Our High Performance Woman this week is the amazing Ireland Professional Rugby Player, Deirbhile Nic A Bhaird and at 28 years old, Derv is a seriously impressive, inspirational woman! In this educational, motivational and thought provoking episode, Derv chats about everything from technology, to women’s rugby to reflections on her own struggles and triumphs in her career to date, and how letting go enhanced her performance.

Playing rugby with the boys from a young age, Deirbhile had to stop playing rugby competitively as a teenager, as there were no opportunities for her to play as a female. She explains what it takes to be a professional athlete, how to back yourself, face setbacks, disappointments, the intersection between kindness and competitiveness, as well as the competitive nature of being part of a high performance team.

An advocate of the sport, she gives great insight into the development of women’s rugby in Ireland and beyond, and describes what needs to happen to continue progress into the future.

Highly educated with two Bachelor degrees, a Masters and now undertaking a PhD on the impact of early use of digital communications on children’s ‘affective’ communication skills, Deirbhile delves into the world of technology and the impact of technology on the development of communication skills of young children.

Full of inspirational nuggets to take away, this episode is a must-listen for women, mothers and fathers of young children, teachers, teenagers and young people who are involved in sports, as well as general sports and rugby fans.

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