If women can get to the top on the sports pitch — and we’ve seen that they can — there’s no reason why they can’t do the very same in every other sphere of society, writes Clodagh Finn.

Ireland are drawn in what coach Tom Tierney says “is arguably the toughest qualifying pool of all” for next year’s Women’s World Cup in Dublin and Belfast in August.

Roy Keane's phone made a bit of a show of the Cork man yesterday at a business breakfast event in his native city.

A former Irish captain, who demanded high standards and wasn’t content for things to be run in a haphazard fashion — Roy Keane wasn’t the only panellist to fit this description at the Bord Gáis Energy ‘Winning in Business’ forum.

Twelve months on from Ireland’s historic win over New Zealand, what has changed for Irish women’s sport, asks Mary White.

Irish rugby stars past and present will line out this Saturday in support of Berkeley balcony collapse victim Aoife Beary.

RBS Women’s 6 Nations

Ireland’s U20s and Women’s: Both teams enjoyed ultimately comfortable openings to their respective Six Nations campaigns last Friday.

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Niamh Briggs will captain the Irish women’s rugby team in the upcoming Six Nations tournament.

It’s only five months since Ireland made history at the Women’s Rugby World Cup by beating New Zealand in the pool stages and reaching the semi-finals, but the personnel changes since have been seismic.

Boxer Katie Taylor has been crowned The Irish Times/Irish Sports Council ‘Sportswoman of the Year 2014’ for her exceptional achievement in winning a record breaking sixth European title and her fifth consecutive world title.

Andrew Trimble’s Six Nations-winning campaign with Ireland gained further acclaim last night when he was named Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland Player of the Year 2014.

Andrew Trimble has been named The Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland Player of the Year at the annual Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland Awards.

Post-primary schools in Ireland have been urged to redouble their efforts to ensure that students get at least two hours' physical education per week.

Head coach Philip Doyle, captain Fiona Coghlan and fellow veteran Lynne Cantwell led the Irish women’s rugby team out for one last time last night, through Dublin Airport’s arrivals hall and into a welcoming scrum of supporters.

WOMEN’S RUGBY WORLD CUP:

Emotions ran high in the aftermath of Ireland's 25-18 loss to Women's World Cup hosts France, especially with Fiona Coghlan and Philip Doyle heading up the list of departing players and coaches.

The Ireland Women ended their World Cup journey with a best ever finish of fourth place after falling to France in a bruising 3rd/4th place play-off tie in Paris.

Anna Geary has compared being a Rose of Tralee contestant with lining out on the pitch.

Though Ireland’s dream of reaching the final of the Women’s Rugby World Cup was shattered by England, the team can take immense pride from their achievement.

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Ireland Women's rugby coach Philip Doyle has named the same side that overcame New Zealand for their Women's Rugby World Cup semi-final against England tomorrow.

Concentration. With a myriad of newfound attention and distractions suddenly surrounding the Irish women’s rugby team, captain Fiona Coghlan is preaching one thing to her players. Concentration.

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Full-back Niamh Briggs has applauded the Irish support in France and at home, and hopes Ireland’s Rugby World Cup adventure continues to gain momentum.

Don’t allow the diminutive figure of Marian Earls fool you — the Wicklow town native is a powerful force which has helped many of the Irish women’s senior team become household names this last week.

Head coach Philip Doyle made 10 changes to the starting side after their historic World Cup win against New Zealand.

There’s a sign in the Irish dressing room that reads ‘The winning qualities of this team will be reflected by the standards we set’.

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It’s a feat the men’s national side have never managed but, there in the stands among hundreds of Irish supporters, Ireland’s Johnny Sexton and Joe Schmidt looked on as their counterparts played their way into the history books.

Inspirational captain Fiona Coghlan has now led the Ireland Women's team to Grand Slam glory and a priceless Test win over New Zealand - and she is not finished yet.

The Irish Women's team have beaten the four-time World Champions New Zealand by 17 points to 14 in their World Cup clash in Paris this evening.

The Ireland Women's team to play New Zealand in the second round of the IRB Women's Rugby World Cup has been named.

Ireland captain Fiona Coghlan was thrilled with her side’s win over the USA in their opening group game of the Women’s Rugby World Cup.

IRFU WOMEN’S RUGBY WORLD CUP POOL B:

Meet the women representing Ireland at the Women’s Rugby World Cup in France, with the first match at 4pm this evening.

IRB WOMEN’S RUGBY WORLD CUP POOL B:

The IRFU’s annual report was presented yesterday at the Aviva Stadium.

The Ireland Women kept their hopes of retaining the Six Nations title alive with a comprehensive 39-0 win over Italy in the first ever Women's international to be played at the Aviva Stadium.

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