Cork camogie star Orlaith Cahalane backs campaign on female health

Cork camogie star Orlaith Cahalane has opened up about the importance of talking about female health in sport as it’s revealed 40 per cent of camogie players are low in iron.

The 22-year-old has a big support network, playing alongside sister Meabh and with huge sporting stock in her family.

But the forward knows it’s not the same for everyone, and wants to help normalise the conversation around menstruation and low iron levels, especially for the youngsters who will be following in her footsteps.

Orlaith said: “Periods are such an awkward topic but they are becoming a lot more talked about in women’s sport. It’s so important because they can affect your training so much. They can make you feel so tired.

“At Cork we have a lot of women involved in the team and women coaches so if you do have a problem there’s always someone to talk to.

“We also now fill out a wellness form before every session, so if there’s an issue they can adapt the session to you. 

"That’s happened in the last two years or so, so periods are being talked about a lot more.” 

New research by Atlantic Technological University (ATU) in partnership with Cork owned iron supplement brand Active Iron, found that 40% of inter-county camogie players are low in iron₁.

Iron is an essential nutrient which helps make red blood cells to transport oxygen around the body. If you haven’t got enough it can result in tiredness and fatigue, brain fog, headaches and dizziness.

Women with heavier periods are at risk due to the blood lost through menstruation, as well as people with vegetarian diets and women who regularly exercise.

Orlaith is now backing Active Iron’s campaign calling for an end to women ‘suffering in silence’ and speaking openly about how periods can affect their training, performance and recovery.

It’s essential for Orlaith that these conversations take place, as her hectic training schedule allows little down-time.

She said: “I have college (MTU in Cork) most days from 9am to 3pm or 4pm and then I coach hockey. Then from there I go straight to training.

“My older sister (Maebh) definitely helps to keep me motivated. The game has definitely become even more physical in the last couple of years.

“It can be taxing on the body, the tackles that are put in during training. You can really be feeling it the next day. But it’s good to have competition on the team. It keeps you fighting for your position.

“I love it. You have to love it because you’re putting so much time into it. You all have the same goal and it’s such a social thing. 

"I love going to training and I’m always one of the last to leave.” 

As well as playing alongside her sisters, Orlaith has huge support from her parents.

“My mum is big into the pre match meal,” she explained. 

“She makes pancakes, it’s now a pre match ritual!” 

Nóra Ní Fhlannagáin, sports dietitian, lecturer and researcher at Atlantic Technological University, Galway, who conducted the study into the iron levels of intercounty camogie players, said: “Intercounty camogie players are often training five times a week. 

"In games, for a championship match, GPS data shows they're covering a distance of 5-7 kilometers in 60 minutes of match play - plus a warm up and potentially extra time. 

"It’s a mix of sprinting, jogging, tackling, jumping and there’s incredible hand-eye coordination that’s required in camogie.

"As we train, we have a higher demand for iron in our bodies because it helps us to release the energy we need.

“Iron is an essential nutrient for cognition as well as energy to support endurance and strength. It’s not just running up and down a pitch, but strength in the gym is affected by low iron. 

"It’s also really important for the immune system.” 

In light of the findings from the ATU research, Active Iron is now offering free samples to camogie clubs across Ireland to help raise awareness around suboptimal levels in female athletes and to help players feel the benefits of Active Iron. 

If your club is interested in receiving free samples, visit https://activeiron.com/pages/request-a-sample.