Celebrating The Best of Women In Sport In Westmeath

It’s Women In Sport Week 2023!!!

As part of Women in Sport Week, the Westmeath Sports Partnership asked some of the clubs and groups working in the county to highlight women working to promote sport and activity at various levels.

We wanted to hear from the ladies who set up the cones before training, to someone who has been a leading force since year one, and everyone in between.

Sport Ireland have nominated a specific theme for each day each day during Women in Sport Week, from High Performance and Coaching and Officiating, to Leadership and Governance to Active Participation.

With this in mind, we contacted several clubs who nominated some absolute heroes to answer our questionnaire and reveal their sporting heroes and how best they feel women can be retained in sport.

Thank you so much to everyone who took part, and if you need more information on some of the Women In Sport week events happening locally or further afield, you will find all the details here:

Geraldine Fogarty Athlone Sub Aqua Club

Name: Geraldine Fogarty.

Club / Group: Athlone Sub Aqua Club

Sport / Activity: Diving/Watersports.

Area of Involvement Leadership & Governance and Active Participation.

Q1: What are your earliest memories of playing or being involved with sport?

I grew up in the country where there was no involvement in water sports. My earliest memories of playing sport is heading to the local GAA pitch to train for camogie, walking the 4 miles there, training for approx an hour and then walking the 4 miles home.

Q2: Who was your sporting hero growing up?

I didn’t have any particular hero, apart from the best player on the pitch. I grew up in the era where the only social media was the radio, and the local and county teams were the heroes; you grew up wishing you were as good as the best on the pitch.

Q3: What do you enjoy most about being involved in sport / physical activity?

Sport / physical activity creates a bond with like-minded people and gives a great sense of well-being.

Q4: How do you think more women can be encouraged to participate and remain in sport and physical activity?

You can encourage women to participate and remain in sport/physical activity by being involved yourself, becoming a role model, having a ‘can do attitude’ and supporting other women.

Q5: What is the best way to try, or get involved with, your sport?

The best way to get involved in Athlone Sub Aqua Club is to just turn up at our training sessions in the Regional Sports Centre, beginning in November for pool training. Everyone is welcome, but we could do with additional women participation. Diving is a non-competitive sport, anyone wishing to join is guaranteed massive support and welcome from both the male and female instructors and members.

Clare O’Brien Leinster and Mullingar Rugby

Name: Clare O’Brien.

Club / Group: Mullingar Rugby Club/ Leinster Rugby.

Sport / Activity: Rugby.

Area of Involvement: Coaching & Officiating.

Q1: What are your earliest memories of playing or being involved with sport?

My most vivid childhood memory is running for St. Joseph’s Secondary School in Santry. I remember competing in the long jump and the 100m and 100m relay race.

Q2: Who was your sporting hero growing up?

I always enjoyed watching Sonia O’Sullivan race. At the time she was paving the way for other young female athletes.

Q3: What do you enjoy most about being involved in sport / physical activity?

Apart from being involved with other people as a social outlet, I love the way sport can release any negative energy that you may have. You always feel good after a bit of exercise. 

Q4: How do you think more women can be encouraged to participate and remain in sport and physical activity?

A buddy system is always good; if you have someone that will encourage you to go even when you don’t feel like it. In turn, you can also encourage your buddy. Hopefully, the coaches can add an element of fun to their sessions. Also, some regular team bonding should help.

Q5: What is the best way to try, or get involved with, your sport?

Mullingar run ´Give it a Try´ evenings for girls to come out to the club to see if they like rugby. I actually got involved by playing Tag Rugby. It is a non-contact version of rugby but you still learn the basic rules. It is a nice social event that runs through the summer months at the Mullingar rugby club. When Tag finished, I missed it so much that I gave contact rugby a go. 

Veronica Kiernan Brownstown GAA Club

Name: Veronica Kiernan.

Club / Group: Children’s officer at Brownstown GAA club.

Sport / Activity: Camogie, Football, Hurling.

Area of Involvement Leadership & Governance.

Q1: What are your earliest memories of playing or being involved with sport?

Playing under 12 camogie for Lough Lene Gaels.

Q2: Who was your sporting hero growing up?

My Dad.

Q3: What do you enjoy most about being involved in sport / physical activity?

The fresh air and the friends you make. I also the challenge and competitiveness involved in sport but also allowing you to be come fitter and healthier.

Q4: How do you think more women can be encouraged to participate and remain in sport and physical activity?

Making all women’s sports more visible to the public would be a great place to start.

Q5: What is the best way to try, or get involved with, your sport?

Brownstown Hurling Club have a Facebook page and St Paul’s GAA Club Clonmellon is also on Facebook here.

Katie Gilligan Miltown Ladies

Name: Katie Gilligan.

Club / Group: Milltown Ladies GAA.

Sport / Activity: Ladies Football.

Area of Involvement: Active Participation.

Q1: What are your earliest memories of playing or being involved with sport?

Travelling to games with my friends and playing with the school team and competing in Cuman na mBunscol.

Q2: Who was your sporting hero growing up?

My dad, Rory O Connell and Dessie Dolan. I also admired older female players in the club.

Q3: What do you enjoy most about being involved in sport / physical activity?

When I was younger I would have said the competition and taking part in games and winning. In reality, and now that I am older, I really appreciate the friendships I made from playing GAA from all across the county and not just within my club.

Q4: How do you think more women can be encouraged to participate and remain in sport and physical activity?

You need to get them young in their schools. They need to see the value of winning and losing and experience that as part of being a team. First and second year of secondary school is where most young girls drop sport and showing girls that being strong and athletic is attractive and something that opens doors for you is important!

Parental involvement is so important too. If you do not have the support from your parents at home, it is very difficult to stay with any sport to a high level.

Q5: What is the best way to try, or get involved with, your sport?

Take a trip down to the local GAA pitch and just have a go. 

Gemma Kiely Athlone Boat Club

Name: Gemma Kiely.

Club / Group: Athlone Boat Club.

Sport / Activity: Rowing.

Area of Involvement: Coaching.

Q1: What are your earliest memories of playing or being involved with sport?

Learning to swim and playing basketball at school. Also, we played rounders in our neighbourhood.

Q2: Who was your sporting hero growing up?

Steffi Graf.

Q3: What do you enjoy most about being involved in sport / physical activity?

I enjoyed playing with friends; I loved the competition side of it too and I loved trying new things. One thing I really enjoyed was the summer camps that used to happen when I was younger. It meant you got to try lots of new sports such as gymnastics, trampolining and unihoc.

Q4: How do you think more women can be encouraged to participate and remain in sport and physical activity?

I do think that groups catering for only women, and or older women really helps. Some women lose their confidence in their ability as they get older and have children; being supported by women at a similar stage can help.

Q5: What is the best way to try, or get involved with, your sport?

Keep an eye for our new adult beginners rowing courses; it’s a new departure for our club but it is proving to be very popular.

Sarah Rockett Athlone Boat Club (Gemma’s daughter)

Name: Sarah Rockett.

Club / Group: Athlone Boat Club.

Sport / Activity: Rowing.

Area of Involvement: Junior member; Active Particpation.

Q1: What are your earliest memories of playing or being involved with sport?

Doing gymnastics at a summer camp, playing basketball and doing my swimming lessons.

Q2: Who was your sporting hero growing up?

Simone Biles.

Q3: What do you enjoy most about being involved in sport / physical activity?

I like spending time with friends and meeting new people at competitions from all over the country. I like getting better and faster at rowing and I really like being on the river.

Q4: How do you think more women can be encouraged to participate and remain in sport and physical activity?

Some drop out when friends drop out, or, when it takes up too much time, especially at weekends. Try and find a group of like-minded people who want to stay in it.

Q5: What is the best way to try, or get involved with, your sport?

Try a beginners camp to see if you like it and bring some friends who might be interested in trying it too so you can build a crew.

Neda Insodaite Mullingar Canoe Polo

Name: Neda Insodaite

Club / Group: Mullingar Canoe Polo Club.

Sport / Activity: Canoe Polo.

Area of Involvement: High Performance.

Q1: What are your earliest memories of playing or being involved with sport?

One of my favourite memories when I started canoe polo is a competition in Enniskillen in County Fermanagh. I remember competing and winning our division, but I think the best part of the event was definitely the environment as it was really positive.

Q2: Who was your sporting hero growing up?

My sporting hero must be my dad. He was the one that got me into this sport and has kept me extremely motivated throughout this whole time. He also puts in a lot of effort for me and the club, which I do really appreciate.

Q3: What do you enjoy most about being involved in sport / physical activity?

My favourite part of being involved are the competitions. I love seeing my friends and meeting new people from different countries. I also love the travelling aspect of the sport as it gets the team more closer together and we get tighter bonds with one another.

Q4: How do you think more women can be encouraged to participate and remain in sport and physical activity?

I think that women should put themselves out there and try out some physical activities that they may find interesting, and to also not be afraid to try them out. I also think that if women started participating in sport, they can then act a role model to younger girls to even maybe encourage them to start physical activity.

Q5: What is the best way to try, or get involved with, your sport?

Like I have said before if anyone is interested in canoe polo that they shouldn’t be afraid to put themselves out there and try the sport. Being in this sport can bring out the greatest experiences and close connections with other people involved in the sport.