Female sport stars do not see themselves as ‘role models’ because most of them are just naturally “modest”, Jonathan Healy has said. 

According to new research by Lidl Ireland, 43% of Ladies Gaelic Football Association intercounty players do not consider themselves to be role models. 

This is despite the fact that 100% of them also believe it is important that there are LGFA role models out there. 

On Newstalk Breakfast, presenter Jonathan Healy the GAA has never been about egos. 

“I think most players - particularly when it comes to the GAA - do it for the love of the game, they do it for the team, they do it because they won’t to be the best they can be at the sport,” he said. 

“Becoming a role model isn’t their motivation for getting involved. 

“So, I think there is a natural element to somebody going, ‘Oh, I’m a role model? No idea how that happened.’

“There is a natural modesty - particularly within the GAA, both male and female. So, not seeing themselves as a role model isn’t that surprising.”

TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Senior Football Championship Semi-Final. Picture by: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Jonathan added that, on reflection, many will later realise that they were role models to people who love sport. 

“I think that comes when you get older and you look back on your career and realise, ‘Maybe I was?’” he said. 

“When you’re in the thick of the sport, I think it’s harder for players to push through. 

“But I might be wrong and probably am.” 

Emma Dineen of Kerry is tackled by Sarah Ní Loingsigh of Galway during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship final match between Galway and Kerry at Croke Park, Dublin. Photo by: Ray McManus/Sportsfile

Fellow presenter Ciara Kelly said LGFA players should absolutely regard themselves as role models. 

“I don’t mean see themselves as role models who think to themselves, ‘Oh, I have to behave’,” she said. 

“I think women and girls have enough pressure on themselves and have been conditioned enough to think they have to be good and they have to be better and they have to be perfect - I’m not saying that. 

“But I think they should own the fact that they’re doing something great, that young girls look up to them and that they are changing the face of the game, that they’re changing how women’s sports are viewed. 

“I think there’s something hugely admirable in it; I would like them to see themselves as role models because, fair play to them, they are.” 

The LGFA has almost 200,000 members across 1,000 clubs in Ireland and Britain.

Main image: Split of Jonathan Healy and camogie players.