It was a very special occasion in Áras an Uachtaráín this weekend as President Michael D Higgins hosted a reception to celebrate Irish women in sport. More than 100 of Ireland’s top female athletes attended the reception that was being held in order to mark International Women’s Day on Sunday. The President congratulated the athletes on their success to date, and told how they are becoming role models for young Irish women. He added that it was regrettable however that it was still such a struggle to achieve the same recognition in the media as their male counterparts. “The world of sport is still considered, by many, including sections of the media, to be chiefly the domain of men,” he said. “A world in which women’s sport is regarded as playing a secondary role, their achievements being lauded momentarily but often failing to sustain long term public interest or receive the appropriate support.” He noted some of the major female sporting achievements of the last year, including Katie Taylor’s fifth world title and the Irish rugby team’s defeat of New Zealand in the World Cup last summer. “Your sporting achievements [have been] a source of great celebration, motivation and pride to your fellow citizens,” he stated. “In doing so, you have made an important contribution to the cause of equality.” Members of the Cork ladies football team along with Niamh Briggs of the Irish ladies rugby team were present at the reception following on from huge success for both teams in the last number of years. Speaking on the day, Cork captain Briege Corkery – who has won eight All-Ireland football medals and six All-Ireland camogie titles, stated that: “Women should support women more.” Also present on the day was Olive Loughnane who is set to scoop a gold medal for the 2009 Athletics World Championships after the winner, Olga Kaniskina, was disqualified. Cover pic via RTÉ.ie.