Jacqui Hurley Boeken

Irish sportswomen have been breaking the mould for a long time. From Maeve Kyle becoming Ireland’s first female Olympian in 1956, to motorsport pioneer Rosemary Smith breaking the land-speed record in 1978. Through the 1990s and 2000s we had world champions in Sonia O’Sullivan, Derval O’Rourke and Olive Loughnane. More recently, the success of Katie Taylor, Kellie Harrington and Annalise Murphy has kept Irish sportswomen on the global map.But amidst their success stories, the battle for recognition continues. Female athletes still receive only a small proportion of the media coverage their male counterparts receive. This book will break the mould once more with a first ever compendium of stories for young girls about our most accomplished contemporary sportswomen. With a fairy-tale touch, RTÉ’s Jacqui Hurley tells the real-life stories of women who have proved that gender is not a barrier to success. Each story in Girls Play Too is one of overcoming adversity, and the role models celebrated here are sure to inspire the next generation of Irish sportswomen.

Highlighting the achievements of Irish sportswomen, this book showcases the inspiring stories of twenty-five contemporary athletes who have defied barriers and excelled in their fields. With a fairy-tale touch, Jacqui Hurley narrates tales of overcoming challenges, emphasizing that gender does not limit sporting success. Accompanied by illustrations from five talented female Irish artists, it aims to motivate the next generation of girls to pursue their dreams and showcases the remarkable contributions of women in sports.

Irish sportswomen continue to make headlines! Whether it is Katie Taylor's continued dominance in the boxing ring, or Rachel Blackmore's phenomenal success in 2021--as the leading jockey at Cheltenham and the first ever Grand National winner--Irish women are leading the way through their sporting achievements. Based on interviews with the featured athletes and fully illustrated in colour, the second volume of Girls Play Too continues from where the first book left off. Spoilt for choice, Jacqui's selection includes some of the most successful athletes to ever grace a GAA pitch, pioneering horse-racing jockeys, elite figures from the athletics circuit, stalwarts of the Irish football team, members of the hugely successful hockey team, and a host of figures who are excelling in their chosen codes. With her popular fairy-tale touch, RTÉ's Jacqui Hurley tells the real-life stories of women who have proved that gender is not a barrier to success. Each new story in Girls Play Too: Book 2 is one of empowerment and overcoming adversity, and the role models celebrated here are sure to inspire the next generation of Irish sportswomen.