Women in Sport Stories
![WIS Story Marian McHugh](/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2021-01/marianmchugh1.jpg?h=43048109&itok=OqQiiULb)
Marian McHugh
Marian went from couch to 5K, is now combining her job with a love of running and walking
![WIS Story Shirley Roche](/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2021-01/shirley-roche-9.jpg?h=dd59e096&itok=aHastb_M)
Shirley Roche
Shirley has come through a series of bereavements to tackle opponents less than half her age and has no plans to hang up her boots anytime soon
![WIS Story Tina Golden](/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2021-01/tina-golden1.jpg?h=25c60405&itok=3DCnyg1r)
Tina Golden
Tina is one of thousands of mothers around Ireland who form the backbone of local sports clubs
![WIS Story Michelle Cummins](/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2021-01/cummins6.jpg?h=4b474bb9&itok=V0q_Sml_)
Michelle Cummins
Despite not engaging in sport since the age of 16, Michelle has now run two marathons and clocked up numerous 5k, 10k and half marathons
![WIS Story Louise Killeen](/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2021-01/louise-killeen-10.jpg?h=435a975c&itok=mZqLpxVB)
Louise Killeen
Founding a dragon boat club for breast cancer survivors has changed Louise's life for the better
![WIS Story Marian Maloney](/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2021-02/marian-maloney-23.jpg?h=cb1cb1eb&itok=VGO1Flmp)
Marian Maloney
Told she could never play sport after being diagnosed with a visual impairment, Marian is proving her doubters wrong
![WIS Story Emily McAlarney](/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2021-02/emilymcelarney26.jpg?h=2c09cf47&itok=GVBEHKLW)
Emily McElarney
For Emily, the heartache of miscarriage was a driving force to get running
![WOW Holly Widger](/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2021-03/holly-widger-6.jpg?h=3e66571c&itok=Nd4-3lfg)
Holly Widger
A global pandemic is a baptism of fire for any student nurse - so the sea has become even more of a sanctuary for Holly
![WIS WOW Story Ann Carroll](/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2021-03/ann-carroll-1.jpg?h=e5766404&itok=UAXIbkVL)
Ann Carroll
Taking part in new age kurling has reminded Ann of everything she loves about sport – exercise, fun and friendship.
![WOW Series Mary Casserly](/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2021-04/mary-casserly1.jpg?h=dc85eee6&itok=A2rmuaRp)
Mary Casserly
Mary has found a life changing non-contact boxing training programme which helps slow the progression of early onset Parkinsons disease
![WOW series Anita Lynch](/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2021-04/anita-lynch4.jpg?h=63ae47f5&itok=lzuzwEzs)
Anita Lynch
Raising three boys under three years of age, in a global pandemic Anita took on another challenge and became a runner, something she had never imagined
![WOW series Geraldine Lavelle](/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2021-04/geraldinelavelle3.jpg?h=a3782312&itok=0r7mi6uI)
Geraldine Lavelle
A life changing accident did not diminish Geraldine's passion for exercise and adventure
![Sheila poses with her bike](/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2021-04/sheila-obrien-3jpg.jpg?h=dd044833&itok=_Y6O-P3h)
Sheila O'Brien
When Sheila first bought a bike it got little use, until her sister was diagnosed with MND and she used it as a way to deal with the devastating diagnosis
![WOW series Anna Deegan](/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2021-05/anna-deegan5.jpg?h=25c60405&itok=0KOCTXO9)
Anna Deegan
Anna turned to triathlon to address an unhealthy lifestyle and has never looked back
![Swimmer walks in to the sea with the mountains in the background](/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2021-05/kate-hawney-13.jpg?h=158826eb&itok=e2Ehw4RN)
Kate Hawney
The need to make friends in a new town after relocating for work, as well as wanting to learn to swim, led Kate to triathlon
![Female seated in a wheelchair holding a hurley in her left hand and a ball in her right hand](/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2021-05/sarah-cregg-2.jpg?h=1bc17a4e&itok=YDI9Ho4P)
Sarah Cregg
Diagnosed with spina bifida hydrocephalus shortly after birth, wheelchair hurler Sarah plays for Connacht
![Two females stand in front of Limerick prison holding footballs](/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2021-05/oliver-and-scanlon-6.jpg?h=25c60405&itok=iXwleRCR)
Fiona Oliver and Miriam Scanlon
Away from the parks, pitches, stadia and school yards Fiona and Miriam instill the joy of sport and exercise among female prison inmates
![Female runs through the park pushing an adapted wheelchair in front of her with her son](/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2021-06/sineadtighe7.jpg?h=1f08d4f3&itok=1Bf7eHwI)
Sinead Tighe
Running has restored Sinead Tighe’s self-belief and provided an identity for her son Daniel
![Sophie stands on a golf course holding a putter and ball](/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2021-06/sophie-dodd-3.jpg?h=40b69aa6&itok=G6kcWomM)
Sophie Dodd
Not only a great player herself, Sophie is giving back to her golf club as a coach for the juveniles
![Ellie stand on the pitch, blowing the referee whistle and pointing to the left](/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2021-06/ellie-duffy-5-.jpg?h=4138179d&itok=zZHy8Nz8)
Ellie Duffy
Ellie Duffy had the most practical of reasons for taking up refereeing hockey matches whilst in college.
![Karen stands in the water smiling with her arms in the air](/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2021-06/karen-coakley-3.jpg?h=25c60405&itok=OYjrlrTo)
Karen Coakley
Sea-swimming is all the rage after a year of Covid lockdowns and learning to ‘love local’- but Karen never thought she would be such a convert.
![from left to right Erin, Noreen and Mary all pose with their bikes](/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2021-06/noreen-vaughan-3.jpg?h=fe5d424d&itok=884MIoLv)
Noreen Vaughan
Post-pandemic, Noreen's aim is to go cycling with her mother and daughter - three generations of females enjoying exercise and the countryside together.
![WOW series Caroline O'Mahony stands beside her rowing boat](/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2021-07/caroline-omahony-2.jpg?h=4d975d30&itok=HY3zyfG2)
Caroline O'Mahony
After her children grew up Caroline returned to rowing in her 50's
![Kate Russell and Ciara Floyd stand on a soccer pitch with arms folded looking at the camera](/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2021-07/kateciara3.jpg?h=dbc38d6b&itok=4eIFY_xW)
Kate Russell and Ciara Floyd
A dynamic duo of young women who have become player-coaches whilst still aged in their teens, can be found at Albion Rovers FC
![Amara Onwuzulumba stands in running gear looking at the camera with arms folded](/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2021-07/amara-4.jpg?h=aaf3149e&itok=BuqlxaIM)
Amara Onwuzulumba
Amara came to Ireland seeking asylum for herself and her children, within weeks she was also searching for something else central to her life – a place to run