In honour of International Womens Day, we here and BTS head office look at some of those who have made sporting strides on the local, national and international stage…
NINA CARBERRY (WALSH) MEP:
The only possible place this celebratory journey could begin. Enshrined her name in Irish sporting history when becoming the first lady rider to win the Irish Grand National since Ann Ferris in 1984 when steering Organisedconfusion to win the great race for her uncle Arthur Moore.
Ironically, she didn’t get to adorn that exhaulted company for long before having to shuffle over and make room for, of all people, her sister-in-law, Katie Walsh (now O’Sullivan). She having gone on to win the race herself shortly thereafter aboard Thunder And Roses for the late Dessie Hughes.
And, as if to conclude the conjoined nature of their careers, when the time came to retire, they did so within 24 hours of one another.
Since retirement, though, their career paths could scarcely have been more different. Katie becoming a big part of her husband Ross’s training operation whilst at the same time making her own name in the bloodstock world.
On the other hand, while Nina did give training a go for a while, her career has gone in a completely different direction. Firstly becoming a reality television star. On the famous Finnegan’s Farm where she put Paul and his mighty clan through their paces for Ireland’s Fittest Family.
From there, she went even further out of her comfort zone. Not only partaking in but winning Dancing With The Stars. Mind you, as far as that might have been out of her norms, a forray into politics was different gravy.
That said, it would hardly be that big of a shock to note that being a Carberry, she won at that too. Getting elected for Fine Gael (unfortunately!) to the European Parliament. Where she has already had quite the impact.
If at some point FG strategists opt to bring her ‘home’ for a Dail run, the Dept. Of Agriculture, Food and the Marine would look the obvious base camp.
VIKKI WALL (GAELIC FOOTBALL/RUGBY/AFLW)
The local girl done good, quite literally. She’s always been a superstar in our eyes here in Dunboyne, but the difference is now the whole world knows it.
And, like the greatest of heroes, it has been anything but a straightforward spin to stardom for this truly gifted young woman. With Vikki already having overcome challenges which would’ve broken individuals of lesser resolve.
From a purely parochial point of view, the law of unintended consequences has meant that, while her versatile talents have taken her globe trotting, we haven’t had in club colours for what feels like a very long time and – worry wart that I am – I suppose as time passes there is a pondering as to when or if we will again.
Do not mistake that for bitterness or begrudgery however. I’ve said ad nauseum here over the years that the few working limbs that there are here would gladly be foregone if it made the difference in being able to be involved in such places. That the opportunity to be as such has never even may forever sit as the greatest sporting heartbreak encountered on the journey around this big old ball.
However, as with Nina, her sporting prowess has led and will undoubtedly lead to further business opportunities for Vikki. Already she has featured in an ad for the National Dairy Council and, given her love for and alacrity with the Irish language one could only imagine the opportunities will come her way, in and outside of sport.
Two sporting heroes. Two of our own. Two women that any young ladies would aspire to follow.
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