Olympic medallist Sonia O'Sullivan says she was shocked to learn of the lack of facilities for female sports athletes in the GAA at an annual event recently.

Writing in her column for The Irish Times, the Cobh native revealed that she had been speaking at the Law Society of Ireland's annual conference with recently retired Cork star Valerie Mulcahy and said she got her eyes opened by the 10-time All-Ireland winner. 

"To say I was shocked is an understatement," O'Sullivan wrote. "All through that period, Valerie said things had hardly changed at all behind the scenes, particularly compared to how the inter-county men's teams are treated.

"I've been lucky enough to have been in Ireland the past few years while the women's All-Ireland football finals were taking place. I might not have been sitting in the stands at Croke Park, but I'd always be listening with great interest on the car radio, driving back from the Rebel tour cycle in West Cork. So much so that I've often reached my destination only to sit in the car and listen to the exciting climax, as once again Cork secured yet another hard -earned All-Ireland.

"As Valerie told stories of cold showers (or worse, of no showers), of last-minute venue changes for games and training, it was clearly nothing like the luxury of the Big Chill-sponsored bus and post-season team holidays abroad as experienced by the Cork men's team.

"It was something I'd never experienced, personally."

The 46-year-old Irish sporting hero also added that there should be a "permanent fixture" in Cork to help celebrate the county's ladies football and camogie teams.

"They have shown great resilience, determination and passion for their sport, and they deserve something more in return, some permanent fixture when the new Páirc Uí Chaoimh stadium reopens its gates in the near future. The very least there should be is a changing room - with hot showers - named in their honour," she wrote.

Tweet

Most Read Stories