The women of GAA are undeniably people who we can all look up to and admire. Their passion and their commitment to their sport deserves to be applauded. On top of that, they have achieved some pretty incredible things! So, take a bow ladies!
We look at some of the inspirational leading ladies who have broken boundaries when it comes to GAA.
Sarah Carey
The Limerick Camogie captain is currently one of the fiercest players on the field. Sarah is inspirational to all, as she juggles captainship, studying, and being a mum to her little boy Nicky.
She showed her passion and dedication to Camogie when she revealed in an Off the Bench interview that she lined out for the Limerick team last year, just four weeks after giving birth! Incredible!
Sinead Aherne
Sinead Aherne is the current captain of the Dublin Senior Ladies Football who won back to back All-Ireland titles this year.
She is one of the most experienced and acclaimed footballers in the country. She has heaps of experience under her belt having debuted for the Dubs back in 2003, she now leads them out in every game as captain.
The Downey Twins
Ann and Angela Downey are from the dynasty of Kilkenny Camogie and these two camogie stars helped Kilkenny achieve numerous titles during their careers. From 1974 to 1999, Kilkenny won 12 All Ireland Senior Camogie titles, and the sisters were central to these wins.
Angela famously boycotted a ‘Team of the Century’ presentation in protest at the absence of her twin sister from the team. Ann is the current manager for Kilkenny Camogie Senior Team!
Rena Buckley
Rena Buckley announced her retirement from Camogie and Football earlier this year, and she left on a high. As a dual player for Cork, she collected a massive 18 All-Ireland medals during her career. In terms of GAA history, she is only person to have this many All-Ireland titles.
As well as that, she has collected 5 All-Stars and was awarded Irish Sportswoman of the Year in 2015. A true living legend.
Professor Agnes O’Farrelly
A matriarch of the Camogie Association and an all-around remarkable woman. She was not only a writer, a professor, a Gaelic scholar but also one of the forerunners for women’s rights.
She became president of the Camogie Association in 1935 and she led the first meeting of the UCD Camogie Club, and became its first president until her death in 1951. . During a time when the Camogie Association had to fight for recognition and acceptance, Agnes was a leader and all-around champion of Camogie.
Cora Staunton
A true legend of Ladies Gaelic football. Cora joined the Mayo Senior Ladies team when she was only 13, and made her first appearance in an All-Ireland Final in 1999. With a career spanning 19 years, her honours are incredible. They include 11 All-Stars, 4 All-Ireland medals with Mayo and 5 All-Ireland medals with her club Carnachon.
In 2017, she made the move to Australia, as she become the first international player to be signed to an AFL Women’s List. She’s also won an FAI Women’s Cup in soccer and a Connacht Women’s League in rugby.
Her book ‘Game Changer’ is due out later this month and we already can’t wait to get our hands on it!