Carla Rowe is up on stage, sandwiched between Ciara Mageean and Keith Earls. Kelly Cates and Maggie Alphonsi had been shooting the breeze in those same seats moments earlier. As National Football League launches go, this was a tad different.
Rowe is a biology and science teacher in Balbriggan Community College. But she also captained Dublin to All-Ireland SFC glory in 2023 and as a four-time All Star the Clann Mhuire player is one of the most recognisable woman footballers in the country.
“I’m honoured to be involved in the event, when I first saw the speakers that were going to be there – for me as a Gaelic player to be alongside Keith Earls and Ciara and then Maggie and Kelly, that’s like a dream come true. Delighted to be able to be involved,” she said after the formalities concluded at Croke Park on Tuesday afternoon.
But Rowe, of course, is more than merely involved. Over the coming weeks and months she is likely to again be a central character in the story of the Women’s Gaelic Football season.
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Surveys conducted by Red C (1004 respondents) and by the LGFA (100 players) to coincide with the launch of the 2025 Lidl National Football League show that while 100 per cent of women intercounty players believe having LGFA role models is important, 43 per cent do not consider themselves to be one.
The results also indicated that 42 per cent of the public are more likely to attend a women's sporting event if a high-profile athlete was participating.
The polls also found that one in four are more interested in women’s sport now than 12 months ago, while 75 per cent of participants were able to name an Irish women's sports star unprompted.
“It resonated with me that 43 per cent of women's players don’t see themselves as role models. That’s probably something that we need to try and shift and I know I’m guilty of that,” added Rowe.
“There are moments where you think, ‘Wow, this is amazing, look at all the kids at a Cúl Camp that want me to sign their jersey,’ and things like that.
“But it’s probably about trying to build that confidence where people feel they can step outside their comfort zone a bit.”
Rowe has seen the impact her profile can have on kids. Along with fellow teacher Sally Moloney, Rowe coaches the girls football team in school.
“Some of them will come in and say, ‘Miss, I saw you on TikTok’ and I’m like, ‘I’m not on TikTok, I don’t know how you saw me!’
“But they love that, they are going back to their other friends who aren’t in the school and saying, ‘Ms Rowe is our Gaelic coach,’ and that’s why they wanted to play Gaelic, even though some of them might have never played before. It’s only in those kind of little moments you realise that it is actually a driving factor.”
Alphonsi (capped 74 times by England and a World Rugby Hall of Famer) and Cates (British TV and radio broadcaster tipped to be named as part of the new Match of the Day presenting team) were in attendance at Croke Park to share their experiences of women's models in sport.
“It’s important that, as females with a platform in sport, we use our voices to elevate the profiles of women’s athletes and normalise sport as a world where young girls and women can be a part of. The more we do this, the more we can inspire the next generation and challenge societal norms,” commented Cates.
Earls, whose daughters play with Monaleen GAA club in Limerick, added: “Sporting role models can inspire young people to chase their dreams or to stay in sport and benefit from all the great things that sport can provide like teamwork, friendship and resilience.”
The resilience of the Dublin dressingroom is set to be tested over the coming weeks.
Dublin bowed out of the 2024 All-Ireland SFC following a quarter-final loss to Galway last July. Their 2025 campaign throws in on Saturday week when they welcome Mayo to Parnell Park for the start of the league.
The game will take place on the same day as the Dublin men’s team play Mayo in Croke Park – a triple header along with the Dublin hurlers v Antrim, and the All-Ireland junior club football final between Naomh Pádraig and An Cheathrú Rua.
The Dublin women’s side have new joint managers this season with Paul Casey and Derek Murray replacing Mick Bohan at the helm.
“Legacy is what I think should follow Mick around. For me, he changed the face of Dublin ladies,” said Rowe of her former manager.
“With Mick, he came in from the men’s side, but there was no [difference] between the men and the women. What the men had, that was the expectation for the ladies – in my eyes I think it was one of the first set-ups to have that, there was no reason for us not to have what our counterparts had. That was a huge thing.
“Last year was probably the most hurt I have been and it now makes me the most motivated I’ve been. And a lot of girls in the dressingroom are the same. We just feel that we didn’t do ourselves justice. We are really hungry to get going.”
Opening Rounds of the Lidl National Football League (2pm unless stated)
Sunday, January 19th
Division 4
Kilkenny v Antrim
Leitrim v Fermanagh
Sligo v Wicklow
Longford v Derry
**
Saturday, January 25th
Division 1
Kerry v Armagh (1.30pm, Live on TG4)
Dublin v Mayo
Sunday, January 26th
Tyrone v Meath
Kildare v Waterford
Division 2
Saturday, January 25th
Cork v Westmeath
Roscommon v Monaghan
Tipperary v Galway
Clare v Donegal
Division 3
Sunday, January 26th
Laois v Carlow
Limerick v Down
Wexford v Offaly
Louth v Cavan
Sunday, January 26th
Division 4
Derry v Fermanagh
Sligo v Antrim
Wicklow v Leitrim
Longford v Kilkenny
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