Kathryn Johnson with the Gold Medal she won as a member of the victorious Irish Team in the women’s over 50 Hockey World Cup tournament in Barcelona last weekend.
In the past week, hurling hysteria was overtaken by hockey fever and the country struggled to grasp the enormity of the fact that, for the first time in history, an Irish team was competing in the final of a World Cup field game. The Irish women’s senior hockey team won the hearts of the nation as this indomitable group of amateur athletes competed to the very end against the world’s best professionals. However, this was not the only hockey team competing in a World Cup Final last weekend. In Barcelona, the Exin Masters World Cup was played out from July 27th to August 5th. In the women’s over 50 tournament, Ireland played a number of very tough matches and topped their group by defeating Argentina 2-0, Chile 2-0, and USA 2-1. In the quarter-final they beat USA again 2-1, and dispatched Scotland 2-0 in the semi-final. Ireland faced the mighty Australia in the World Cup final on Saturday evening at 8pm and, amazingly, won 1-0. As the side celebrated with their team-song ‘Stand Up for the Girls in Green,’ one of the loudest singers and strongest players for Ireland was Kathryn Johnson! World Cup gold medal winner Kathryn grew up in the Square, Dromcollogher, where her father Dick Johnson served as the local vet for many years. Kathryn’s mother Kay was an active and vibrant member of the community and an early advocate of sport and fitness for wellbeing. Possibly inspired by their mother, who sadly passed away all too early in their lives, most of Kathryn’s siblings, Patricia, Barbara, David, Rosemarie, Tina, and Daniel, were involved in sports of different kinds, with Barbara representing Ireland at Olympic level. The family have since moved to Ballyteigue near Bruree where Dick and Margaret are enjoying their retirement. Kathryn, who carved out a career in banking, now lives in Killorglin. She is listed on the team sheets as Kathy Shaw and is recorded as having scored two goals for Ireland at the World Cup. This fantastic achievement is the crowning glory and just reward for years of dedication to her sport, and it is the attainment of a life-long ambition for Kathryn. As Dublin turns out to fete the World Cup silver medal heroes, Dromcollogher and Bruree can reflect on a World Cup gold medal. Well done, Kathryn Johnson.