'It’s not talked about enough' - Kilkenny camogie star on major issue players face today

A local camogie player has spoken out about the importance of women feeling comfortable in sport and has called for greater awareness of low iron in female athletes.

Kilkenny half-back Caoimhe Dowling has called for greater awareness of low iron in female athletes. The 25-year-old primary school teacher balances elite sport with a demanding training schedule.

“We usually train three times a week on the pitch and two gym sessions, too,” she said.

With seasons running almost back-to-back, Caoimhe prioritises monitoring her health. She gets her bloods tested annually and works with a team nutritionist.
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She is now working with Irish iron supplement brand Active Iron on a campaign calling for an end to women 'suffering in silence' with tiredness and fatigue, which can be caused by inadequate iron levels.

Iron is essential for producing red blood cells that carry oxygen around the body. Inadequate intake can lead to physical and mental fatigue.
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“My mum struggles with low iron so I think it’s something I’ve always kept an eye on," Caoimhe says. “It’s not talked about enough. There is a lot of emphasis on protein and carbs, but not as much focus on iron levels.

“And that’s probably because men aren’t highly affected by their iron levels," she suggests. "Much of the information we see is based on research in men’s sport, and it’s often applied to women - even though they are physiologically different. I’m sure if men had periods, there’d be much more awareness around iron levels.”

Women are particularly vulnerable to iron loss due to menstruation, and intense sport can add to that strain. Camogie is physically demanding, and repeated impact can lead to iron loss through haemolysis - the breakdown of red blood cells - as well as through sweat.

A recent study by Active Iron in partnership with Atlantic Technological University found 40% of inter-county camogie players are low in iron. Caoimhe believes understanding your body - and feeling comfortable - is central to performing well.

“When I was younger, you maybe wouldn’t understand your body as well. Whereas now you might know how you’re feeling going into your period you know you’ll maybe be feeling sluggish and you’ll try to counteract that. I need to be on the ball and take care of myself," she says.

“Girls in the changing room in the morning will mention ‘I’ve got my period this morning, I’m not feeling 100%’ because it does impact you.”

She also supported a campaign last year pushing for camogie players to have the choice to wear shorts instead of traditional skorts.

“Some girls might not wear skirts in their lives outside camogie so they were saying ‘why should I be wearing one playing the sport I like?’ Some girls found them uncomfortable but it was about having that choice there. We all train in shorts anyway.

“It's the same for any girl in any sport. If you have control over what you wear, it helps you feel more at ease and confident. The more comfortable you are, the better you’re going to play. Anything you do - whether it’s training, nutrition or supplements - is about improving yourself and your performance.”

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 57 kilometres 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.”
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