Women in Sport: Bohemians FC Women’s Premier Division player, Ciara Smith

Through her involvement in TG4’s legendary GAA series The Underdogs, Ciara caught the eye of Ken Kiernan, who gave her the opportunity to play in the Women’s League of Ireland for Bohemians FC.

A woman who has had an affinity with sports from an early age, Ciara’s passion for her sport and work ethic have brought her to where she is today.

Here, she shares her sporting story so far…

Profession: Operations Manager in Home Instead

Earliest sporting memory?

Being involved in the Samba Soccer Camps and when Robbie Keane scored in the 2002 World Cup against Germany.

How did you become involved in your sport?

As a young child, I was involved in many sports include GAA, camogie and football. It was my mam who was always the biggest drive for my sporting career. She would ensure that I made every training session or match without fail, even if that meant driving the length of Ireland!

What message would you like to share with young women and girls interested in pursuing a career as an athlete?

To always believe in yourself and work hard. There will be times when you fail, but it is the courage you need to get back up and try again that counts. Talent may also get you in the door but it’s your attitude and work ethic that determines how long you stay there. There is also no time limit on anything in life. I am 31 years of age and have just begun playing in the Women’s League of Ireland!

Proudest moment so far…

Receiving the Player of the Match Award for the Underdogs v Galway United.

The female athlete I admire most is…

Katie Taylor, she is the definition of a role model. Katie had to overcome many obstacles in her life to get to where she is now. She even had to pretend to be a boy when she was younger in order to box, as women’s boxing was not allowed in Ireland at the time.

Favourite sporting memory…

There are so many, but one that sticks out for me is when the Ireland Women’s team qualified for the World Cup 2023.

Do you think there is still a stigma around women in sport?

Yes I do. There was a recent study done which showed that 1 in 5 girls have dropped out of sport by the age of 13. This then becomes 1 in 2 girls by the age of 20 years old. The reason was that some girls feel that they don’t belong in sport.

What is the biggest barrier to driving visibility in women’s sports?

Lack of funding and support. The main issue is decades of under investment into girls/women’s teams. In order to ‘balance’ it, there needs to be not only just parity of investment into the boys/men’s game but there should actually be more investment. A lot of investment focus is going into the elite element of the women’s game to the detriment of grassroots—which is needed to feed into the elite game. The men’s league generally attracts major sponsors, but the equivalent women’s leagues struggle. Arguably, they are less attractive as they don’t receive as much media coverage. Just 6% of sports media coverage goes to women in sport.

The biggest misconception that exists in women’s sport is…

That just because we are not as fast or as powerful as men it doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. Each week there are females involved in sport that are breaking barriers.

If I wasn’t an athlete I would be…

I would like to think I would still be involved in sport in some capacity, whether that be coaching or even a sports writer! Sport is a huge part of my life. I absolutely love it and couldn’t imagine not being involved somehow.

My favourite pre-match meal is…

Overnight oats and a banana!

My pre-match playlist includes…

A bit of everything but ABBA would be my go-to!

My daily routine is…

Monday to Fridays would typically look like; gym in the morning, usually a strength session and then head to work, a lunchtime walk and football training after work. The weekends would consist of a match day and an outdoor activity like a hike!

My biggest sporting goal is…

For my family to be proud of what I have achieved.

Sports brands I love (Irish or otherwise)…

Nike would be my go-to!

Biggest splurge to celebrate a win…

I like to celebrate with my family which could consist of a family meal!

How do you mind your mental health?

Do things that I know make me feel good. I absolutely love going for a sauna or going to the gym. I would encourage anyone who is having a bad day to reflect on what makes them feel good and try their best to incorporate it into their daily activities.

My three desert island beauty products are:

Carmex lip balm, moisturiser and sunscreen!

I need 7 hours of sleep a night because…

Any less I’m probably like a demon!

Confidence, to me, is…

Knowing your worth and what you can bring to the table. Good preparation also instils confidence in me, knowing I have set myself up in the right way, from nutrition to training and having a good mindset gives me that confidence to succeed.

How do you get over a bad performance?

It’s all part of the process. Nobody goes through life and achieves everything exactly the way they want to. There will be bumps in the road along the way but I learn from it. I understand what didn’t work and how I can find a solution to prevent it from happening again.

Lastly, why is sport such an integral part of the community, on a club, local, national and personal level?

It gives people an opportunity to grow, develop and begin life-lasting friendships. Being involved in sport in the community gives people a platform to come together for a common goal and experience a level of competitiveness no matter what standard we participate at. It also educates children from a young age to understand teamwork, inclusion, respect and discipline. There are huge benefits to your physical and mental health.