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26 | SPRING 2019 | www.ladiesgaelic.ie 20X20 hen the opportunity to work full time in sport presents itself to an athlete, they tend to relish the opportunity and grab it with both hands. When that opportunity arises three times for one individual, with each time presenting as another significant step in career advancement, people start to stand up and take notice. Last month, to a flurry of media attention, Nora Stapleton was announced as Sport Ireland's new Women in Sport Lead. It was no surprise to those who know her. Nora started off with Dublin GAA as GPO with Ballinteer St John's and Stapleton recounts her time working for the club, as a steep learning curve and experience that groomed her for her future career path. 'Dublin GAA taught me a lot, it set me up well for the future. It was a very well structured organisation in terms of the courses and professional development it delivered.' At this point in her career she was ingrained in the GAA family, playing her football with Na Fianna in Glasnevin, and carrying out a key midfield role that helped ensure the Mobhi Road club won their first ever Senior Championship in 2009. Following this success she would switch codes to rugby. First, playing club with Belvedere, then getting the call up to Leinster, and finally the honour of playing for Ireland and winning a Grand Slam. This meteoric rise on the rugby filed led to a professional opportunity off it. 'Change can take time and how you instigate it with different groups is important.' Ex Donegal Footballer and Irish Rugby International discusses her journey through sport in Ireland with former Donegal teammate Nadine Doherty. She saw potential in the sport, it was a growing, so she put herself forward as a candidate to fulfill the role as the IRFU Women's and Girls Rugby Development Manager. Three interviews later, and the IRFU gained an employee who would change the union's own mindset and culture around women's rugby that had been ingrained for decades. In January 2018, the Women in Rugby Action Plan 2018-2023 was launched. Stapleton had worked collaboratively and passionately with a cohort of people ranging w Above: Nora Stapleton, in action in the NFL Division 2 Final, Clare v Donegal. Below: Nora Stapleton, Donegal, in action against Majella Griffin, Clare Game Changer