Changing the GameIRISH WOMEN IN SPORT 2000 - 2015

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F O R E W O R D BY J O H N T R E AC Y C E O S P O R T I R E L A N D

Irish sportswomen continue to excel on the world stage and are a source of great celebration, inspiration and pride to us all. The success of Irish sportswomen on the track, the ring, the road and the water represent the most successful ‘sustained’ period in the history of high performance sport in Ireland.

“Changing The Game - Irish Women in Sport” documents the success of Irish women in sport from the period 2000 to 2015. Its captivating images demonstrate what it really takes to compete at the highest level. From Olympians to inspirational captains and to national champions, these elite sportswomen have excelled across a multitude of sports and continue to be an inspiration to young people across the country.

Increasing women’s participation in sport is a key strategic priority. The 2013 Irish Sports Monitor reports that almost 43% of women are regularly taking part in sport; this is the highest

recorded participation rate for women since the ISM was introduced in 2007 and has resulted in a signi�cant narrowing of the gender gap. Participation in sport in Ireland continues to grow to an unprecedented level and we will endeavour to see this positive trend continue.

Ireland’s sportswomen have made an immense contribution to Irish sport through their sporting achievements. In order to continue the success story of Irish women in sport, Sport Ireland will continue to develop, foster and promote women’s sport through the work of the National Governing Bodies and Local Sports Partnerships.

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Sonia O’SullivanATHLETICS

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Cork Camogie Team

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Leann Fennelly & Anna GearyCAMOGIE

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Katie PowerCAMOGIE

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Ashling ThompsonCAMOGIE

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Katie TaylorBOXING

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Camilla SpeirsEQUESTRIAN

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Aoife ClarkEQUESTRIAN

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Chloe MageeBADMINTON

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Nina CarberryHORSE RACING

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Katie WalshHORSE RACING

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Sycerika McMahonSWIMMING

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Fiona CoghlanRUGBY

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Ailis Egan, Gillian Bourke & Fiona CoughlanRUGBY 27

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Stephanie RocheSOCCER

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Monika DukarskaROWING

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Sanita PuspureROWING

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Ceire SmithBOXING32

Michaela WalshBOXING

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Derval O’RourkeATHLETICS

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Grainne MurphySWIMMING

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Stephanie MeadowGOLF

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Lisa & Leona MaguireGOLF

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Hannah CraigCANOEING

Jenny EganCANOEING

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Jessie BarrATHLETICS

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Aoife O’SullivanSPECIAL OLYMPICS GYMNASTICS

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Rachel RyanSPECIAL OLYMPICS ATHLETICS

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Kelly ProperATHLETICS

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Maria McCambridgeATHLETICS

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Cecelia & Isobel JoyceCRICKET

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Isobel Joyce, Elena Tice, Kate Mc Kenna, Cecelia Joyce, Lucy O’ReillyCRICKET

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Ellen KeanePARALYMPICS SWIMMING

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Grainne & Niamh DwyerBASKETBALL

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Sinead Jennings & Claire LambeROWING

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Megan Frazer & Sarah Greene

HOCKEY

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Irish Womens Senior Hockey Team

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Orla BarryPARALYMPICS DISCUS

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Sarah ByrneSPECIAL OLYMPICS BASKETBALL

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Patrice DocheryPARALYMPIAN

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Niamh McCarthyPARALYMPICS DISCUS

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Niamh BriggsRUGBY

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Fionnuala BrittonATHLETICS

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Nikki SymmonsHOCKEY & CRICKET

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Natalya Coyle PENTATHLON

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Catherine Walsh & Fran MeehanPARALYMPICS CYCLING

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Caroline RyanCYCLING

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Annalise MurphySAILING

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Louise GalvinGAELIC FOOTBALL & RUGBY

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Aileen ReidTRIATHLON

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Aileen ReidTRIATHLON

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Nichole MahwinnyGYMNASTICS

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Aisling ReillyHANDBALL

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Cork Football TeamLADIES FOOTBALL

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Nollaig Cleary& Juliet MurphyLADIES FOOTBALL

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Briege CorkeryLADIES FOOTBALL

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Valerie MulcahyLADIES FOOTBALL

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Cora StauntonLADIES FOOTBALL

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Amy BowtellTENNIS

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Georgia DrummyTENNIS

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Fiona DoyleSWIMMING

Antoinette NeamtSWIMMING

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Fiona DoyleSWIMMING

Antoinette NeamtSWIMMING

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Lisa KearneyJUDO

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Catherina McKiernanATHLETICS

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Olive LoughnaneATHLETICS

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Deirdre MonganPARALYMPICS SHOT PUTT

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Ciara GrantSOCCER

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Sue RonanSOCCER COACH

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Ciara GrantSOCCER

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Irish u17 Womens Soccer Team

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Irish u17 Womens Soccer Team

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Ciara MageeanATHLETICS

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Sarah LavinATHLETICS

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Katie TaylorReigning Irish, European, World and Olympic boxing Champion 60 kgs.Olympics London 2012 Gold Medal.World Championships 5 Gold Medals.European Championships 6 Gold Medals.European Union 5 Gold Medals.AIBA boxer of the Year 2008, 2010, 2012.

Sonia O’SullivanSilver Medal Olympics 5000m Sydney 2000.Gold Medal World Championships Gothenburg 5000m 1995.Gold Medal European Championships 1994 Helsinki 3000m.Gold Medal European Championships 1998 Budapest 10000m.Gold Medal European Championships 1998 Budapest 5000m.Silver Medal European Championships 2002 Munich 5000m.Silver Medal European Championships 2002 Munich 10000m.Gold Medal World Cross Country 1998 Marrakesh 8 km.Gold Medal World Cross Country 1998 Marrakesh 4 km.

Cork Camogie Team26 All Ireland titles: Champions in 2015.

Anna Geary4 All-Ireland medals.2 All-Ireland club titles.4 All-Star awards.

Katie Power2 National League.3 All-Ireland Minor.4 Ashbourne Cup.5 Leinster Senior medals.

Ashling Thompson2 All-Ireland Senior titles.1 National League title.3 Munster Senior titles.2 All-Ireland Senior Club titles.

Camilla Spiers198th in the FEI World Eventing Athlete Rankings.Represented Ireland at the FEI World Equestrian games Normandy 2014.

Aoife ClarkAoife Clark is placed 57th in the FEI World Eventing Athlete Rankings.Won Branham CCI3 and Blenheim CCI3 in 2014.

Achievements

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Chloe MageeTwo Time Olympian 2008/2012.2015 European Games Bronze medallist.2014 Brazil Grand Prix Silver medal.2014 Greece Open Gold and Silver medallist.2012 Turkish International double Gold Medallist.2012 Russia White Knights silver medallist.2011 Lithuanian Open Double Gold Medallist.

Nina CarberryCheltenham Festival 5 winners.Irish Grand National (Organisedconfusion 2011).La Touche Cup (Punchestown) (Garde Champetre 2009, Good Step 2006).Grade 1 Punchestown Champion INH

Flat Race (Leading Run 2006, Mick The Man 2007).Aintree Foxhunters’ Chase (On The Fringe 2015).Cork Grand National (Penny Hall 2006).

Katie WalshCheltenham Festival (2 winners).Irish Grand National (Thunder And Roses 2015).Guinness Kerry National Handicap Chase (Your Busy 2014).Grade 2 Prix La Barka (Hurdle) (Thousand Stars 2014).Ladies Perpetual Cup (Wedger Pardy 2009).Gigginstown House Stud Point-to-Point

Risk Of Thunder Chase Punchestown (Never Compromise 2007 + 2006).

Marina 2006).Thalgo Ladies Derby Handicap (Cloneden 2005).

Sycerika McMahon

World University Games 2015.Irish Record Holder:Long Course Senior 100m FreestyleLong Course Junior 100m, 200m, 400m Free, 50m, 100m BreaststrokeShort Course Senior 50m, 100m Freestyle, 100m, 200m IMShort Course Junior 100m, 200m Freestyle, 50m, 100m, 200m

100m, 200m, 400m IM

Fiona Coghlan85 caps for Ireland.Led the Irish women’s rugby team as

Nations Championship.Captained Ireland at 2014 Rugby World Cup in France.

Stephanie RocheNominated for the FIFA Puskas Award for Goal of the Year in 2014.Republic of Ireland player.Plays for Sunderland.

Monika DukarskaWorld Coastal Rowing Champion of 2009.Bronze medalist at the World Coastal Rowing Championships in 2008.4th World University Games in the Single Scull in 2013.10th World Senior Rowing Championships in 2013 in the Women’s

Double Scull (Changjiu, South Korea).Two gold medals for Ireland at the Home International Regatta in 2012.Two Gold medals at the 2015 Piediluco Regatta in Italy.

Sanita PuspureIn the winning teams in the double and quad sculls Henley Women’s Regatta 2011.London Olympics 2012.4th place single sculls World Rowing Championships in Aiguebelette, France 2015.3rd place single sculls European Championships 2014.

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Ceire Smith2015 Ringside World Championship Gold Medal.5 Time National Senior Elite champion. 2015 Felix Stamm Multinationals Silver Medal.2015 European Games Azerbaijan top 8.

Michaela WalshNational Elite Champion 5 times.

European Youth Bronze Medalist.World Youth Bronze Medalist.Commonwealth Games Silver Medalist

Derval O’RourkeGold medal World Indoor Championships 2006 Moscow 60 m hurdles.Silver medal European Championships 2006 Gothenburg 100 m hurdles.Silver medal European Championships 2010 Barcelona 100 m hurdles.Bronze medal European Indoor Championships 2009 Turin 60 m hurdles.Bronze medal European Indoor Championships 2013 Gothenburg 60 m hurdles.

Grainne MurphyOlympic Games 2012.Silver medal at European Senior Championships 2010 in 1500 freestyle.

2 bronze medals at European Short Course Championships 2010 in 400 and

3 Gold medals and a Bronze at European Juniors 2009.Bronze medal at European Youth Olympics 2007.

Stephanie MeadowClinched a Curtis Cup victory for Great Britain and Ireland 2012.3rd in US Open in 2014.British Amateur Open 2013.

Leona Maguire20 Amateur titles and played in 2010 and 2012 Curtis Cup.Annika Award 2015.

Lisa Maguire2010 2012 Curtis Cup.European Ladies Amateur and Spanish Ladies Amateur champion 2011.

Hannah CraigLondon Olympics.

Jenny EganGold medal Senior Mixed K2

2015.4th K1 Senior Canoe Marathon World Championships, Gyor, Hungary 2015Irish Times/Irish Sports Council Sports Woman of the Month Award, August 2015.6th K1 5000m Senior Canoe Sprint

World Championships, Milan, Italy 2015.Bronze medal K1 5000m Senior Canoe Sprint European Championships 2015.

Descent 2014, 2013, 2012.

Jessie BarrOlympics London 2012 4x400m relay.World University Games Kazan 2013 400m Hurdles 6th Place.European Track and Field Championships Helsinki 2012 400m Hurdles 8th Place.

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Aoife O’Sullivan2006 Ireland Games – 1 gold medal in the Vault and 4 silver medals in Uneven Bars, Floor, the Balance Beam and the All-Around (Artistic).1 gold and 2 bronze medals Special Olympics in Los Angeles 2015.

Rachel Ryan2006 Ireland Games in Rome, Italy – bronze in 25M Breaststroke (Aquatics).2006 European Youth Games Rome, Italy – silver in 100M (Athletics).2009 Munster Regional Event The Mardyke, Cork – gold 100m (Athletics).2010 Ireland Games in Limerick – gold in 100M (Athletics), silver 4x100M Relay (Athletics) and bronze in 400M (Athletics).2013 Munster Regional Event, C.I.T, Cork

– gold in 100M (Athletics).2014 Ireland Games in Limerick – gold in 100M (Athletics) and bronze in 400M (Athletics).2015 World Summer Games in Los Angeles, California, U.S.A – gold in 400M (Athletics).

Kelly ProperWon 16 national indoor titles.Irish Heptathlon Record Holder.Irish indoor and outdoor long jump record holder.

Maria McCambridgeWon Dublin City Marathon 2013.Olympics 2004.

Isobel JoyceCurrent Ireland captain.Played over 100 times for Ireland.Represented Ireland at 2000 World Cup.Four European Championships 2001, 2009, 2012, 2014.Winner of International Womens Cricket Council Trophy 2003.

Cecilia JoyceWinner of International Womens Cricket Council Trophy 2003.Four European Championships 2001, 2009, 2012, 2014.

Ellen KeaneDouble Paralympian in Bejing 2008 and London 2012.

Three �nals in London Paralympics.IPC World Championships 2013 Montreal Double Bronze Medal 100m Butter�y,100m Breaststroke. IPC World Championships in Glasgow Bronze Medal 200IM.

Grainne Dwyer4 cup titles 5 league.up MVP 2014/2015.League MVP 2010/2014.Her.ie sportswoman of the year 2014.

Niamh DwyerAll Ireland National Cup Champions: 2008, 2009, 2014, 2015.Superleague Player of the Year: 2009, 2015.Cup �nal MVP: 2009.2009 and 2010 college player of the year.Intervarsity Champions with U.C.C. and MVP for both �nals.

Sinead JenningsWorld Championships 2015 Olympic quali�cation.World Championships 2008 Silver Medal.World Cup Poznan 2008 Silver Medal.World Championships 2006 Poznan Silver Medal.Milan World Cup 2002 Silver Medal.Vienna World Cup L2001 Gold Medal.

Claire LambeQuali�ed for Rio Olympics.World University Games 2012 Silver medal.National Champion Ireland Single Scull 2013, 2014.

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Megan FrazerPlayer of the Tournament Champions Challenge Glasgow 2014.Player of the Tournament World League 2 in Dublin 2015.Player of the Tournament Eurohockey Championships Prague 2015.

Sarah GreenIrish Times / Sports Council, Sports Woman of the Month (March 2014).Captained UCD to Irish Senior Cup.

Ireland Hockey TeamThey won World League 2 in Dublin.Beaten South Africa and USA, both ranked higher than them. Champions Eurohockey Championships II in Prague.

Orla BarryDouble Paralympian 2008, 2012.Bronze medallist London Olympics 2012.IPC European Championships 2014 Swansea Silver Medal.IPC European Championships 2013 Lyon Silver Medal.IPC European Championships 2012 Netherlands Gold Medal.IPC World Championships Doha 2015 Bronze Medal.

Sarah Byrne2009 Eastern Regional Event, Dublin gold medal.2010 Ireland Games, Limerick gold medal.2011 World Games, Athens, Greece gold medal.

2014 Ireland Games Limerick, Ireland gold medal.2015 World Games, Los Angeles, California gold medal.

Patrice DockeryHas competed for 29 years in several Paralympic Games.Carried Ireland �ag at 2008 Beijing Paralympics.Womens mini marathon winner 2008.

Niamh McCarthyCurrently ranked 3rd in the World. Bronze Medal discus (F41) IPC Paralympics Athletic World Championships Doha 2015.

Niamh Briggsscrumqueens.com World Player of the Year for 2013.Captain of Ireland team that won the 2015 Six Nations.Ireland Rugby Writers Women’s Player of the Year 2013.

Fionnuala BrittonGold Medal European Cross Country 2011, 2012.Bronze medal European Indoor Championships Gothenburg 2013.Team Gold European Cross Country 2012.

Natalya CoyleLondon Olympic 2012 9th place.Silver medal mixed relay World Cup 1 Palm Springs 2013.Bronze Medal in Hungarian Indoor Open 2015.Silver medal in mixed relay in World Cup 1 2015 Sarasota.Silver medal in mixed relay in World Cup 2 2015 Cario. Silver medal in mixed relay in World Cup �nal 2015 Minsk.

Nikki SymmonsFirst ever athlete to reach 200 caps.First ever female athlete to reach 208 caps. Inducted into the European Hockey Federation Hall of Fame.

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Catherine Walsh & Fran MeehanSilver medal in the Paracycling

Double bronze medal at the World Paracycling Championships 2011.Gold Medal in the Segovia leg of the 2011 Road World Cup.Gold at February’s World Track Championships in Los Angeles 2012.

Caroline RyanGold – Individual Pursuit, International Track Grand Prix 2015.

Championship 2015.Current holder of 6 national records.Gold Medal Omnium, International Track Grand Prix 2014.National Road Time Trial Champion 2014.

during 2013 season 2013.Bronze Medal World Championship Points Race 2012.

Annalise Murphy5th in ISAF World Cup 2015.Gold Medal Italian Olympic Week 2014.Gold Medal Laser Radial European Championships. 4th in London Olympics 2012.

Louise Galvin Kerry Womens Football.Ireland 7’s Rugby team.

Aileen ReidLondon Olympics 2012.2015 ITU World Triathlon London 4th.2015 Baku European Games 6th.2014 ITU World Triathlon Grand Final 5th.2012 ITU World Triathlon Madrid 2nd.2010 ITU World Triathlon Hamburg 3rd.

Nicole MawhinneyRepresented Ireland at Ireland at the World Championships.Junior & Senior European Championships.The European Games, and numerous World Cup events.

Aisling O’ReillyWorld Singles Champion 2012, 2015.World Doubles Champion 2015.All Ireland Singles Champion 2014, 2015.US Open Champion 2011, 2012, 2015.US Nationals Champion 2010, 2012, 2013.US Nationals Doubles Champion 2015.Irish Nationals Champion 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014.Golden Gloves Champion 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014.

Cork Football Team10 Senior Ladies Football Championships in last 11 years.9 National League Titles in last 11 years.

Briege Corkery6 All Ireland camogie medals in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2014 and 2015.9 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship medals in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.5 Camogie All Star awards.8 Ladies Football All Star Awards.

Valerie Mulcahy9 All Ireland Ladies Football medals.

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Cora Staunton9 All Star Awards.4 Senior InterCounty All Ireland titles.3 NFL Division 1 titles.15 Mayo County titles.14 Connacht Club Titles.5 All Ireland Club Titles.On the TG4 Team of the Decade.

Amy BowtellOn Ireland’s Federation Cup Team. ITF Pro circuit singles title (Estonia 2012).ITF titles 5 singles and 5 doubles.

Georgia DrummyHighest  ranked Irish player under 14 Tennis Europe no 23.Youngest Irish winner of under 18 ITF.

Fiona DoyleSilver medal at World University Games 2015 50m Breaststroke.Bronze and Rio 2016 Quali�cation 100m Breaststroke.Silver medal World University Games 2013 100m Breaststroke.Irish Record Holder: Long Course Senior 50m, 100m, 200m Breaststroke.Long Course Junior 50m Freestyle.Short Course Senior 100m, 200m Breaststroke.

Antoinette NeamtIrish Record Holder:Short Course Junior/Senior 1500m Freestyle 16:32.73.Short Course Junior 400m Freestyle 4:09.31.Relay: Long Course Junior/Senior 4x50m Medley Mixed 3:42.35.European Youth Olympics 2015 Silver 400m Freestyle Bronze 800m Freestyle.

Lisa KearneyOlympics London 2012.Cadet World Cup Gold Medalist.Junior World Cup Gold Medalist.Irish Judoka to qualify for the IJF World Masters (top 16 in the world).

Catherina McKiernanWorld Cross Country Championships.Silver medal 1992 Boston. Silver medal 1993 Amorebieta. Silver medal 1994 Budapest. Silver medal –1995 Durham.Gold medal EAA European Cross Country Championships Alnwick.World’s fastest debut marathon in 1997 winning Berlin marathon.Winner of London Marathon 1998 and Amsterdam Marathon 1998.

Olive LoughnaneFour Olympic Games 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012.Gold Medal World Championships 2009 Berlin. Silver medal World Championships 2003 Paris 20Km.

Deirdre MonganBronze Medal F53 Shot Put �nal IPC Paralympic Athletics World Championships Doha 2015. Ranked second in the World this year in shot putt F53 2015.

Ciara GrantCaptained Republic of Ireland Womens team for seven years.105 international Caps.Played for Arsenal’s women team.

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Sue Ronan22 caps for the Republic of Ireland.FAI Senior Women’s International Player of the Year in 1993.Republic of Ireland’s Women’s National Team manager.Head of Women’s Football at the FAI.

Ciara GrantPart of the successful Republic of Ireland U17 team in 2010 World Cup.Gained �rst senior cap against USA in November 2012.Women’s National League and FAI Women’s Senior Cup medals with Raheny United in 2012-13 and 2013-14.In 2013 and 2014 Cyprus Cup squads.

Irish Womens Soccer TeamRepublic of Ireland U17 team reached the World Cup Finals in Trinidad and Tobago in 2010.

Ciara MageeanEuropean Youth Olympics Champion 1500m 2009 Tampere Finland.European Junior Athletics Championships Silver medallist 1500m 2011 Tallinn Estonia.World Junior silver medallist 1500m 2010 Moncton, Canada.

Sarah LavinSilver Medal Junior Track and Field European Championships 2013 100m hurdles.Irish Junior record holder 60m and 200m.

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Billy Stickland Front Page(Pg 1), 4, 10, 11, 12, 23(1), 26

Ryan Byrne Pages 8, 41, 77(1), 96, 108

Morgan Treacy Pages 16, 17(2), 19, 20, 34, 35(2), 36, 37, 39, 47(2), 51, 56, 57, 60, 61, 65, 67, 72(2), 73, 76(1), 89, 90(2), 91, 98, 99, 100, 104(1)

Patrick Bolger Pages 5, 7, 48

Tom Honan Page 6

Cathal Noonan Pages 9, 25, 28, 29, 30, 31, 43, 54, 55, 71, 74, 76(1), 77(1), 78, 80, 81, 87, 94 102, 104(1)

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Dan Sheridan Pages 13, 14, 18, 22, 23(1), 27, 62(2), 63(2), 70, 75, 88, 97, 106, 110

James Crombie Pages 15, 32(2), 33, 44, 45, 49, 58, 59, 66, 79, 82, 83, 84, 85, 91, 92, 95, 96, 97, 116(back page)

Lorraine O’Sullivan Pages 21, 76(1), 81, 112

Giorgio Perottino Pages 24, 86

Valeriano Di Domenico Page 28

Andrea Staccioli Page 38

William Cherry Pages 40, 42(1)

Stephen McCarthy Pages 42(1)

Donall Farmer Pages 46, 50, 77(1), 92, 93, 114

Andrew Fosker Page 101

Ian MacNicol Pages 52, 53, 69

Sasa Pahic Szabo Page 64(2)

Greg Smith Page 68(2)

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Edited by Billy Stickland

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