Meet Niamh from Ballymacward

Niamh is a secondary school teacher of English and Geography. She works in the Holy Rosary College in Mountbellew; the same school she attended as a student. However she is better known for her collection of All-Stars and her role as captain, for the Galway Senior Camogie Team. Niamh is no stranger to the waters of Galway Bay. After intense matches the players will often go for a dip in the sea to aid their recovery. The training for senior level camogie has intensified over the years. While players spend hours honing their skills there is now also a focus on strength and conditioning.

Growing up Niamh played both camogie and football but she started to focus primarily on camogie in her teenage years. Instead of resenting how she always has had to plan around games and training sessions, she feels it has added to her life. Her best friends come from the teams she has played with over the years; from club, college and county.  Playing senior camogie is a lifestyle choice for Niamh. The evening training sessions, the weekend games and plans dictated by fixtures is all she has ever known and she loves it.

Niamh has played in 4 All-Ireland finals where Galway came runners up. A loss at this level can be very disappointing but Niamh believes there is no point dwelling on it. Instead she focuses on how she and her team can improve. This level headed approach is one of the reasons Niamh is captain of the Galway team. In 2013 the win came and to make it even sweeter Niamh and her sister Orla  played together to win the All-Ireland Senior final.

This year Galway got as far at the All-Ireland Semi-Final. Here's hoping 2017 brings another win for Niamh and her side.