Ireland

An Post launches stamps to celebrate Irish women in sport

Rachael Blackmore, Kellie Harrington, Ellen Keane and the Ireland hockey team among those honoured

Hannah McLoughlin, Sarah Torrens, and Lizzie Murphy of the Ireland women’s hockey team with Hildegarde Naughton at the launch of An Post stamps celebrating Irish female sports heroes. Photograph: Maxwells
Hannah McLoughlin, Sarah Torrens, and Lizzie Murphy of the Ireland women’s hockey team with Hildegarde Naughton at the launch of An Post stamps celebrating Irish female sports heroes. Photograph: Maxwells
Aine Kenny
Wed Mar 02 2022 - 21:26

An Post has launched a new set of stamps to celebrate the sporting achievements of Irish women.

The new stamps are available to purchase in a booklet of six from Thursday in advance of International Women’s Day on March 8th.

The athletes being honoured as part of the stamp collection include Rachael Blackmore, who became the first female top jockey at Cheltenham and the first female Aintree Grand National winner. Olympic boxing gold medallists Kellie Harrington and Katie Taylor also feature.

The Irish women’s hockey team have their own stamp. The Ireland women’s hockey team were silver medallists at the 2018 World Cup, and the current squad has also qualified for this year’s World Cup.

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Ellen Keane, who won a gold medal in the 100m breaststroke at last year’s Paralympics in Tokyo, is also on one of the stamps. At just 13 years old she swam in the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games, making her Ireland’s youngest competing Paralympian.

Sonia O’Sullivan, Ireland’s most successful track and field female athlete, is also featured. She won 16 major Olympic, World and European medals during her career.

The stamps were designed by Unthink, a Dublin-based studio.

Each stamp features a powerful sporting moment captured by photojournalists from Irish agencies Inpho and Sportsfile and from Getty Images.

Honour and privilege

Ayeisha McFerran, goalkeeper for the Irish women’s hockey team, said it was an honour to be featured on the stamp. “For us as a team it is huge. It’s an honour and privilege – it has generated a lot of recognition for what we have achieved over the past four years.”

McFerran said she hoped this monumental moment would be the start of a good year. The team will be playing in the World Cup in July, and shortly after this there is a EuroHockey Championship qualifier in Dublin.

She said the support of the Irish people meant a lot to the team. “We love having people come with us on our journey. It helps motivate us.”

Hildegarde Naughton, Minister of State for the Environment, Climate and Communications, said the stamps celebrated the achievements of Irish women in sport on a world stage.

“I for one have the utmost respect for the Irish women in sport who are key role models to young girls the length and breadth of the country. They demonstrate how strength, resilience and determination can pay off when you, or your team, set a goal and strive to achieve it.”