Women in Sport: Irish footballer Áine O’Gorman

Áine O’Gorman is a former Irish international who retired after the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, having earned 119 caps and scored 13 goals. An Enniskerry native, Áine is a Shamrock Rovers footballer and Youth Reach Resource Person.

Here, she shares her sporting story so far…

Name: Áine O’Gorman

Profession: Shamrock Rovers footballer and Youth Reach Resource Person

Earliest sporting memory?

Playing in a Cup final with my friends at the Carlisle Grounds in Bray and winning on penalties (I just about scored my peno!).

How did you become involved in your sport?

I have an older brother Séamus who I used to watch training at the Bog Meadow in Enniskerry with my Mam. When the teams were uneven at the end, Ger Barton the manager would ask if I wanted to join in — the following year I joined the U8s and it took off from there!

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

Back yourself, work hard, enjoy the journey, and make the sacrifices. It will be 100% worth it in the end.

Proudest moment so far…

Singing ‘Amhrán na bhFiann’ and playing at the World Cup.

The female athlete I admire most is…

Katie Taylor because of her talent, work ethic and determination to live her dream, despite whatever barriers she faced, paving the way for female boxers all over the world.

Favourite sporting memory…

The night we qualified for our first ever World Cup beating Scotland 1-0 at Hampden Park.

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

Yes, however, things are improving all the time. I always reflect on the fact that now there are just as many girls’ teams as boys’ teams, if not more, in Enniskerry FC where I started out. Another great example of progress is the FAI and Aviva ‘In Her Boots’ partnership programme, which helps empower the volunteer workforce supporting the women’s game.

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

A big one is the lack of awareness, along with limited access to quality facilities and opportunities. The FAI’s ‘In Her Boots’ programme, in partnership with Aviva, is working to address this by focusing on keeping girls engaged in sports.

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

The lack of understanding of the female athlete. That’s why I’m so enthusiastic about the FAI Aviva ‘In Het Boots’ programme aimed to educate around the areas of injury prevention and nutrition compiled by experts.

If I wasn’t an athlete I would be…

A sports coach or youth worker.

My favourite pre-game meal is…

Baked potato and beans.

My pre-game playlist includes…

I usually listen to the ‘chill songs everyone knows’ playlist on Spotify on the way to games to stay calm and relaxed before the high-tempo pre-game playlist in the changing room.

My daily routine is…

6.30am alarm, a big bowl of porridge with my little man before I head off to work, a carb-loaded dinner, some family time before training, recover, rest and repeat.

My biggest sporting goal is…

Now that I have retired from international football, I want to give back to the game and continue to improve standards in the women’s League of Ireland.

Sports brands I love (Irish or otherwise)…

Revive Active, Kinetica and Gym + Coffee.

Biggest splurge to celebrate a win…

Booking my family a big trip to Australia.

How do you mind your mental health?

I am very passionate about mental wellbeing, and I enjoy spending time with loved ones, gardening and long walks and hiking. During high-pressure situations, I practise very simple mindfulness techniques.

My three desert island beauty products are:

La Roche Posay SPF moisturiser, Carmex and deodorant — and 7 hours of sleep a night because it maximises my recovery and daily performance.

Confidence, to me, is…

Knowing your strengths and weaknesses, having a positive view of yourself and belief in your abilities.

How do you get over a bad performance?

I would always watch the match back to learn from it, and then shift my focus to the next steps—training and preparing for the next game.

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

Sport plays a hugely important role in our mental and physical well-being, a message highlighted by the FAI and Aviva ‘In Her Boots’ programme, which is freely available to parents and coaches. Sport has the unique power to unite people and foster national pride while instilling character and valuable life lessons.

Imagery via ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne