*Ennis RFC women’s head coach, Gareth O’Hanlon.
From just ten players in 2021 to Clare’s first All-Ireland League representatives, Ennis RFC’s women’s team has achieved what head coach Gareth O’Hanlon calls a “fairytale story.”
Ennis RFC, formerly the Ennis/Kilrush side, has quickly established itself as a force in Munster rugby, despite no adult women’s team existing in Clare just four years ago.
In 2023, they won the Munster Division 2 League and Cup double, following that with back-to-back Division 1 titles in 2024 and 2025. The promotion to the AIL marks a remarkable journey from a small amalgamated team to competing at the top level of Irish women’s club rugby.
The women’s team has grown exponentially since its formation. From an initial ten players at their first match in Lees Road in 2021, they now field over 60 players, attracting athletes from across Clare, as well as Galway, Limerick, and even the USA.
Before the team was established, there was no adult women’s rugby in Clare. Interest from players finishing their underage careers in Ennis and Kilrush led the clubs to create an amalgamated side on a three-year agreement.
Gareth O’Hanlon, a Limerick native with a lifetime of rugby experience, was asked to bring the two Clare teams together. He started playing at St. Munchin’s College at four, continued with Richmond RFC and Munster underage teams, and played adult rugby internationally in Australia and the US.
As the team prepares for their first AIL game on Saturday against Tullow, following their qualifying win over Enniskillen earlier this year, they are hoping to redeem themselves against the side that halted their campaign in 2024. Gareth says the majority of players are from Clare, and emphasising a Clare identity has helped create a strong bond.
He told The Clare Echo, “A lot of our players are homegrown. They’ve grown up together, they’ve played together. That Ennis and Kilrush team have played against each other but I think we’ve created a great bond and I suppose as management, that’s the one thing that we can pride ourselves on is that we’re a very close team and anyone that has come into that environment, they stay because they feel part of the team and I think that’s a big plus and it’s very rewarding to be part of that as well”.
Gareth believes the Ennis/Kilrush team has “put women’s rugby on the map in Clare.” When he first took on the role of manager, the goal wasn’t to win tournaments but to provide a place for women to continue playing sport.
“When we set this up it was literally just about providing a rugby team for adult female athletes in Clare and I suppose it really snowballed. Within three years they’d become the number one team in Munster”.
In preparation for their AIL debut, the team has focused on injury prevention through strength and conditioning, with support from forwards coach Alex and S&C coach Chloe Morey. Gareth emphasises that the environment is being made as professional as possible to help the players perform week in, week out.
Looking ahead, Gareth expects the standard of competition to “go up a level,” but success will be measured beyond winning. “We need to keep our squad very healthy, I suppose, because they’re coming up against bigger, stronger teams that they’re probably used to, so we’re expecting the girls to do a lot of recovery and mind themselves midweek”.
The club and wider community have been hugely supportive, from helping secure sponsors to cheering on the team. “We’ve lots of people from camogie, hurling, football, and soccer reaching out to us as well, and they’re proud that there’s a top-level women’s rugby team in Clare. I suppose it’s great the community have really added to that atmosphere and the buzz around the county, so it’s been absolutely fantastic”.
Gareth is optimistic the team’s success will encourage even more interest in women’s rugby in Clare, creating a clear pathway for girls from mini rugby to adult level. “Now there’s a clear pathway that you can play rugby in Clare for underage teams, and Ennis is providing that top-level rugby. So it’s only the start of it, but it’s really going to take off, and I think especially with the structures, with the underage structures, it’s going to take a couple more years”.
