Celebrating Women in Sport Week 2026: The Family Ties Powering GAA Rounders
Celebrating Women in Sport Week 2026
The Family Ties Powering GAA Rounders
In Part One of our series, we met the Super Sisters and Magical Mums & Daughters of our community. Today we turn our spotlight toward the wives, fiancées, sisters-in-law and cousins who prove that GAA Rounders truly has it all when it comes to family ties on the pitch and in the clubhouse.
We are proud to be a code where women of all ages can carve out vital time for themselves. From seasoned athletes to brave novices picking up a bat for the first time, our community is a place to shine, make lifelong friends and learn new skills.
Partners in Life & Sport
As busy working foster mums – Catriona training as a Counselling Psychotherapist and Ashleigh working as a Community Warden – life is a constant mental load of appointments and responsibilities.
“Somewhere along the way, we realised we were always ‘doing’ but rarely just ‘being’,” says Catriona. “We wanted shared laughter and goals that weren’t about problem-solving.”
That desire for connection led to the birth of Nobber Rounders. Seven sessions in, it has grown into a space where women show up for themselves and each other.
“For Ashleigh and I, doing this together strengthens us as wives. We share the learning curves, the nerves of blitz days, and the pride in watching this community grow. Even our 8-year-old daughter joins us on the sidelines – GAA Rounders is already nourishing our family life.”
Hazel and Katie represent the Rapparees with pride, but their sporting lives have an international flair.
While both play softball as well as Rounders, it isn’t often you find a couple representing different nations: Hazel lines out for Ireland, while Katie represents Team GB.
The Cousin Connection – Breaffy, Mayo
We met sisters Ciara and Katie in Part One, but the Breaffy family is even larger. Their cousin Margaret “Moggs” Fitzgibbon rejoined the club in 2025 to show her children the positivity of sport.
A natural talent, Moggs was nominated for a Senior All-Star in her very first season back – proving that talent truly runs in the family.
Sisters Gráinne and Aileen also brought their cousin Kelly Roache into the Breaffy fold in 2025.
Kelly has already become an invaluable member of the club, bringing a sense of fun and respect to every session. She has also bravely stepped up to the role of Club Treasurer for 2026. Maith thú, Kelly!
Sisters & In-Laws – Garrymore, Mayo
Sisters Lynda and Connie are joined on the Garrymore team by their sister-in-law, Joanne. This trio has been with the club since day one.
For Lynda and Connie, the competition doesn’t stop on the Rounders pitch – the pair also undertake Hyrox training and join Joanne for Park Runs whenever their busy schedules allow.
Celebrating the Heartbeat of our Game
As Women in Sport Week 2026 comes to a close, we want to say a massive thank you to all the incredible women who shared their stories with us.
From the Mothers and Daughters passing down the passion for the jersey, to the Sisters, Wives and Cousins who find their joy on a patch of grass – you have shown that GAA Rounders is more than just a sport. It is a community where women can find time for themselves, build lifelong friendships and compete at every level.
Why GAA Rounders?
- Inclusivity: Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or a total novice, there’s a place for you.
- Lifelong Sport: We have players from U7 Go Games to Senior Champions. There is no upper age limit to our sport.
- Unique Connection: The only GAA code where men and women can line out together on the same adult team.
