Dubs Star Colleen becomes a "calendar girl"..

  • Oct 22,2010

THEY scrub up pretty well. Irelands lady GAA stars have swapped the mucky boots, drenched jerseys and baggy tracksuits for glamorous evening wear as they turned out to strut their stuff for a charity calendar.

Irelands lady GAA stars have swapped the mucky boots, drenched jerseys and baggy tracksuits for glamorous evening wear as they turned out to strut their stuff for a charity calendar (right).

The 12 players are featured in their glad rags with perfect hair and make-up in the pages of a 2011 calendar aimed at raising funds to fight breast cancer.

A professional style team dressed the Glam Squad in stunning fashion for the photo shoot in Galways g Hotel.

Cork full-back Angela Walsh (25), who has five All-Ireland medals in her trophy cabinet, joined the other 11 ladies in Galway last night for the launch of the calendar.

"It was certainly different to how we look when were playing football, but it was good fun and I think all the girls enjoyed it.

"I was delighted to help when I heard it was for Breast Cancer Ireland. It was good fun and nice to bring out our feminine side," Angela said.

A teacher of maths and PE at St Augustines College in Dungarvan, Waterford, Angela is pictured for the month of June in a three-quarter length, navy evening gown with cowl neck.

Eliza Downey of Down is a dual GAA and rugby star. A full back in football she also plays on the wing for the Irish ladies rugby team.

She is pictured in an Audrey Hepburn-style black cocktail dress and strikes a moody pose with startling red lips, reminiscent of the 1950s, for the month of October.

Stereotype

"In our lifetime well probably never have such a styled experience, but as it is for such a good cause I was honoured to be able to put my name to it," Eliza said.

"It also differentiates us from the stereotype of the GAA woman in jerseys, shorts and tracksuits and we all enjoyed posing for a real glamour shoot," she added. All-Ireland winner Colleen Barrett, of Dublin, is still basking in her countys unforgettable victory, and joins her inter-county teammates as the glamour shoot rounds off a perfect year for the Blanchardstown national school teacher.

Colleen lights up the month of May in a peach mid-length evening gown decorated with sequins.

The other players featured in the calendar are Clodagh Martin of Mayo (January); Therese McNally, Monaghan (February); Edel Hanley, Tipperary (March); Una Carroll, Galway (April); Grace Lydon, Louth (July); Aisling Holton, Kildare (August); Tracey Lawlor, Laois (September); Eimear Considine, Clare (November); and Sinead McLoughlin, Tyrone (December).

Helen ORourke, CEO of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association, said that the Association was delighted to support the charity.

"All the proceeds raised will go directly to Breast Cancer Ireland which is such a worthy cause. Our Glam Squad did an amazing job," she said.

The calendar retails at €5 and is available from the Ladies Gaelic Football Association at www.ladiesgaelic.ie

Brian McDonald - Irish Independent