Upping our game: Irish women in Australian sport
Sport has always been central to the Irish identity, at home and abroad. Whether it is GAA, rugby, soccer, or the world of Olympic, Paralympic and elite athletics - sport is one of the most powerful ways Ireland tells its story to the world.
Throughout history, Irish women have made their mark on range of sports in Ireland and elsewhere. In recent years, Australia has been one of the popular destinations for many highly talented Irish athletes, such as in Australian rules, cricket and elite athletics.
Participating and leading
The AFLW (Australian rules football women’s league) has grown from a competition that began with eight teams to one that commands big primetime television audiences. Irish women players have made significant impact in this growth, with 2026 poised to be a record year for Irish presence in AFLW.
Women's sport is undergoing a transformation — commercially, culturally, and socially — that would have been difficult to imagine even a decade ago. Investing in women's sport is not just the right thing to do, it is a high-return investment in the social fabric of our communities.
Sports technology is an expanding industry valued at €30bn worldwide in 2025, a number projected to double by 2030. Ireland is at the forefront of this emerging industry with a thriving tech talent pool and strong links between academia, industry and sporting organisations. Irish sports technology companies are actively working with major Australian sporting teams and organisations, and are part of an Enterprise Ireland sports-tech trade mission to Australia and New Zealand in 2026.
Connections through sport
Sporting connections are an important dimension of Ireland’s relationship with Australia. With over 100,000 Irish born residents in Australia, the Irish community here has always used sport as a bridge between two cultures and a connection to home.
Ireland’s first International Sports Diplomacy Strategy acknowledges sport as a vehicle for soft power, people-to-people connection, connecting with our diaspora and the promotion of Irish values internationally.
Australia, like Ireland, is a sporting nation with global perspective. We appreciate this enduring sporting link between our two countries, and we look forward to the further possibilities for collaboration that this new strategy offers.
From Cora Staunton and Vikki Wall in Aussie Rules to cricketers Isobel Joyce and Kim Garth, the sporting connections between Ireland, Australia, and our respective diasporas is remarkably rich.
Meet some of the strong Irish female athletes in the Australian sporting industry
Vikki Wall
Professional AFL player
"Coming to Australia to play sport professionally probably wasn’t something that I would have foreseen when I was younger.
To be able to do it full time and professionally is unbelievable and something that I enjoy massively.
Obviously, I get to represent the Irish and our GAA culture over here and that is obviously class as well. Playing professional sport is a dream.”
Aileen Reid
Two time Olympian and CWG Triathlete
“To see the progression that we’ve had especially for female athletes, from access to technology, coaching or relationships here in Australia.
When I was growing up I think that I was very lucky because I was involved in swimming and triathlon and I never really felt the gender disparity.”
Shauna Keogh
Founder, the Empire Agency
“I think in terms of women sport and where the future goes we have so much stuff happening, in terms of the high performance sector, in terms of technology.
I think what has been really helpful is social media, YouTube has helped to make women’s games much more accessible.
Performance derives content and storytelling and storytelling then derives audience growth, and this then brings commercial revenue
