Valerie Mulcahy

Last updated

Valerie Mulcahy
Personal information
Sport Ladies' Gaelic football
Position Corner forward
Born Cork, Ireland
Occupation Teacher
Club(s)
YearsClub
 Rockbán
Inter-county(ies)
YearsCounty
2004–2015
 Cork
Inter-county titles
All-Irelands 10
All Stars 6

Valerie Mulcahy (born 1983) is an Irish footballer. As a ladies' Gaelic footballer, she played at senior level for Cork, winning ten All-Ireland titles and nine Ladies' National Football League titles between 2005 and 2015. She was also an All Star on six occasions. As a women's association football player, she represented Ireland at the 2003 Summer Universiade and played for Cork City in the Women's National League. In 2015, Mulcahy helped launch the Women's Gaelic Players' Association. In the same year, she also came out as gay.

Contents

Gaelic football

Between 2004 and 2015 Mulcahy played at senior level for the Cork county ladies' football team, representing her county in competitions such as the All-Ireland Senior Ladies' Football Championship, the Munster Senior Ladies' Football Championship and the Ladies' National Football League. Together with Rena Buckley, Nollaig Cleary, Briege Corkery, Juliet Murphy, Mary O'Connor and Angela Walsh, she was a prominent member of the Cork team, winning ten All-Ireland medals, ten Munster titles and nine League titles. [1] [2] [3] [4] Between 2005 and 2015, Mulcahy played in ten All-Ireland finals, scoring 7–38. She scored in every final she played in except in 2006. She scored two goals in 2007 [5] and scored a hat-trick of goals in 2008. [6] She was the top scorer in the All-Ireland final in 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013 and 2015. [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] In January 2015 Mulcahy helped launch the Women's Gaelic Players Association and subsequently served on the association's executive team. [14] [15]

Association football

Valerie Mulcahy
College career
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
University of Limerick
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2011–12 Cork Women's F.C.
2016– Cork City
International career
2003 Ireland Universities
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

While attending the University of Limerick, Mulcahy was chosen to represent Ireland at the 2003 Summer Universiade. During the inaugural 2011–12 Women's National League season, Mulcahy also played for Cork Women's F.C. and scored the winning goal in their first league victory. Mulcahy came on as a substitute to score an 86th-minute goal in a 1–0 win against Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium. After retiring as an inter-county Ladies' Gaelic footballer in 2015, Mulcahy subsequently joined Cork City for the 2016 season. [2] [16] [17] [18] [19]

Personal life

In January 2015, Mulcahy came out as lesbian. She announced the decision to coincide with her taking part in the Donal Óg Cusack/RTÉ documentary, Coming Out of the Curve. She subsequently campaigned in favour of same-sex marriage in the Republic of Ireland during the 2015 referendum. [1] [20] [21] [22] In June 2015 Mulcahy married Meg Blyth, her partner of six years. Blyth is a choreographer. [23] [24]

Teacher

Mulcahy studied PE and Irish at the University of Limerick and is a PE and Maths teacher at Gaelcholáiste Mhuire in Cork. [15] [23] [25]

Honours

Cork
Individual

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ladies' Gaelic football</span> Womens team sport

Ladies' Gaelic football is an Irish team sport for women. It is the women's equivalent of Gaelic football. Ladies' football is organised by the Ladies' Gaelic Football Association. Two teams of 15 players kick or hand-pass a round ball towards goals at each end of a grass pitch. The sport is mainly played in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, where the two main competitions are the All-Ireland Senior Ladies' Football Championship and the Ladies' National Football League. Both competitions feature teams representing the traditional Gaelic games counties. The 2017 All-Ireland Senior Ladies' Football Championship final was the best attended women's sports final of 2017. The 2019 final, after the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup Final, was the second largest attendance at any women's sporting final during 2019. Historically Cork and Kerry have been the sport's most successful counties. Waterford, Monaghan and Mayo have also experienced spells of success. In more recent years, 2017 to 2020, Dublin have been the dominant team.

The All-Ireland Senior Ladies' Football Championship is the premier inter-county competition in the game of ladies' Gaelic football in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Ladies' Gaelic Football Association and are played during the summer months, with the All-Ireland Final being played at Croke Park. The qualifiers were introduced in 2008.

The Ladies' Gaelic Football All Stars Awards have been hosted annually by the Ladies' Gaelic Football Association since 1980. The All Stars are sponsored by TG4. O'Neills have also helped sponsor the awards. All Stars are awarded to the best Ladies' Gaelic football players in each of the fifteen playing positions, effectively forming an All Star team. Between 1980 and 2002 the All Stars played an annual exhibition game against the winners of the All-Ireland Senior Ladies' Football Championship. Since 2004 the LGFA have organised bi-annual overseas exhibition games featuring two All Star selections. Since 2011 the LGFA has also organised three Player's Player of the Year awards, one each for the Senior, Intermediate and Junior All-Ireland Championships. These awards are announced and presented at the same ceremony as the All Stars. Mary J. Curran of Kerry and Cora Staunton of Mayo hold the all-time record for winning the most All Stars.

Rena Buckley is an Irish sportswoman who played at senior level for both the Cork county ladies' football team and the Cork county camogie team. She has also represented Munster in the Gael Linn Cup and Ireland at international rules. Between 2005 and 2017 she won 18 All-Ireland winners medals, making her one of the most decorated sportspeople in Gaelic games. In 2012 she captained Cork when they won the All-Ireland Senior Ladies' Football Championship and in 2017 she captained Cork when they won the All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship. She was the first player to captain Cork to both All-Ireland senior championships. She was also named as an All Star on eleven occasions. In 2015 Buckley and her team mate and fellow dual player, Briege Corkery, were named joint winners of the 2015 The Irish Times/ Sport Ireland Sportswoman of the Year Award.

Clíodhna O'Connor is a former senior Dublin ladies' footballer. She was a member of the Dublin team that won the All-Ireland Senior Ladies' Football Championship in 2010. She also played for Dublin in the 2003, 2004, 2009 and 2014 finals. She captained Dublin during the 2011 season. In 2004 and 2009 she was selected as an All Star and in 2010 she was included in the LGFA/TG4 Team of the Decade. She also played for the Ireland women's international rules football team. Since retiring as a player, O'Connor has coached Ladies' Gaelic football and hurling. She was a member of the coaching team at Cuala when they won the 2017 and 2018 All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship Finals. In 2019 she became a member of the Dublin senior hurling team coaching staff.

The 2005 All-Ireland Senior Ladies' Football Championship Final featured Cork and Galway. It was Cork's first final and Galway's third. Galway were also the reigning champions, having won the 2004 final. Galway led 0–4 to 0–3 at half-time, but Player of the Match, Valerie Mulcahy, subsequently scored 1–5 to help Cork win their first All-Ireland title. Cork eventually won 1–11 to 0–8. It was also the first of five consecutive All-Ireland finals that Cork would win between 2005 and 2009.

The Cork county ladies' football team represents Cork GAA in ladies' Gaelic football. The team competes in inter-county competitions such as the All-Ireland Senior Ladies' Football Championship, the Munster Senior Ladies' Football Championship and the Ladies' National Football League.

The Dublin county ladies' football team represents Dublin GAA in ladies' Gaelic football. The team competes in inter-county competitions such as the All-Ireland Senior Ladies' Football Championship, the Leinster Senior Ladies' Football Championship and the Ladies' National Football League.

Lindsay Peat is an Ireland women's rugby union international. Peat represented Ireland at the 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup. Peat is an all-round sportswoman. In addition to representing Ireland at women's rugby union, she has also played for the Republic of Ireland women's national association football team at U-18 level, captained the Ireland women's national basketball team and played senior Ladies' Gaelic football for Dublin. Between 2009 and 2014 she played in three All-Ireland finals. She was a member of the Dublin team that won the All-Ireland title in 2010 and she scored two goals in the 2014 final.

Dr. Noëlle Healy is a senior Dublin ladies' footballer. She was a member of the Dublin teams that won the All-Ireland Senior Ladies' Football Championship in 2010, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. She captained Dublin in the 2016 final and was named Player of the Match following the 2017 final. In 2017 she was also named the TG4 Senior Player's Player of the Year. She was the first Dublin player to win the award. She was also a member of the Dublin team that won the 2018 Ladies' National Football League and in the same year collected her fourth All Star award.

Hannah Tyrrell is an Ireland women's rugby union international. Tyrrell represented Ireland at the 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup. She was also a member of the Ireland team that won the 2015 Women's Six Nations Championship. Tyrrell is also an Ireland women's rugby sevens international. She has also played two other football codes at a senior level. As a women's association football player, Tyrrell played for St Catherine's in two FAI Women's Cup finals and played for Shamrock Rovers in the Women's National League. She also plays senior Ladies' Gaelic football for Dublin in the Ladies' National Football League.

Naomi Carroll is an Irish Olympian and Ireland women's field hockey international. In 2015–16 Carroll won a Women's Irish Hockey League title with Hermes. Carroll has also played both camogie and ladies' Gaelic football at senior inter-county level for Clare and represented the Republic of Ireland women's national under-17 football team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarah Rowe</span> Irish female footballer

Sarah Rowe is a triple code sportswoman. She is a former Republic of Ireland women's association football international. In addition to association football, Rowe has also played two other football codes at a senior level. She has played ladies' Gaelic football for Mayo and women's Australian rules football for Collingwood in the AFLW. At club level, Rowe has played association football for Castlebar Celtic, Raheny United, Shelbourne, Bohemians in the Women's National League and for Melbourne Victory in the A-League Women. Rowe was a member of the Republic of Ireland U19 team that won their group at the 2014 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship and qualified for the semi-finals. In 2016, she was also a member of the Shelbourne Ladies team that won a Women's National League/FAI Women's Cup double. In 2023, she returned to association football briefly playing for Melbourne Victory and then for Bohemians.

Sinéad Aherne is a senior Dublin ladies' footballer. In 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, she captained Dublin as they won the All-Ireland Senior Ladies' Football Championship. In 2010, when Dublin won their first All-Ireland title, she was both player of the match and the top scorer in the final with 2–7. She also captained Dublin when they won the 2018 Ladies' National Football League. In 2018 she was named the TG4 Senior Player's Player of the Year and received her seventh All Star award. She has also represented Ireland at international rules.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sinéad Goldrick</span> Dublin senior ladies footballer

Sinéad Goldrick is a dual code footballer, playing at the highest level in both Gaelic football and Australian rules football. She captained Dublin ladies in the 2014 All-Ireland Senior Ladies' Football Championship final and was a member of the Dublin teams that won the All-Ireland Senior Ladies' Football Championship in 2017, 2018 and 2019. She was also a member of the Dublin team that won the 2018 Ladies' National Football League. In 2019 she won her seventh All Star award. During the 2010s she was also a prominent member of the Foxrock–Cabinteely team that won Dublin and Leinster titles and played in All-Ireland finals. In October 2019 it was announced that Goldrick has agreed to play for Melbourne Football Club of the AFLW in 2020 and she won a premiership with the club in 2022.

Niamh McEvoy is a senior Dublin ladies' footballer and an Australian rules footballer with Melbourne Football Club in the AFL Women's. McEvoy was a member of the Dublin teams that won the All-Ireland Senior Ladies' Football Championship in 2010, 2017, 2018 and 2019. She was also a member of the Dublin team that won the 2018 Ladies' National Football League.

Foxrock–Cabinteely GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the Foxrock, Cabinteely, Johnstown and Cornelscourt areas of Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown. The club was founded in 2005, following the merger of Foxrock Girls Gaelic Club and Cabinteely GAA. The club specialises in ladies' Gaelic football. During the 2010s Foxrock–Cabinteely have won both the Dublin Ladies' Senior Football Championship and the Leinster Ladies' Senior Club Football Championship. They have also played in All-Ireland Ladies' Club Football Championship finals.

Lyndsey Davey is a senior Dublin ladies' footballer. She was a member of the Dublin teams that won the All-Ireland Senior Ladies' Football Championship in 2010, 2017, 2018 and 2019. She captained Dublin in 2015. She was also a member of the Dublin team that won the 2018 Ladies' National Football League. In 2019 she received her fifth All Star award. She won her first All Star in 2005 at the age of 15.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saoirse Noonan</span> Irish footballer

Saoirse Noonan is an Irish dual code footballer from Cork. In association football she plays for Durham of the English FA Women's Championship. She represents the Republic of Ireland at senior level, having also represented Ireland at youth level. From 2018 until 2020 she also played ladies' Gaelic football at senior level for the Cork county ladies' football team, competing in the Ladies' National Football League and All-Ireland Senior Ladies' Football Championship.

References

  1. 1 2 "What a year it was for Cork ladies football star Valerie Mulcahy". www.irishexaminer.com. 7 January 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Fulfilling all her Croke Park dreams with Cork, bar one, and equality across the board". www.the42.ie. 19 May 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  3. ↑ "'The time is right' - Cork's Valerie Mulcahy retires". www.irishtimes.com. 11 April 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  4. ↑ "Valerie Mulcahy announces intercounty retirement". www.irishexaminer.com. 11 April 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  5. ↑ "Mayo v Cork All-Ireland Final Report". ladiesgaelic.ie. 26 September 2007. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  6. ↑ "Cork 4-13 Monaghan 0-11". www.rte.ie. 28 September 2008. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  7. ↑ "Mulcahy shoots the rebels to historic title treble". ladiesgaelic.ie. 3 October 2005. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  8. ↑ "Cork's craft and guile gets them over the line at Croke Park". www.irishtimes.com. 28 September 2009. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  9. ↑ "It's joy of six for Cork girls". www.independent.ie. 26 September 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  10. ↑ "TG4 All-Ireland Ladies SFC Final – Cork 0-16 Kerry 0-7". munster.gaa.ie. 7 October 2012. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  11. ↑ "TG4 All Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship Final – Cork 1-10 Monaghan 1-9". munster.gaa.ie. 29 September 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  12. ↑ "All Ireland Ladies Football Senior Final – Cork 2-13 Dublin 2-12". munster.gaa.ie. 28 September 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  13. ↑ "Rebelettes claim Ladies Football five-in-a-row by beating Dublin". www.rte.ie. 27 September 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  14. ↑ "Valerie Mulcahy welcomes launch of Women's Gaelic Players' Association". www.irishtimes.com. 21 January 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  15. 1 2 "WGPA Executive Team". www.wgpa.ie. 21 January 2015. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  16. ↑ "Valerie Mulcahy returns to Cork City Women's FC". www.corkcitywomensfc.com. 27 September 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  17. ↑ "Dual star! 10-time All-Ireland winner Valerie Mulcahy signs for Cork City Women's FC". www.the42.ie. 27 September 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  18. ↑ "Cork GAA legend Valerie Mulcahy signs for Cork City". www.irishtimes.com. 27 September 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  19. ↑ "Shamrock Rovers 0–1 Cork Women's F.C." www.extratime.ie. 4 December 2011. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  20. ↑ "9-time All-Ireland winner Valerie Mulcahy comes out in Donal Óg documentary". www.the42.ie. 14 January 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  21. ↑ "Cork star Valerie Mulcahy goes public on sexuality 'to help others'". www.independent.ie. 14 January 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  22. ↑ "Valerie Mulcahy may decide to leave Ireland if 'Yes' campaign fails". www.independent.ie. 2 May 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  23. 1 2 "Cork footballer Valerie Mulcahy to wed longterm girlfriend Meg Blyth this month". www.thevow.ie. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  24. ↑ "Cork footballer Valerie Mulcahy weds long-term love Meg Blyth". www.thevow.ie. 27 June 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  25. ↑ "GAA stars awarded High Performance Scholarships at UL". www.ul.ie. 21 November 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.