Having already covered Irish sports stars from the likes of Hurling, GAA, Ladies Gaelic Football and Camogie, Rugby, Football and Olympians and Paralympians who are speaking out about social issues. In this article, I wanted to focus on the other sports in Ireland that may not get the coverage that they should. In recent years, a group of high-profile female athletes from football, rugby, golf and horse racing has emerged not only as leaders on the pitch but also as powerful advocates for equality, mental health, LGBTQ+ inclusion and vulnerable communities. From Katie McCabe’s transformational captaincy of the Republic of Ireland women’s football team to Rachael Blackmore’s historic Grand National and Cheltenham Gold Cup wins, these figures have redefined what it means to be a modern Irish sportswoman: a champion whose influence extends far beyond medals and trophies. This article explores how these athletes use their platforms to drive progress, support grassroots initiatives and challenge outdated norms in Irish sport.
Female Footballers
Katie McCabe
International Caps: 107
Who they advocate for: LGBT+ community and parity in female sports
Katie McCabe is the captain of the Republic of Ireland women’s national team and currently plays for Chelsea, having spent nearly a decade at Arsenal before her move. At Arsenal, she won the FA Cup, the WSL title, three League Cups, and the UEFA Champions League, becoming just the fourth Irish woman to lift that trophy. She was named Ireland’s captain in 2017 at just 21 years old, the youngest in the team’s history, and has since led the side through a period of transformation, culminating in Ireland’s first-ever qualification for a FIFA World Cup in 2023. She has twice been named Ireland Women’s Player of the Year, was named Sportswoman of the Year in 2023, and has received Ballon d’Or recognition, making her one of the country’s most decorated footballers
McCabe has become one of the most visible openly gay figures in Irish sport, speaking candidly about coming out publicly and the importance of using her platform to help other LGBT+ people feel confident being themselves.
She has championed greater acceptance in football more broadly, noting how much more openly the women’s game embraces LGBTQ+ players than the men’s game does. She has also been a driving force behind female empowerment in Irish football, helping lead the fight for equal pay and better treatment for the women’s national team, and mentoring younger players through her coaching qualifications.
Ruesha Littlejohn
International Caps: 90
Who they advocate for: LGBT+ community and parity in female sports
Ruesha Littlejohn is a midfielder who represents the Republic of Ireland through her Irish-Scottish mother, despite being born and raised in Glasgow. Over an 18-year professional career, she has played for a striking number of top clubs, including four separate spells with Glasgow City, plus stints at Arsenal, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Celtic, Birmingham City, and Norwegian side IL Sandviken, before more recently turning out for Shamrock Rovers and Crystal Palace. She won multiple Scottish Women’s Premier League titles with Glasgow City early in her career and represented Ireland at the 2023 FIFA World Cup, capping over a decade of senior international service built on versatility across midfield roles.
Littlejohn came out publicly in 2019, a moment intended to boost LGBTQ+ visibility within women’s football, and later described the reaction from fans and teammates as overwhelmingly supportive. She has continued that advocacy through media work, including podcast appearances where she has spoken openly about her coming-out journey and the importance of representation for young LGBT+ people in sport. She has also used her platform to champion female empowerment in football, discussing mental health challenges within the women’s game and pushing for greater investment in equal pay and grassroots development for female players.
Stephanie Zambina (nee Roche)
International Caps
Who they advocate for: Mental Health
Stephanie Zambina (or she may be better known under her maiden name Stephanie Roche) was an Irish international forward with 55 caps and 13 goals for her country, best remembered for a spectacular scissor-kick volley scored for Peamount United in 2013 that finished runner-up for FIFA’s Puskás Award, thrusting Irish women’s football into the global spotlight. A two-time Golden Boot winner and two-time All-Star in the League of Ireland, she helped Peamount become the first Irish side to reach the UEFA Women’s Champions League knockout stage. Her professional career took her abroad to four of the world’s top five women’s leagues, including Albi in France, Houston Dash in the NWSL, Sunderland in England, and Florentia in Italy, before she returned to Peamount and helped the club win a league and cup double.
Roche has spoken candidly about the mental health difficulties professional footballers face, describing an isolating period in France where she struggled without proper support structures around her.
She has since become a visible advocate for mental health awareness and for tackling the lingering stigma around women in sport, using her platform and punditry work to push for greater visibility for future generations of Irish female athletes.
Female Rugby players
Joy Neville
International Caps: 70
Who they advocate for: LGBT+ and Female empowerment
Joy Neville is a former Ireland women’s rugby international who represented her country at the 2006 and 2010 Rugby World Cups and captained the team to a historic first win over France in 2009. She was part of the Ireland squad that won the Grand Slam, Six Nations, and Triple Crown in 2013, one of the most successful periods in Irish women’s rugby history. After retiring as a player, she transitioned into officiating and became the first woman to referee a men’s international rugby match, breaking new ground in a sport still dominated by men in senior roles.
Neville has spoken openly as an LGBTQ+ athlete throughout her career and post-playing life, taking part in panels and webinars focused on inclusion and representation for LGBTQ+ women in Irish rugby. Her visibility as both a former international and a trailblazing referee has made her an influential voice for widening participation and acceptance in the sport, encouraging younger LGBTQ+ athletes to see a pathway for themselves both on the pitch and in leadership roles within rugby.
Nora Stapleton
International Caps
Who they advocate for: LGBT+ and Female empowerment
Nora Stapleton is a former Ireland women’s rugby international whose playing career helped raise the profile of the women’s game during a formative period for Irish rugby. Since retiring, she has moved into sports administration and policy, taking on a leadership role in shaping opportunities for female athletes at a national level. Her transition from player to policymaker reflects a broader trend of former internationals using their experience to influence structural change within Irish sport.
Stapleton currently leads Sport Ireland’s “Women in Sport” policy and was recently promoted to Director of Strategy across the country’s national governing bodies, giving her influence over investment and planning for women’s sport nationwide. Her advocacy centres on closing longstanding gaps in funding, visibility, and infrastructure between men’s and women’s sport in Ireland, pushing governing bodies to prioritise female participation from grassroots through to elite level, and ensuring the next generation of Irish sportswomen has stronger support systems than those who came before them.
Golf
Padraig Harrington
Who they advocate for: LGBT+ and Female empowerment
A three-time major champion from Dublin, having won the Open Championship in 2007 and 2008 and the PGA Championship in 2008, a stretch that took him to third in the world rankings. A six-time Ryder Cup player and former European captain, he has continued his success on the senior tour, winning multiple Champions Tour majors including three US Senior Opens, and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2024.
Harrington has been a long-serving Global Ambassador for Special Olympics since 2010, running golf clinics for athletes with intellectual disabilities and helping expand opportunities for inclusive sport. He founded the Padraig Harrington Charitable Foundation in 2006 to support causes in Ireland and abroad, and has been a patron of the Oesophageal Cancer Fund since losing his father to the disease in 2005, alongside supporting Make-A-Wish Ireland and GOAL.
He has also spoken candidly about his own struggles with obsessive tendencies and “swing addiction” during his most successful season, helping normalise conversations about the mental toll and pressures that come with pursuing excellence in elite sport.
Shane Lowry
Who they advocate for: Family Carers
Shane Lowry is an Irish professional golfer from Clara, County Offaly, best known for winning the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush in front of a passionate home crowd. Over a 13-year PGA Tour career, he has recorded three wins and 33 top-ten finishes, represented Ireland at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics, and been a key contributor to Europe’s Ryder Cup teams in 2021, 2023, and 2025, prized for his composure under pressure and popularity with fans.
Lowry has used his platform primarily around health and caregiving, partnering with medical device company Stryker on a campaign highlighting the role of caregivers in joint-replacement recovery, drawn from his own experience supporting his father through hip and knee surgeries that restored his mobility and quality of life. He has spoken openly about how meaningful it was to watch his father regain independence after treatment, using the partnership to raise awareness for families navigating similar journeys. His charitable work also leans toward grassroots golf development through ambassador roles with brands like RBC, which fund youth golf programs and community initiatives, helping introduce young people to the sport.
Rory McIlroy
Who they advocate for: LGBT+ and Female empowerment
Rory McIlroy is a five-time major champion from Holywood, County Down, widely regarded as one of the finest golfers of his generation. He has won two US PGA Championships, an Open Championship, a US Open, and a Masters, completing the career Grand Slam in 2025, while also spending well over 100 weeks as world number one. A mainstay of Europe’s Ryder Cup team since 2010, he has played a central role in multiple European victories and remains one of the sport’s most consistent performers on the biggest stages.
Off the course, McIlroy has been a UNICEF ambassador since 2011, lending his profile to campaigns supporting children’s welfare around the world. He also runs the Rory Foundation, a charity dedicated to improving the health and life opportunities of vulnerable and disadvantaged children, regularly donating tournament winnings to support its work, including proceeds from the Irish Open when the event was held in his name.
His philanthropic efforts extend to causes around youth health, poverty, and human rights, reflecting a consistent focus on using his platform to support children and families facing hardship rather than any single high-profile campaign.
Horse Racing
Rachael Blackmore
Horse Racing: Grand National-winning jockey
Profession: Retired Jockey
Who do they advocate for? Ambassador for Festina Lente and the Cancer Fund for Children
Rachael Blackmore has permanently etched her name into sporting history as a true trailblazer in National Hunt racing, becoming the first female jockey to win both the gruelling Grand National and the prestigious Cheltenham Gold Cup. Her historic achievements in the saddle have entirely redefined what is possible in a traditionally male-dominated sport, capturing the public’s imagination worldwide. Beyond her incredible big-race victories, Blackmore’s consistency, tactical brilliance, and immense physical resilience have earned her elite status as one of the most respected and decorated modern athletes across any sporting discipline.
Off the track, Blackmore has consistently channelled her global profile to champion vital causes, specifically focusing on disability equality, healthcare access, and social inclusion. Serving as an official ambassador for Festina Lente, she supports therapeutic equestrian training and community learning for individuals facing complex physical or personal challenges. Additionally, her dedicated work with the Cancer Fund for Children helps ensure that essential emotional and social support networks are funded and accessible to vulnerable families navigating the profound difficulties of childhood cancer diagnoses across Ireland.
Ruby Walsh
Horse riding – most successful Irish jockey of all time
Profession: Retired jockey and horse racing analyst
Who do they advocate for? Injured Jockeys Fund
Ruby Walsh stands as one of the most successful and dominant National Hunt jockeys in the history of horse racing, recording over 2,500 winners during a legendary career. He holds the unmatched record for the most victories at the Cheltenham Festival, alongside historic triumphs in the Grand National and the Irish Grand National. Renowned for his exceptional tactical intelligence and flawless jumping rhythm, Walsh consistently performed at the absolute pinnacle of the sport for decades, representing elite racing operations while securing his legacy as an all-time sporting great.
Since transitioning to his high-profile roles as a leading broadcaster and Chairman of the Irish Injured Jockeys fund, Walsh has become a powerful voice for athlete welfare and mental health advocacy. Recognising the severe physical and psychological pressures within the weighing room, he collaborated with medical professionals to launch the Leafyard mental health app for riders. By speaking out candidly about the distinct anxieties, distress, and depression rates jockeys face. Especially during gruelling injury rehabilitation cycles. Walsh has been instrumental in dismantling the traditional stigma surrounding emotional vulnerability.
Sir Anthony McCoy
Horse Racing: Most successful jockey of all time in England
Profession: Student
Who do they advocate for? Injured Jockey’s Fund
Sir AP McCoy is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most resilient athletes in sporting history, securing a record-breaking 20 consecutive Champion Jockey titles. Throughout his extraordinary career, he recorded over 4,300 winners, displaying an unparalleled work ethic and a legendary determination that redefined the physical limits of professional race riding. His historic achievements, including victories in the Grand National and the Cheltenham Gold Cup, cemented his status as a sporting icon whose dominance may never be replicated.
Since retiring from competitive riding, McCoy has channelled his immense influence into extensive charitable endeavours, focusing heavily on spinal injury awareness and supporting severe physical disabilities. As a crucial patron of the Injured Jockeys Fund and various Irish sporting charities, he uses his platform to raise awareness about the lifelong cognitive and physical challenges faced by individuals recovering from catastrophic trauma. His direct, honest discussions regarding the extreme sacrifices demanded by elite sport have significantly shaped industry policies around safety equipment, advanced concussion protocols, and long-term rehabilitation infrastructure.
Katie Walsh
Horse Racing – Irish Grand National-winning jockey
Profession: Horse racing analyst and horse buyer
Who do they advocate for? People who stammer
Katie Walsh has secured an enduring legacy as one of the most accomplished and groundbreaking amateur jockeys in National Hunt history, hailing from a legendary Irish racing dynasty. She achieved extraordinary milestones in the saddle, most notably finishing third in the 2012 Grand National aboard Seabass—which stood for nearly a decade as the highest placing ever achieved by a female rider in the world’s most famous steeplechase. A true Cheltenham Festival specialist, Walsh recorded three historic victories at the prestigious meeting, including the Grade 1 Champion Bumper, before successfully transitioning into a premier bloodstock operator.
Beyond her remarkable competitive accolades, Walsh leverages her prominent public profile to advocate for youth development and dismantle the stigma surrounding speech impediments. Having struggled with a severe, debilitating childhood stammer that left her unable to answer the phone or speak without intense frustration, she has spoken candidly about how she initially turned to horses as a sanctuary where she did not have to worry about speaking. By sharing her terrifying but transformative experience with the McGuire Programme on major platforms like The Late Late Show, Walsh acts as an inspiring role model for young people dealing with speech disorders, demonstrating how to build immense personal confidence both inside and outside of elite sport
Other Sports
Nikki Daly
Irish hockey international and Motosport advocate
Profession: Founder of Formula Female
Who do they advocate for? Female Empowerment in STEM
Nicci Daly is a former Ireland hockey international whose sporting career who won 163 caps for Ireland, helping the team to a historic silver medal at the 2018 Hockey World Cup, and also representing Dublin in football before concentrating on hockey at elite level. Known for her pace, intelligence and competitive drive, she became one of the most recognisable figures in Irish women’s sport.
After retiring from international hockey, Daly moved into motorsport, where her background in engineering and her lifelong interest in racing gave her a natural fit. She competed in electric scooter racing and brought a fresh perspective to a male-dominated field by combining athletic discipline with technical knowledge. Daly has also worked in motorsport engineering and data roles, showing that her talents extend well beyond playing sport.
Her most important contribution off the field has been Formula Female, the initiative she founded to encourage more girls and young women to get involved in motorsport and STEM careers. Through that work, Daly has become a role model for anyone looking to challenge traditional boundaries and build a future in sport, engineering or both.
Nikki Symmons
Profession: Former Irish Hockey international
Who do they advocate for? The LGBT+ community in sport
Nikki Symmons is a former Irish international hockey player and one of the most influential LGBTQ+ voices in Irish sport. She won more than 200 caps for Ireland, also represented her country in cricket, and was long regarded as a trailblazer for women’s hockey. After her playing career, she moved into sports administration and communications, including work with the International Hockey Federation, while continuing to build a public profile as a speaker, advisor and advocate.
She is especially significant for her openness about coming out publicly, becoming Ireland’s first female athlete to speak openly about being gay in 2014. Since then, Symmons has used her platform to champion inclusion, visibility and safer spaces for LGBTQ+ people in sport, including as an ambassador for Athlete Ally and through public speaking and media work. Her influence goes beyond hockey because she has helped normalise conversations about identity, representation and belonging in Irish sport.