Part One: 2023 was a really great year for...

EVERY year, WoW! reflects back on the year just gone and looks at some of the women who left an impression on us.

From politics, to education, the worlds of entertainment, business, sport and beyond – Cork women continue to blaze a trail.

Here are just a few stand-outs...

Soccer players Megan Connolly and Denise O’Sullivan

Both Cork women deserve recognition for the role they played representing their country in the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia. Unfortunately, they didn’t get out of their group – but what a performance they gave, and what joy they brought into households all over Ireland, but more importantly Cork – inspiring a new generation of young female soccer players.

Athlete Sophie O’Sullivan

It’s been a fanstastic year for the athlete – who is following in her famous mother’s footsteps. Sophie is the daughter of Cobh world champion and Olympian Sonia O’Sullivan, and has broken lots of records this year on the track - definitely one to watch in the future.

Cork camogie captain Amy O’Connor

At the age of nine, Amy picked up a hurley and there has been no stopping her since.

She captained her team to All-Ireland glory this year and brought the O’Duffy cup back Leeside - so is most deserving of being on this list.

Athlete Lizzie Lee

Another sports star worthy of a mention is Lizzie, who won The Echo Women’s Mini Marathon this year. It was a momentous occassion as it was ten years on since she won it for the first time.

In the decade since, the 43-year-old has run the marathon at the 2016 Rio Olympics, captained the Irish team to bronze medals at the 2015 European Cross-Country, along with winning numerous national titles here at home. And, also, she has given birth to her three children.

Golfers Trudy and Sarah Hyland

The duo, who live at The Lough, are champion golfers, and represented Ireland at the Special Olympic World Summer Games, representing Ireland, in June in Berlin.

Boxer Aideen Mullins

It was a great year for Aideen, she won two gold medals at the ISKA World championships in boxing - at only 16 years of age. She is definitely one to watch in the future.

Caroline O’Driscoll and Gillian Keating, I WISH

I Wish co-founders, Caroline O’Driscoll (Corporate and International tax partner, Deloitte Ireland) and Gillian Keating (RDJ partner) continue to advocate for girls in STEM and were conferred with Professional Excellence Awards at Griffith College in November.

The visionaries, and their team, are now gearing up for their 10th annual STEM Showcase on February 8, 2024m at the RDS Dublin.

I Wish, inspiring teenage girls globally towards STEM, has engaged with over 60,000 girls in the past decade and witnessed substantial positive change.

Poet Lucy Holme

One of the rising stars in poetry, Cork city-based Lucy Holme was this year shortlisted for The London Magazine Poetry Prize, and Red Line Poetry Prize, and was runner-up in the Southword Subscribers’ and Southword Literary Essay competitions. She co-founded and co-edits The Four Faced Liar, Cork’s proudly Irish and globally resonant literary journal. Lucy’s first collection of essays is forthcoming from Broken Sleep Books in autumn, 2024.

Ingrid Seim, outgoing Network Ireland Cork

President Ingrid was at the helm of Network Cork for the past 12 months. She has handed over the title to Susana Marambio (See our big interview with Susana on page 8 and 9).

The women’s business networking organisation marked 40 years in Cork this year.

Her theme for the year was to enable members to feel like they belonged to something bigger than themselves, and to be part of a wider conversation.

“The idea was to help members make change on a personal level, but also for women in business on a much bigger level,” she said.

“My vision was for members to not only get access to that level of discussion, but to enable and empower them to be an active voice in the discussion themselves and help shape the future.”

Congrats on a great year.

Marguerite O’Sullivan – Chairperson STEM South West

Marguerite is another advocate for STEM. She co-wrote a book called Engineering In The World, the first in a planned series of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) books which was launched in County Hall, aimed at 16 to 18 year olds.

Co-author of the book was Susan HayesCulleton. It is an engaging and practical guide for Transition Year students interested in exploring the world of STEM.

The publication, which will be made available to every school across the country, is designed to suit all types of learners.

Susan Dunlea of DePUy Synthes

Susan was named the national STEM winner at the Network Ireland Businesswoman of the Year awards.

Susan, a member of Network Ireland Cork, won the regional award and went on to scoop the national accolade too, at a gala ceremony which was hosted by businessman and social entrepreneur Aubrey McCarthy.

Helen Wycherley, Celtic Ross Hotel, Rosscarbery

Helen was also honoured at the Network Ireland Businesswoman of the Year Awards 2023, as Networker of the Year. The hotel has recently been awarded its fourth star, which Helen is very proud of but she admits it’s a challenging industry to work in.

Helen is not only an award-winning member of Network Cork, but she’s also a past president of Network Ireland, which she said has opened many doors for her professionally.

See part two tomorrow.