Orla Hayes

Pre-Academy Athletic Development Coach, Leinster Rugby

What made you get into coaching? Was there a particular coach or person who inspired or encouraged you?

Playing a lot of sport growing up is really what got me interested in pursuing a Sports Science degree in college. My time playing 7s rugby in particular gave me a real insight into what the industry was like and what goes on behind the scenes. It was during that time that I started to realise it was something I could genuinely see myself doing in the future.

If I think back to a specific person who inspired me, Orlaith Curran definitely stands out. She was the first performance coach I worked with as a young athlete and taught me a lot about the strength and conditioning side of sport. I remember taking a real interest in what we were doing during sessions and how that helped us perform on the pitch. She had a great way of explaining not just what we were doing, but also why we were doing it, so she definitely played a big role in shaping my interest in pursuing coaching as a career.

What can the coaching/sporting community do to encourage more female coaches and get them into leadership positions?

I think increasing the visibility of existing female coaches across different sporting environments could really encourage more girls and women to consider coaching as a career. When I think back to when I was choosing my CAO options, I don’t remember ever seeing female coaches at career fairs or in University Course books. Because of that, coaching never really felt like a clear or realistic pathway for me at that moment in time.

For me, it comes down to simply knowing the opportunity is there. If you don’t see women in those roles or hear about their experiences, it’s hard to imagine yourself in that position. Unless you personally know someone working within the industry, information about coaching opportunities can feel quite limited. Increasing the presence of female coaches at career fairs, school talks, and sporting events could make a big difference in helping young girls see coaching as something that is possible for them.

What advice would you give a young female coach looking to get started now?

I think my biggest piece of advice would be to put yourself out there. You don’t need to have all the answers or be the most experienced person in the room, especially when you’re just starting out in your career or a new graduate. Everyone begins somewhere, and experience is something you build over time.

Look for opportunities to gain experience wherever you can, whether that’s helping out in your local club, volunteering with a team, or reaching out to people who are already working in the industry. The sooner you get exposure to those environments, the better, because it helps you build a strong foundation to grow from.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions, apply for internships, or look for feedback. One of the biggest things I’ve learned is that you’ll never know what opportunities are out there unless you try. Backing yourself and taking that first step can make a huge difference.

Annie McCarra

Head of Athletic Development, Rockwell College, and Founder & Lead Coach, Sárú Sports Performance

What made you get into coaching? Was there a particular coach or person who inspired or encouraged you?

I have always had a passion for sports and fitness and have long recognised the power of sport in developing and challenging the growth of people and in expressing identity, as well as the important role sport can plays in our communities. As a youngster I had so many coaches (too many to mention) in my GAA local club and schools, whose passion for sport was contagious; it clearly infected me as any chance I got I was out on a sports field/court/track (to the detriment of my school work).

I knew I wanted to pursue a career in this industry, particularly in sport, but the options were limited in the time I was approaching college, and my lack of attention to schoolwork meant I missed my first university choice of Sports Science. I started off my studies in UCC studying Sports Studies and Physical Education but changed gears and ended up working in the health & fitness industry, where I discovered a grá for helping people with varying fitness bases and goals to realise their capabilities and potential.

I brought these learnings and experience into my subsequent pursuit of a career in the world of sport with further studies and practice as a S&C coach taking great inspiration from both Dr. Liam Hennessey and Des Ryan who have been very supportive in my journey. I am grateful for the unorthodox pathway I took and my early experiences as I feel it allowed me time to discover my passions and strengths and has also provided me with a broad coaching skill set.

What can the coaching/sporting community do to encourage more female coaches and get them into leadership positions?

Within the last decade, I think there have been some very positive changes and a greater appreciation for women in sport, and I hope this continues to grow. There seems to be a growing number of female coaches represented at top levels in sport, and some great initiatives like the Gaelic Games female coach mentorship programme I was a part of last year which was led by Clíodhna O’Connor and designed to increase the retention and development of female coaches in Gaelic games.

There is still a lot that could be done in terms of awarding equal opportunities for females in sport, but I think changes are happening and things are heading in the right direction, and more initiatives like the one I mentioned would encourage more females to get involved in sport and leadership roles.

What advice would you give a young female coach looking to get started now?

The sports industry is male-dominated, but whether you are a male or female coach, you have to work hard to create opportunities and to be confident in your abilities. I have been very lucky in that I feel I have not experienced significant challenges as a female in the sports industry. I know that this may not be the same for other female coaches, but thankfully, I feel I have been awarded the same opportunities as male coaches. It all comes down to what you do with these opportunities.

I would advise any young female who is starting out or considering a career as a coach to work hard to prove yourself as a coach, regardless of any challenges you may encounter as a female. The coaching world is tough; you need to commit a lot of time and effort into building a large base of knowledge and then get out and look for opportunities to gain experience to test and apply your knowledge.

Don’t be afraid to reach out to other coaches and make connections to create opportunities to learn and gain experience. And finally, take your time to find your feet and to explore your passion and strengths to discover where you are best suited within this industry.

Oktawia Piosik

Head of S&C, Shelbourne FC Women’s

What made you get into coaching? Was there a particular coach or person who inspired or encouraged you?

I fell into coaching quite naturally. I loved playing, but I was always the one asking questions about training, why we were doing certain drills, how we could get quicker, and how to gain an edge physically. I was as interested in improving performance as I was in competing.

As I got older, that curiosity turned into a real passion for helping others develop. Coaching gave me a way to make a genuine impact, not just helping players become faster and stronger, but also building their confidence and mindset. For me, it’s about developing people first, and the performance side follows.

What can the coaching/sporting community do to encourage more female coaches and get them into leadership positions?

Visibility is a big piece. The more women we see coaching and leading, the more it shows that those roles are achievable and normal.

Strong mentorship and proper support systems also make a real difference. Giving female coaches genuine responsibility and chances to lead helps build both experience and confidence.

I do think in Ireland, there has been really encouraging progress in recent years. We’re seeing more women step into coaching and leadership positions across different levels of sport, which is a positive shift. The important thing now is to keep pushing forward and make sure those opportunities continue to grow.

What advice would you give a young female coach looking to get started now?

I’d say the key is to embrace the journey from the very start. Don’t worry about rushing to the top,  there’s so much to learn from starting at the grassroots level. Those early experiences teach you your style, let you make mistakes, and help you grow as a coach.

Build relationships along the way. The connections you form with players, other coaches, and support staff are just as important as qualifications. Coaching is built on trust and communication, and the network you create will open doors and support you throughout your journey.

Most importantly, back yourself. Be curious, keep learning, and don’t be afraid to take opportunities when they come. If you stay patient and committed to improving, the pathway will take care of itself.

Fiona Mernagh

Physiotherapist and S&C Coach, TOP Therapy

What made you get into coaching? Was there a particular coach or person who inspired or encouraged you?

In 2013, I tore my ACL. Somewhere along the 9-month rehab journey, I had a moment where my physio was explaining something about neural pathways that needed to be rebuilt – that really sparked my interest. I was already looking for a new career path, and when I realised how scientific the thinking could be behind sports rehab, I knew this was something I could really enjoy.

Mark McCabe from SportsMed Ireland is the man who helped me make the switch as he sent me on the details for the CSCS with the National Strength and Conditioning Association. His physio practice that ran as both rehab and S&C is the model I base my own practice off now!

What can the coaching/sporting community do to encourage more female coaches and get them into leadership positions?

‘Can’t See, Can’t Be’ – this is a recent popular phrase and I have to back it. The more we normalise female coaches in the space, the more likely younger girls will consider it as a pathway for themselves. This means we need to have more female coaches involved with sports teams/clubs and to see them more often in media.

On S&C/sports performance podcasts it’s also such a boys place. I still enjoy them plenty but more female voices would be very welcome. Michelle Boland is someone I absolutely loved listening to on Robbie Bourke’s podcast first of all, as an example. 

We also need to get boys and girls doing strength training from the same age. I could be wrong but I think boys are encouraged into S&C earlier than girls. Expectations, opportunities and treatment need to be equivalent from childhood up. 

What advice would you give a young female coach looking to get started now?

Do it! If you have an interest in the job, there is absolutely nothing that should feel like a barrier because you are female. Focus on the quality of your work; results and confidence will flow from there.

Stephanie Dwan

Head of S&C and Sports Therapy, Kilkenny LGFA, and Athletic Development Coach with Tipperary GAA Academy

What made you get into coaching? Was there a particular coach or person who inspired or encouraged you?

I developed my passion for coaching and sport from playing Camogie and football from a young age. Picking up a few too many injuries along the way really drove my interest in coaching, as I wanted to help others prevent injuries and improve their performance.

What can the coaching/sporting community do to encourage more female coaches and get them into leadership positions?

Encouraging more females to get involved in coaching. Providing more support, opportunities and education for coaches while creating a welcoming and inclusive environment can help more females step into coaching roles. It’s also important to recognise that women are just as capable as men at coaching, and that coaching is not just a male role.

What advice would you give a young female coach looking to get started now?

Jump at any opportunity you can, big or small, you never know where it might take you. Try to learn as much as you can from other coaches around you, ask questions, and gain experience wherever possible. Believe in your ability as a coach and don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone, this is where you will grow most as a coach.

Nicole Booth

Strength and Conditioning Coach (ASCC), Lecturer and Co-founder of Athlete Now

What made you get into coaching? Was there a particular coach or person who inspired or encouraged you?

My foundation was in dance, where a brilliant coach showed me that the best environments are both high-challenge and high-support. In other sports I did, particularly the outdoors in climbing and water sports, I also saw how coaching delivery directly dictated whether I’d push my limits or hold back out of fear. That power to make a positive impact made me want to emulate that with others.

I started coaching the moment I left school, realising I had a knack for breaking down complex movement patterns to help others break their plateaus and improve their performance. My driving point has always been to make a positive change in others I work with.

Today, my passion lies in using S&C as the bridge. By focusing on robust movement and physical literacy, we aren’t just training for one sport; we are building a toolkit. Whether an athlete is sending a climb today or pivoting to a to a team sport in years from now, S&C provides the physical longevity and transferable skills to keep performing, no matter how their interests evolve.

What can the coaching/sporting community do to encourage more female coaches and get them into leadership positions?

We need to intentionally celebrate female success and break the ‘default’ setting where men are the primary voices of authority. Even now, you’ll see a man and woman standing together, yet people instinctively ask the man about the success first (even on projects where the woman was the lead). We have to dismantle those embedded stereotypes.

Representation is everything. If young women only see men presenting on technical topics or holding leadership roles, they can’t see a path for themselves. We need to put female role models in the spotlight, not just as a ‘diversity’ gesture, but as the experts they are, so the next generation knows they don’t just belong in the room, they belong at the head of the table.

What advice would you give a young female coach looking to get started now?

Be bold and ask for what you want. Many of us fall into the trap of thinking that if we just work hard and put in the hours, someone will eventually notice and hand us an opportunity. The reality? You have to make your intentions clear and put yourself out there.

Don’t be afraid to be a bit ‘cheeky’, ask to shadow that head coach, ask for the conversation, ask for the job, showcase what you are doing by sharing examples of your work. And remember: you don’t have to say ‘yes’ to everything. For years, I feared saying no would mean missing my only shot. I’ve since learned that prioritising what you actually want is more effective than being everywhere at once. The worst they can say is ‘no,’ but you’ll never know until you ask.