Worth ‘swimming against the tide’ for women and children – Gaelic star

Ireland’s constitutional protection of unborn human life is a ‘human rights issue’ worth fighting for, one of the founders of Gaelic Athletes for Life has said.

“It is swimming against the tide in many ways,” Anne-Marie McDonough told The Irish Catholic, adding, “I’m definitely willing to stand up for what I believe in because it’s so important – it’s a human rights issue and in my lifetime I’ve never felt so convinced to fight for something.”

Ms McDonough, a teacher and former Galway Ladies’ footballer who won an All-Ireland medal in 2004, and who has represented Ireland both in soccer at underage level and against Australia in International Rules, joined Antrim footballer Patrick Gallagher, Derry camogie player Aoife Cassidy, the former Tyrone manager Mickey Harte, and Meath footballer Joe Sheridan in launching the pro-life initiative in Ballyfermot, Dublin, last weekend.

The group believes the Government’s proposal to repeal the Eighth Amendment is not inclusive, compassionate, or respectful, and has called for “a better solution than to cast away the rights of our unborn children”.

“I thought if our profile could be used for good then I was on board,” Ms McDonough said, explaining how individual members of the group have recorded videos to be shared online, with her feeling that it was important to speak out as a woman.

“Especially being a woman, this was important for me to also state that it was to protect the unborn, but also to protect women.”