Cora Staunton, a legend in Irish sports, admits to a pang of envy when she sees the current landscape of women's sports in Ireland. But why?
On Friday, December 20, 2025, Cora Staunton, an 11-time All-Star winner, received the Outstanding Contribution to Sport award from The Irish Times. A moment of celebration, yes, but also a moment of reflection. Staunton, a true trailblazer, couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy observing the progress of women's sports today.
Staunton's resume is nothing short of remarkable. She boasts four All-Ireland titles for Mayo and six All-Ireland club medals. She also made history as the first overseas player in the Women’s Australian Football League, spending six years with the Great Western Sydney Giants before retiring in 2023. She's a role model for countless athletes who followed in her footsteps.
Now serving as the Gaelic Players Association vice-president, Staunton played a key role in establishing many of the structures that today's female GAA stars benefit from. And while she's proud of her accomplishments, she admits to a little envy.
"I think you can look at it and you can be a little bit jealous and envious of it but at the same time you can be really, you know, honoured to look at it and go, 'you know if this is where it was when I started…'" Staunton shared with RTÉ Radio 1's Inside Sport. "I think to myself, 'you were a part of the journey and made it to where it is now’. I still think there's growth. I think in any sport there's room for growth and I think there's things that we need to get better at."
Staunton passionately advocates for better support for female athletes in Ireland. "I'll always be the one banging the drum and advocating that female sports stars here in Ireland are looked after better. I do that in my role with the GPA but it's really important." She also emphasized the importance of retaining Irish players in Ladies Gaelic football, even as many are drawn to opportunities in Australia.
But here's where it gets controversial... Staunton is hopeful about the Steering Group on Integration (SGI), chaired by former president Mary McAleese, and their efforts to merge the LGFA, GAA, and Camogie Association. The SGI aims for a 2027 integration target, which Staunton believes is achievable.
"It's hugely important... and you can get tired of banging it. But since Mary McAleese came in and started the integration process I think it's been successful." Staunton acknowledges that there's still work to be done, particularly in 2026. She highlights the need for clubs to come together and address ongoing challenges, such as the dual player issue and access to resources.
"There are struggles, you hear stories of lights being turned off at county finals in different counties or the dual player issue, whatever it might be. There are still struggles and we're not going to hide away from it, but you'd hope that integration will in some way sort a lot of the problems out."
Staunton encourages making difficult but brave decisions to advance the cause of women's sports. Do you agree with Staunton's perspective on the progress of women's sports? Do you believe the integration of the LGFA, GAA, and Camogie Association is the right path forward? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
