Women in Sport: Leinster, Old Belvedere, and Ireland rugby player Dannah O’Brien

Dannah O’Brien is an up and coming out-half who currently represents Leinster, Old Belvedere, and Ireland. Dannah, who is originally from Tullow, made her debut for Ireland against Japan on the inaugural Irish Women’s Summer Tour in 2022 at the age of 19, and signed her first professional contract with the IRFU in November 2022.

Dannah earned her first senior Leinster cap during the Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Series in January 2023 and started all three games. Dannah was also chosen for the Combined Provinces squad to take on developmental XVs from Scotland and Wales.

Dannah is also a talented gaelic footballer and has represented her native Carlow at intercounty level before committing to rugby. Dannah is currently studying Accounting & Finance in DCU.

Name: Dannah O’Brien

Profession: Student and Professional Rugby Player

Earliest sporting memory?

Playing minis rugby on a Sunday morning in my hometown rugby club, Tullow RFC.

How did you become involved in your sport?

I started playing when I was seven. My older brother started playing in Tullow and after a year of watching him play, my parents asked me if I would like to give it a go. Once I started, I never considered giving it up and I knew that it was going to become a big part of my life.

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

Get involved in as many sports as possible, as early as possible. You’ll get to find out which ones you really like, make many friends and also have an opportunity to develop a broad range of skills from each different sport. Many of the best rugby players started off playing different sports, and carrying those skills into rugby is what makes them a unique player.

Proudest moment so far…

Getting my first cap for Ireland in Japan. Even though my family couldn’t be there, I was surrounded by the most special and supporting group of people I’ve ever met.

The female athlete I admire most is…

The obvious one is Katie Taylor, undefeated and Irish; that combo can’t really be topped. I’m also a big fan of Katie McCabe, the Irish Soccer captain. She’s a massive inspiration to young girls in Ireland, playing professionally in England. Also leading Ireland to the World Cup this year is going to be special.

Favourite sporting memory…

Probably going to see Leinster beat the Scarlets in the 2018 Pro14 final in the Aviva Stadium. Jordan Larmour’s one-handed pick up try and Isa Nacewa’s last game for Leinster, really got the goosebumps going.

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

I haven’t witnessed much of it so far, but I do think it is the case for a lot of girls. I’ve been lucky enough to have many great men coach and support me along the way.

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

It really comes down to ticket sales and viewership. I think in the past exposure to the women’s game has just been neglected. The Women’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand last year is evidence that this is changing, with a packed out arena for the final in Eden Park. When games are on free to air TV it’s also a massive eye opener to young women. Creating a culture where young girls religiously watch women’s rugby with their families at home is what will get the ball rolling in terms of grass roots rugby.

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

“The men’s game will always be better”. The men’s game was a huge part of my inspiration to take up rugby when I was a child because I was always exposed to it. But now as the women’s game grows and is being put on our screens more, people will see that it is just as entertaining as the men’s. The WRWC final between England and the Black Ferns was hands down the greatest game I’ve ever seen, including men’s games.

If I wasn’t an athlete I would be…

I’m currently studying accounting and finance, so I’m excited to see where that takes me. I have quite a creative and entrepreneurial brain, so owning my own business could be something that might come down the line.

My favourite pre-competition game meal is…

The sticky rice we had in Japan can’t be beaten. I’m yet to find rice with the same consistency here, but it’s definitely one of my go-tos.

My pre-competition game playlist includes…

A huge mix of genres. It includes artists like Fred Again, Drake, Nelly Furtado, Shakira, Eminem.

My daily routine is…

It depends what the training schedule looks like, but it would usually look like this: Wake up around 7am, head to the HPC for training, get in a gym and a pitch session, have lunch and head home, get in some college work and review training, then chat to my family and friends for the evening and cook dinner.

My biggest sporting goal is…

To win a Rugby World Cup.

Sports brands I love (Irish or otherwise)…

I usually wear Adidas boots and Reebok trainers. I’m a fan of HUH How’s Your Head clothing. They are an Irish brand, promoting mental health through hoodies. It’s a great initiative.

Biggest splurge to celebrate a win…

I haven’t had any massive competition wins yet, but I guess a few cans of Four Loko and a night in the George to celebrate a win always goes down well. I’d book a villa with the girls for a weekend in the sun if we really struck gold.

How do you mind your mental health?

Talking to the people around me is mainly what I do when I’m feeling stressed out. My team mates usually understand the stresses and they are always there to listen.

My three desert island beauty products are…

Pink Vaseline, SPF moisturiser and Olaplex hair products for sun damage prevention.

How many hours of sleep do you need each night?

I’d say at least seven if possible. If I have one poor night of sleep I can feel the consequences for the rest of the week. I’d even feel my muscles are sore and my awareness levels are down at training.

Confidence, to me, is…

Never hiding your passion because you’re scared of what other people might think. I play to the best of my abilities when I play with confidence and I try things that can’t be pre-planned or scripted. Having supportive teammates that I know will have my back when things go wrong, is a massive help.

How do you get over a bad performance?

Usually by surrounding myself with friends or family. It’s nice to switch off from the game and think about the simple things in life. Then the day after a game I would watch it back. It never turns out to be as bad as I thought it was at the time.

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

I’m not sure how my life would look if I didn’t have rugby. It has given me an opportunity to express myself, both on and off the pitch, at every level. What stands out to me the most, is the cohesion that is there between the people. Every team that I have played for has essentially become another family to me. That is what makes sport so special. Whether we’re playing or watching, we get to share every high and every low with each other. It’s more than just a game, it’s really a way of life.

Featured image via @dannahobrien on Instagram.

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