Women in Sport: First female president of GAA Rounders Paula Doherty
In this instalment of our Women in Sport series, Paula Doherty shares her sporting inspirations, biggest goals and proudest achievements.
Paula Doherty is the newly elected President of GAA Rounders, making history as the first woman to lead the association. A proud Castlebar native, Paula has been involved in the sport for decades, both on and off the pitch. As a player, her record speaks for itself. Paula is a six-time All-Ireland winner and three-time All-Star. She was still competing at Senior level as recently as 2025, when she earned another All-Star for her performances and helped Breaffy secure two more All-Ireland club titles – a clear reflection of her commitment, standards and love for the game.
Away from Rounders, Paula is a busy mum to Liam (14) and Sarah (12) and works as Programme Director and Home Economics lecturer at ATU St. Angela’s in Sligo. Her professional background in healthy living, nutrition and practical life skills strongly influences her leadership style, with a focus on balance, sustainability and lifelong participation in sport. While she will no longer be stepping onto the pitch as a player, Paula remains deeply connected to the game.
Elected for a three-year term, Paula takes on the presidency at a time of significant growth for GAA Rounders. Her vision is to strengthen grassroots participation, increase visibility nationwide and ensure Rounders remains an inclusive, accessible sport for people of all ages. Paula’s appointment marks a landmark moment not only for GAA Rounders, but for women in Irish sport leadership. Her presidency is rooted in community, volunteerism and the core values of the GAA.
Name: Paula Doherty
Profession: Uachtaran GAA Rounders and Lecturer & Initial Teacher Education Programme Director ATU St Angelas, Sligo.
Earliest sporting memory?
Competing in the U-10 100m sprint at the Mayo Community Games finals in Claremorris in 1990.
How did you become involved in your sport?
Rounders has been part of my life since 1991, when Mrs. Mary Golden, my fifth class teacher, placed a bat and sliotar in my hands for the first time. I didn’t realise it then, but that small moment sparked a passion that has stayed with me ever since. What began as a simple school activity grew into a lifelong connection with the sport; one that has shaped my identity, my community, and my journey within the sport in more ways than one.
What message would you like to share with young women and girls interested in pursuing a career as an athlete?
Pick up the bat, the ball, the boots, whatever your sport may be and know that your place is earned not by permission, but by passion, effort, and the belief you place in yourself. Surround yourself with people who believe in you, challenge you, and celebrate you. And most importantly, never underestimate what you can achieve when you decide to back yourself.
Proudest moment so far… Becoming Uachtarán of GAA Rounders has been the proudest moment of my journey in sport. To step into a role that represents a game I’ve loved since childhood is incredibly meaningful. It’s an honour that goes far beyond a title; it’s a celebration of the people, communities, and memories that shaped me. Standing here as President, helping to guide a sport that has given me so much, is something I carry with immense pride and gratitude.
The female athlete I admire most is… Cora Staunton because her longevity, leadership, and groundbreaking journey, both in Gaelic games and professionally abroad, show what’s possible when passion meets perseverance. She has been a role model for so many in women’s sport, and as a fellow Mayo woman, her achievements feel especially meaningful and inspiring.
Favourite sporting memory… Has to be winning the GAA Rounders All-Ireland Women’s Championship title with Breaffy Rounders; not just once, but across four incredible seasons: 2002, 2023, 2024, and 2025. Each championship felt unique, shaped by different teammates, challenges, and chapters of my life, but the feeling was always the same: pure pride and joy.
Do you think there is still a stigma around women in sport?
I do, and I’ve felt it at different stages of my own journey. Even after years in sport, there are still moments where women’s commitment, ability, or leadership are quietly questioned in ways men rarely experience. Sometimes it’s subtle, sometimes it’s structural, but it’s still there.
What keeps me optimistic is seeing how far we’ve come. I’ve seen women claim space in coaching rooms, committees, and championships where they once had to fight to be heard. The change is happening and it’s being driven by women supporting women, and by communities who finally recognise the value we bring to sport.
For me, breaking the stigma isn’t about one big moment; it’s about showing up, day after day, and proving that women belong in every part of the sporting world.
What is the biggest barrier to driving visibility in women’s sports?
For me, the biggest barrier to driving visibility in women’s sports is that we’re still fighting for equal space; not because the talent or the stories aren’t there, but because the structures built around sport haven’t fully caught up with the reality of women’s participation. Too often, women’s achievements aren’t given the same platform, coverage, or investment, which means incredible performances can pass by unnoticed unless someone actively pushes them forward.
From my own experience, I’ve seen how powerful visibility can be. When girls see women competing, leading, and winning, it changes what they believe is possible. But that only happens when we prioritise showcasing women’s sport, telling our stories, and making sure the next generation knows that what they’re doing matters.
The talent is there. The passion is there. What we need is for the wider sporting ecosystem; media, sponsors, governing bodies, and communities; to treat women’s sport not as an add-on, but as an essential part of the sporting landscape.
The biggest stigma/misconception that exists in women’s sport is… That what we do isn’t as competitive or as demanding and I’ve seen firsthand how untrue that is through my years with Breaffy and GAA Rounders. Anyone who has stood on a pitch with the Breaffy women during an All-Ireland campaign knows the level of commitment, intensity, and skill that goes into every championship moment. There is nothing “less than” about it.
In GAA Rounders, I’ve watched women push standards higher year after year, often with less recognition than their male counterparts. Yet the passion never wavers. Women’s sport isn’t asking to be taken seriously; it already is. It’s just asking for the visibility to show what we’ve known all along.
My biggest sporting goal is… To help bring GAA Rounders to new heights — to leave the sport stronger, more visible, and more inclusive than when I started. As Uachtarán, I want to create lasting pathways so that every girl who picks up a bat, just like I did in 1991, can see a future for herself in the game. Whether it’s developing our clubs, supporting our volunteers, elevating our national competitions, or highlighting the incredible talent within teams, my goal is simple: to help GAA Rounders thrive for the next generation.
Sports brands I love (Irish or otherwise)… O’Neills, Adidas, Gym+Coffee.
How do you mind your mental health?
I’m also a big believer in boundaries. Between work, rounders, and family life, it’s easy to keep saying yes, but I’ve learned that protecting my wellbeing makes me better at everything I do. Sometimes that means taking a quiet evening for myself, sometimes it means switching off the phone, and sometimes it’s simply giving myself permission to rest without feeling guilty about doing so.
My three desert island beauty products are: Has to be makeup… a good foundation, eyeliner, and mascara – would be lost without them!
I need 7 hours of sleep a night because…. If I don’t, I’m about as useful as a bat with no grip. Between work, Rounders, and family, sleep is the only thing standing between me and accidentally agreeing to volunteer for five more committees.
Confidence, to me, is… Trusting yourself enough to show up exactly as you are, even on the days you don’t feel 100%. It’s the quiet belief that you belong in the room, on the pitch, or at the table, and that your voice and your presence matter.
Lastly, why is sport such an integral part of community, on a club, local, national, and personal level?
I’ve said it before: Rounders is not what I do, it’s an important part of who I am. It has shaped my friendships, my confidence, my identity, and the way I see community. That’s the power of sport, it brings people together, and it brings out the best in us.
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