Limerick ladies share their female role models on International Women's Day

FROM Emma Langford to Ciara McCormack to Celia Holman Lee, an array of familiar faces tell the Limerick Leader about the woman who inspires them most.

Limerick singer-songwriter, Emma Langford, can’t help but think of her younger sister, Jean. “She’s got type one diabetes, and she’s a campaigner for access to proper care. She does a lot of work around awareness.”

Over the years, she has watched her “inspiring” little sister go from strength to strength.

“I invited her to talk on a podcast, and it was her first time doing any sort of public advocacy work, and she was just really eloquent and articulate, but also vulnerable and honest,” Emma says proudly.

When asked who inspires her, Limerick city style queen, Celia Holman Lee, instantly thinks of the three women that made her life feel extra special – her mother, grandmother, and auntie Maude.

And, the trio had something in common. “They were phenomenal workers. They taught me that if you work hard at anything, you’ll eventually get there. Of course, you’ll make mistakes during the journey, but they must always be looked at as a growing process,” says Celia.

When she started her career, she was greatly inspired by Ann Maloney – the woman who spotted a young Celia walking around the city.

“She started me in the business and she had such style when it came to being a model, she inspired me greatly,” Celia recalls.

Having recently moved from Canada to play for Treaty United, former Republic of Ireland international soccer player, Ciara McCormack brought her positive attitude to Limerick city – a trait she got from her mother, Mary.

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“She always had a super positive attitude, and I think it puts a lot of things in perspective growing up. She has multiple sclerosis, and growing up, I watched her get up and function even though it was a struggle every day, and she did it with such a positive attitude. I look at my mum with admiration all the time,” she says fondly.

According to Councillor Olivia O’Sullivan, her mom, Kitty, has always been the most inspirational person in her life.

“She was born around International Women’s Day, actually,” she smiles. “She’s been an inspirational person for me to have in my life.

“She was a working mom, she’s juggled so many things. And, anything that I got, I got from her – like my confidence and my work ethic.

“She’s always been a hard worker. From working to nursing to ‘wallpapering,’ Olivia laughs. “She was just being very hands on.”

As her mother was a nurse, she also taught her about compassion. “She was in a caring profession as a nurse. Compassionate and hardworking – the example I was brought up on,” adds Olivia.

Like many, Dr Susan Liddy finds it hard to pick only one woman who had a positive impact on her life. Through her work as a researcher and as President of Women in Film and Television International, she knows that women struggle for equal representation.

Although as a “beacon of light,” one woman stands out – Jane Campion. “She remains one of the most respected filmmakers to have emerged over the last forty years. For very many women, she’s a real icon,” Dr Liddy commented.

Chief Executive of Limerick Chamber, Dee Ryan, looks up to the seventh President of Ireland.

“My female role model is Mary Robinson. I was privileged enough to hear her speak just a few days ago,” she says.

Dee concludes: “Her passion for climate action and what we all need to do as a society over the next seven years was just inspiring”.