Ann Carroll

If anyone knows about the benefits of sport, it is Ann Carroll.

She played in five All-Ireland senior inter-county camogie finals, with two different counties in the 1970s, and won two (1974 and ‘76).

Now, she is one those pioneering new age kurling, a non-ice version of the Winter Olympic sport of curling, which can be played in halls anywhere in the country.

Taking part has reminded Ann of everything she loves about sport – exercise, fun and friendship.

Ann (now 73) captained and top scored for Tipperary in her first final (1965), but, when her family moved across the border she became a stalwart of the legendary Kilkenny team which made its breakthrough in 1974.

“I actually played in six finals, because the 1974 decider went to a replay,” said Ann. “I must have some sort of record because I played in six different positions in six finals, and that was when camogie was a 12-a-side game!”

Ann also won six All-Ireland club medals, two with St Patrick’s Glengoole in Tipperary (1965 and ’66), and four more with St Pauls, Kilkenny, famously bagging four goals for the latter in the 1968 decider.

She still attends the All-Ireland club finals annually without fail, not least because the trophy, the Bill and Agnes Carroll Cup, was donated by her father.

By the time Ann moved to Donegal to teach in 1975, her playing days were almost over due to persistent knee problems.

She immediately took up coaching at Loreto Letterkenny Girls’ Secondary School, where she taught for 33 years, and with Donegal, going on to become a director of camogie’s national coaching programme.

The retired maths teacher’s enthusiasm for camogie and sport remains as warmly infectious as ever, and lifelong volunteerism still rewards her.

“Our Loreto camogie past-pupils still get together for lunch every Christmas and I am usually the last to leave.

“It is marvellous to have that sort of camaraderie, that’s what sport does for you. For any child leaving Donegal for work or education, if they have a sport, they are never going to suffer socially. It is just a great passport for life.”

Ann had major surgery for oesophageal cancer nine years ago which has compromised her mobility, but has not dimmed her positivity.

“I was lucky. They got it early and it never crossed my mind I would not make it, but the operation was very severe.

“I have persistent digestive problems, but I always think to myself that I am alive and can do everything I want.”

That includes the new sport she took up in her 70s.

New age kurling is a version of the Winter Olympic (in which it is played on ice) sport of curling, played indoors by rolling ‘stones’ towards a target mat with the hand or a broom-like handle.

“The stone is made from heavy plastic, rolls on ball-bearings and has a handle on top. Some people simply throw the stone, others can get down on one knee to push it but, with my knee injury I cannot, so I use the pusher. You play with a group of 12, in three teams of four. Games are the best of nine wins, so everyone gets to take part".

“We play in local halls. Every village in Ireland has a suitable facility of some sort so you can play it anywhere.”

Ann plays for her village Manorcunningham and is reportedly one of the hot shots of the East Donegal New Age Kurling League.

Started by Karen Guthrie of the Donegal Sports Partnership in 2014, with just three teams initially, it now has 120 registered players.

“I would not consider myself great now,” Ann insists.

“I am not half as competitive as I was at camogie, but I am often put on last because if there is something in the way, I will clear it,” she laughs.

“The hand-eye co-ordination from camogie probably stands to me, but I am actually hopeless on judging the length

“I can be short or long but I am nearly always straight! Everyone has to walk up and down to collect their own stones. We practise once-a-week and usually go together in a couple of cars to our matches, so it is very social.

“It is a game that really suits older people, 90-year-olds can play it and be very good at it,” she enthuses

“Even someone with mobility issues can produce great shots which win games.”

COVID may have stymied them in 2020, but the East Donegal kurlers can’t wait to resume regular action, for all the reasons this ex-camogie star outlines.

“People of any age can play and be just as good as the next person. We fall apart laughing at times and always finish with tea and cake.

“Our team goes for an outing every year and also has a Christmas dinner. We really have a great social life through it.”