Latest news with #KatiePower
Irish Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Irish Times
Summer brings different vibes for Waterford and Tyrone
'This year,' Denis Walsh reminds us, 'the group stages of the hurling championship started before the end of Lent and finished before Gary Lineker'. For those, like Waterford, who didn't make it through, it's brutal . Their manager Peter Queally 'had conversations with players who couldn't face a winter of training and meaningless league matches, only for their year to be over in the last month of spring'. He's pining for a format change that would at least send their season in to summer. Tyrone's footballers are heading for summer with a pep in their step after beating Donegal in Ballybofey last Saturday, Conor McManus reckoning that, once again, you could see the impact of the new rules . And after turning out for his club side, he got 'a bit of hands-on experience' with them himself. Next up for Tyrone is Mayo in Omagh on Saturday, but the latter, reports Seán Moran, will be without Kevin McStay at the helm after he stepped back from his managerial role due to 'some personal health issues'. In camogie, Gordon Manning talks to Katie Power about the two-week protest against skorts that, for the Kilkenny captain, 'felt like two months'. She and her Dublin counterpart Aisling Maher 'emerged as the embodiment of the campaign' after they were photographed wearing shorts prior to their Leinster semi-final. READ MORE In rugby, we have, writes Gerry Thornley, arrived at 'the era of the French' , Bordeaux Bègles' Champions Cup triumph the fifth in a row for a country this is now 'the heartbeat' of the European game. Who can challenge them? Leinster, with their financial might, 'remain the most viable contender by a distance'. Gerry also hears from Leinster old-boy Ross Molony who collected a Challenge Cup winner's medal after Bath's victory over Lyon. 'It's done wonders for my career,' he says of his move to the English club. His old chums face Scarlets in the quarter-finals of the URC on Saturday, but John O'Sullivan brings news that they will do so without the injured Tadhg Furlong and Robbie Henshaw . Jordan Larmour is, though, closing in on a return. And in his Whistleblower column, Owen Doyle is not impressed by news from World Rugby that the 20-minute red card , long in place in southern hemisphere rugby, will now be trialled globally - including during this summer's Lions tour. In football, we hear from the-soon-to-retire Louise Quinn and new recruit Erin Healy in the build-up to Ireland's Nations League meetings with Turkey and Slovenia, and in athletics, Ian O'Riordan talks to Sarah Healy about her improving her 3,000m best by almost four seconds at the Diamond League in Morocco. In his Different Strokes column, Philip Reid rounds up the golf news, including a frustrated Pádraig Harrington's reflections on tying for second at the US Senior PGA Championship, having led by two strokes in the final round. And in racing, Brian O'Connor has word on Ted Walsh's successful appeal against a €3,000 fine imposed on him under 'Non-Trier' rules earlier this month. The alleged non-trying horse, Ta Na La, remains banned for 60 days, though. TV Watch: There's more coverage from the French tennis Open through the day on TNT Sports (from 10am), and TNT Sports 3 has the 16th stage of cycling's Giro d'Italia, Mexico's Isaac del Toro leading the overall standings.
Extra.ie
4 days ago
- Sport
- Extra.ie
Katie Power: 'It was great to have done it … but those two weeks were tough going'
Katie Power never intended to become one of the faces of a national campaign. When she lined up for the toss as Kilkenny captain alongside Dublin's Aisling Maher for the Leinster camogie semifinal, she never imagined that image with the match referee would become iconic in terms of the whole shorts and skorts controversy. Ordered back to the dressing room to change so that the match could proceed under the existing rules governing playing attire, that was the image that quickly went viral. Speaking at the official launch of the 2025 Glen Dimplex All-Ireland camogie championships at Croke Park, only a matter of days after delegates to Special Congress voted 98 per cent in favour of allowing players a choice, Power admits to being 'overwhelmed' by it all. Kilkenny captain Katie Power. Pic: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile How the whole episode was 'tough mentally' and 'very draining'. But how the legacy of that stance has been a powerful and positive one. She ended up being the target of podcasters, social media influencers – you name it. All are looking for a piece of her and to talk through the impact of the protest action that day, which snowballed into a national and even international debate. How had she found the last few weeks? 'I found them tough going. I didn't expect what happened to happen – we were just making the protest to voice our opinions. I definitely wasn't aware of what was going to come. 'The two weeks after that were tough mentally, very draining. The phone was just absolutely blowing up, but for the better. 'I'm happy that we decided to do it. Obviously, what came in the aftermath was huge, but it's done with now. Kilkenny captain Katie Power. Pic: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile 'It was great to have done it, for the future of camogie and the younger girls, it's great. But those two weeks felt like two months.' Right in that moment of the matchday protest, she didn't know if the backlash would be negative rather than an overwhelming tide of support for player choice. The picture of a male referee, Ray Kelly, instructing two female captains on playing gear carried a power all of its own. 'I was probably away with the birds a small bit. It was only after the match that it kind of dawned on me that I was obviously in for the toss, and that was what was going to go out, that picture. It just didn't dawn on me until after that. 'Aisling is obviously a rep with the GPA [Gaelic Players Association]. She was there, obviously in for the toss and she kind of understood what was going to happen more than myself maybe. I think we did it for the right reasons.' Pic: © INPHO/Tom Maher The campaign for immediate change led on to the Munster final being postponed when Cork and Waterford declared their intention to wear shorts, and culminated in the Camogie Association quickly calling a Special Congress to vote on the issue of players being allowed a choice. Power didn't hear the news until the next morning. As a personal trainer, she had a 5 am start, so she was tucked up in bed for the verdict. 'I was working early, up at five o'clock so I said, 'here, I'm not going to be able to change this now', and I woke up, checked the phone.' She was confident it would be passed, especially after the example of Kilkenny, where players had been mandated through their clubs, and the support for change was obvious. 'There was too much about it for it not to go through. 'In Kilkenny anyway, the surveys went out through all the clubs, and if it was the same in every other county, there was only going to be one decision.' Were there any messages from people she didn't expect? 'Oh, a huge amount. Famous people, famous influencers, podcasters. I was trying to work, and they'd be looking to talk, and I just didn't have time for that. 'I did not see that coming at all and it was great because it did give it a huge exposure. I suppose that's probably what gave it that extra push for it to just get passed and to bring the Special Congress forward as well.' Power is asked if she thinks there's a way of turning all the publicity of the last few weeks into a positive for the game. 'Oh, I think the whole thing can be turned into a positive,' she says. 'People that have never really taken notice of camogie have taken notice. The amount of messages that we got from mothers of young girls that play camogie. Or teachers in schools that teach girls, bring them to camogie games or the blitzes. 'So that's another positive, that they now have the choice.'
Irish Examiner
5 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Camogie chief hopes skort drama helps fill Croker
Kilkenny captain Katie Power has revealed she was 'overwhelmed' by the scale of the skorts versus shorts controversy, describing the last few weeks as 'tough'. Experienced Power, in her 18th season as a Kilkenny senior, took a lead role in the initial protest action taken by the Kilkenny and Dublin squads prior to the Leinster semi-final earlier this month. Power and Dublin counterpart Ashling Maher were memorably pictured before throw-in wearing shorts, instead of the mandated skorts, though the game only went ahead when all of the players changed into skorts. Similar protests followed around the country, prompting a historic Special Congress vote last week to allow players the choice between skorts and shorts. Power was speaking at the launch of the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland camogie championships where the majority of players were photographed in their county strips, wearing shorts. "I won't tell you a lie, I found those weeks tough going," said Power. "I was overwhelmed with everything that came with it and it was something that maybe I wasn't expecting. I 100 percent didn't expect what happened to happen. We were just making the protest, to voice our opinions. "I definitely wasn't aware of what was going to come and the two weeks after that were tough, mentally, as in very draining. We didn't know what was going to happen, were we going to have matches or not? "The phone was just absolutely blowing up but for the better. I'm happy that we decided to do it. But obviously what came in the aftermath was huge. It's done with now and, looking back, it was great to have done it, great for the future of Camogie and the younger girls. But yeah, for those two weeks it was tough going, they felt like two months." The skorts versus shorts debate became an international story with The Guardian and The New York Times among outlets to carry the story. Power said she received a 'huge amount' of messages as well as opportunities to speak to various outlets about the issue. "Real famous people, famous influencers, podcasters," explained the personal trainer. "I was trying to work and they'd be looking to talk to you and I just didn't have time for that. But fair play, as in it was people taking a genuine interest. It was something I didn't see coming at all and it was great because it did give it a huge exposure and I suppose that's probably what gave it that extra push to bring the Special Congress forward and to get it passed." Power, 33, first played as a senior with Kilkenny when she was 15. "You see pictures and you wonder, how did I actually play in them?" she said of previous skorts. Cork captain Meabh Cahalane attended the launch and said the back-to-back All-Ireland winners 'felt a responsibility' to step up during the protest period. Cork and Waterford's scheduled Munster final fixture earlier this month was postponed after players signalled their intention to wear shorts. "If looking for a choice was something that girls wanted, we just felt we should speak up and speak on their behalf," said Cahalane. "It was obviously hugely disappointing that the Munster final did get cancelled because we had prepared for that really well." Both Kilkenny and Cork got their All-Ireland campaigns underway last weekend. Kilkenny defeated Derry by 3-26 to 0-9 while Cork were also at their ease when firing 6-25 beyond a stunned Limerick. Cork will take on Tipperary in Round 2 at The Ragg this Saturday. Armagh's Nicola Woods also attended the Championship launch and wore a skort at the event. "Personally, I prefer shorts myself even though I'm wearing a skort here today," said Woods. "I think everybody was just hoping to have the option, to have the choice to do what they prefer." Camogie President Brian Molloy acknowledged a 'challenging couple of weeks' for players and said he hopes the increased focus on camogie will translate into larger crowds. "I want all those people to keep their attention on camogie over the next number of weeks and months so that on August 10 (All-Ireland finals) we can fill the whole of Croke Park, we've never done it before," said Molloy.
Irish Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
‘Those two weeks felt like two months': Kilkenny captain Katie Power reveals overwhelming toll of skorts protest
Katie Power admits the reaction to the Kilkenny-Dublin skorts protest was, at times, overwhelming. The Kilkenny captain and her Dublin counterpart Aisling Maher emerged as the embodiment of the campaign following an Irish Times photograph of the pair wearing shorts prior to their Leinster semi-final. The momentum gained from that initial stance ultimately led to last Thursday's Special Congress, at which 98 per cent of delegates supported a motion to provide players with a choice of wearing shorts or skorts. Power was happy with the outcome but admits the level of attention generated by the protest was difficult to manage. READ MORE 'I won't tell you a lie, I found those few weeks tough going,' she said at the launch of the 2025 Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Camogie Championships. 'Overwhelmed, I suppose, with everything that came with it. 'I 100 per cent didn't expect what happened to happen. We were just making the protest, obviously to voice our opinions, but I definitely wasn't aware of what was going to come afterwards. 'The two weeks after that were tough mentally – very draining. My phone was just absolutely blowing up, but for the better. 'It was only after the match that it kind of dawned on me that I was in for the toss and that was the picture that was going to go out. Kilkenny captain Katie Power and Dublin counterpart Aisling Maher, both wearing shorts, are addressed by referee Ray Kelly before the Leinster semi-final. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw 'I'm happy that we decided to do it, but obviously what came in the aftermath was huge. It's done with now and looking back, it was great to have done it for the future of camogie and the younger girls. It's great now, but those two weeks were tough going, they felt like two months.' Power, who is entering her 18th season with Kilkenny, works as a personal trainer. She had to be up at 5am last Friday morning, which meant she was tucked up in bed as delegates were voting at Special Congress the night before. 'I didn't even look at the phone until the next morning,' she said. 'I was in bed, I was working early. I was [able to sleep]; I was nervous about it at the beginning, but in the few days beforehand there was too much about it for the motion not to pass.' Of the eight players present at Croke Park on Monday for the launch of the 2025 championships, seven wore shorts. Armagh's Nicola Woods wore a skort and the defender pointed out that nearly all her teammates togged out in skorts for last weekend's championship clash against Roscommon. I have an uncle in America and he was on the phone to my mother wondering if we were wearing shorts or skorts at the weekend — Méabh Cahalane 'Personally, I prefer shorts even though I'm wearing a skort here today,' said Woods. 'I think everybody just wanted players to have a choice. 'Unlike probably many counties, a lot of the Armagh girls are keen to keep the skort. For our game on Saturday, I think I was the only one on the team who wore the shorts.' Cork captain Méabh Cahalane also supported the campaign for players to have a choice. The late postponement of the Munster final between Cork and Waterford denied Cahalane the opportunity of leading her team to a possible provincial title earlier this month. [ Camogie president targets filling Croke Park for All-Ireland final Opens in new window ] [ Nicky English: Improving Galway will be serious opposition in Leinster final but nervous Cork continue to struggle Opens in new window ] There remains uncertainty around when the Munster final will be refixed because there is very little space in the calendar with the All-Ireland series now ongoing. However, Cahalane is pleased a resolution was found on the skorts-shorts issue. 'It obviously got huge coverage both on social media and in the news, it travelled fast and travelled wide,' she said. 'I have an uncle in America and he was on the phone to my mother wondering if we were wearing shorts or skorts at the weekend. I suppose it got huge coverage and hopefully now camogie, the game, will get the same coverage. 'Getting the result that a choice would be introduced, we were just delighted.'
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Kilkenny camogie star reveals contact from ‘famous people, influencers and podcasters' following infamous skorts protest
KILKENNY captain Katie Power says the intensity of the skorts versus shorts debate 'overwhelmed' her. But the three-time All-Ireland winner was delighted about the outcome as players were ultimately granted the choice to wear either. Advertisement 2 Katie Power at the launch the 2025 Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Camogie Championships in Croke Park Credit: INPHO/Tom Maher 2 Chairperson of the Leinster camogie association Martin Quilty presents the cup to Kilkenny captain Katie Power after the Leinster Senior Camogie final Credit: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile Kilkenny wore shorts last weekend when they started their Glen Dimplex All-Ireland campaign with a big win over Derry. Power was at the centre of the She posed with Dublin captain Ashling Maher before throw-in wearing shorts, instead of skorts, along with their regular kit. They had to change back into skorts to play the game but it forced a national debate that ended with a Advertisement Read More on Camogie Speaking at the launch of the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland camogie championship, Power said: 'I won't tell you a lie — I found those weeks tough going. I was overwhelmed with everything that came with it and it was something that maybe I wasn't expecting. 'I 100 per cent didn't expect what happened to happen. We were just making the protest, to voice our opinions. 'I definitely wasn't aware of what was going to come and the two weeks after that were tough, mentally, as in very draining.' Power said her phone was 'blowing up' with people contacting her to either express support or chat about the issue. Advertisement Most read in Sport The four-time All-Star forward, 33, explained: 'It was real famous people, famous influencers, podcasters. I was trying to work and they'd be looking to talk to you and I just didn't have the time for that. But fair play, as in it was people taking a genuine interest. 'It was something I didn't see coming at all and it was great because it did give it a huge exposure and I suppose that's probably what gave it that extra push to bring the Special Congress forward and to get it passed.' GAA legend TJ Reid's wife Niamh and daughter wear shorts in support of camogie stars Camogie Association president Brian Molloy acknowledged it had been a 'challenging couple of weeks' for players. He wants the focus on camogie to translate into larger crowds — and revealed his ambition to pack out Croke Park for the August 10 All-Ireland finals. Advertisement Molloy said: 'I want all those people to keep their attention on camogie over the next number of weeks and months so that on August 10, we can fill the whole of Croke Park. We've never done it before.'
