Sinéad McGrath, a Manchester-based Operations Executive on the Legends Tour, wasn't your typical sports enthusiast growing up. In 2019, her dad persuaded her to take up golf, and now she thrives in the sport that now brings her joy.
Sinéad grew up playing sports but was forced to give it up due to endometriosis. A condition affecting 1 in 10 women globally, endometriosis is a significant concern in Ireland, touching the lives of around a quarter of a million women. The diagnostic journey is usually prolonged, taking an average of 7-8 years to diagnose. Sinéad learned about her condition at 13, and underwent multiple surgeries and grappled with physical and mental pain for many years.
1⃣ in🔟 women suffer with endometriosis.
🏌️♀️Golfer Sinéad McGrath joined us on the Her Sport Show to speak about her experience with it.
💬"It was always, 'oh it's just a painful period and that's just normal', but that's not normal"
📺FULL video👀-https://t.co/1NYToI5mR4 pic.twitter.com/MxeSK8qVSG— Her Sport (@HerSportDotIE) November 19, 2023
Golf became Sinéad's refuge, not just for physical well-being but also mental health. Despite the challenges posed by endometriosis, the sport brought happiness and relief: "Golf is so good for mental well-being, but also physically, it's so great to be able to go out and do what I can. Golf has really helped me find happiness and alleviate symptoms as well."
Transitioning from a decade-long legal career to golf, she became an influencer, leveraging her Instagram platform to promote the sport and spread awareness about endometriosis. Sinéad emphasized the urgency of normalizing conversations around endometriosis, urging education for men to better support their partners in case of a diagnosis.
"It's important that conversation around endometriosis is normalised and men need to also be educated on this as well so that they will know how to support their partners if they are diagnosed. The more we talk about it and the more we educate, the more people will learn."
Discussing the evolving landscape of women's golf, Sinéad expresses excitement about its future, citing Leona Maguire's inspirational impact, especially in Ireland.
"What Leona Maguire is doing, particularly for women in Ireland, is brilliant. To see her as an inspiration to so many young girls is amazing."
Sinéad hopes to continue to use her platform to educate people about endometriosis and promote the sport she loves, underscoring the unique inclusivity of golf: "The beautiful thing with golf as well is that you can have three to four generations out on a golf course together. There's not many sports where you can do that."
Watch the full interview with Sinead here:
