY – NOT JUST THE DESTINATION.
In the summer of 2018, we witnessed one of the greatest achievements in the history of Irish sport. Not Irish women’s sport – Irish SPORT. In order to fully appreciate the Irish hockey squad’s incredible achievement of reaching a World Cup Final, it is essential to take the three years that preceded the tournament into account. The journey to the podium was one which began in the Spanish city of Valencia, on June 18th 2015…
LEARNING TO SWIM AGAIN
In October 2018, I attended a conference hosted by Swim Ireland. #WePlay: Inspiring Girls In Sport is an annual event for female athletes of all ages and abilities, exploring the areas of body image, health and wellbeing. I went as a journalist, keen to hear athlete...
The Moment That Made Me: GRACE WALSH
Grace Walsh is not someone you’d want to see lining out opposite you on a Camogie pitch. The 25-year-old Tullaroan woman has become an integral piece of Ann Downey’s Kilkenny defence; a corner-back with pace to burn, and the ability to turnover and launch the next...
The Moment That Made Me: MICHAELA WALSH
Michaela Walsh got her 2019 off to the perfect start by successfully defending her title at the National Elite Championships, her seventh national crown. Once again she was officially the woman to beat in the 57kg division. For the 25-year-old featherweight, it was...
The Moment That Made Me: NICOLE TURNER
Nicole Turner lit up the National Aquatic Centre in Dublin last August, claiming Ireland’s first medal of the World Para Swimming European Championships with silver in the 50m Butterfly. Her name has become synonymous with swimming, and success - at still only 16...
The Moment That Made Me: CIARA MAGEEAN
When Ciara Mageean crossed the finish line in Glasgow’s Emirates Arena, claiming a bronze medal in the 1500m showdown at the European Athletics Indoor Championships, the small town of Portaferry in Co Down rejoiced. Their local sporting heroine had added another major...
The Moment That Made Me: LEAH LYONS
To watch Leah Lyons go into battle for Ireland on the rugby pitch, it’s no surprise that she grew up with the game. The 24-year-old front-rower has risen through the ranks of club, provincial and international competition to become one of the strongest assets in Irish...
The Moment That Made Me: MEGAN FRAZER
Megan Frazer is the kind of player that you’ll always remember when and where you saw her in action for the first time. Fast-tracked to the Irish senior national team setup at age 17, her talent has taken her from the University of Maryland to Mannheimer, and has been...
The Moment That Made Me: AILISH CONSIDINE
In September 2018, Clare dual-star Ailish Considine took a flight to Melbourne to take part in the CrossCoders International Rookie Camp. It was a journey that would ultimately lead to her becoming a professional athlete, as she was snapped up by AFLW side Adelaide...