On a sun-drenched September afternoon in City of Derry, two rival rugby clubs set aside competition to honour the memory of a remarkable athlete whose promising career was tragically cut short. The annual Rosie Stewart Memorial Bowl brought together players from Cooke and Enniskillen not merely to compete, but to celebrate a woman who helped pioneer women’s rugby in Northern Ireland while simultaneously championing a cause that would ultimately claim her life.
Image caption: Rosie Stewart passed away in 2003 aged 33
Rosie Stewart, a Londonderry native, earned four caps for the Irish national team between 1999 and 2000 before her untimely death from breast cancer in 2004 at the age of just 33. A founding member of Ulster Women’s Rugby, Stewart’s legacy extends far beyond her on-field achievements. Her sister Colette Risely believes that promoting cancer awareness would have been deeply meaningful to Stewart, describing her sibling as someone who would have actively championed such causes if given the opportunity.
A Dual Purpose Gathering
The memorial match serves a dual function: honouring Stewart’s rugby contributions while advancing women’s health education. Before the teams took to the pitch, attendees participated in a comprehensive women’s health discussion organised by the Western Trust’s Jacinta McCool and fitness coach Claire O’Hagan.
O’Hagan addressed the often-overlooked relationship between the menstrual cycle and athletic performance, providing valuable insights into female strength and conditioning. Meanwhile, McCool, who works as a midwife with the Western Trust, focused her presentation on breast and cervical cancer awareness, emphasising the critical importance of early detection.
“It’s at the forefront of our minds,” explained City of Derry player Kelly Gormley, noting that several squad members have personal connections to breast cancer. “I think when you are delivering information and awareness, it’s information you’re taking to 20 or 30 girls.”
McCool’s message was clear: early detection significantly improves treatment outcomes. “Hopefully anybody that hears one thing, they go off and tell three or four of their friends, then we are reaching a much bigger audience.”
A Pioneer Remembered
Kelly Gormley described Stewart as a “pioneering” figure whose efforts fundamentally transformed women’s rugby in the region. “Why not celebrate someone from Derry who started the movement in women’s rugby?” she asked. “She started a change for women to play rugby and so we are just marking that at our own club.”
Stewart’s husband Adrian paid tribute to his late wife, describing her as “a girl like no other.” Her father John Gallagher and sister Collette were among the family members present to witness the commemorative event.
Reflecting on the growth of women’s rugby in Northern Ireland, Gormley noted that Stewart would likely not be surprised by the sport’s expansion. “She was knocking down doors before people even knew about women’s rugby,” she observed. “These rugby teams are growing really fast and it is a result of decisions she made and took.”
Image caption: Kelly Gormley plays for the City of Derry women’s rugby club
Building On Legacy
The memorial match, now an established annual tradition, represents more than sporting remembrance. It embodies Stewart’s enduring influence on both rugby development and health advocacy. Each year, Cooke FC participates in the fixture, maintaining the connection between Stewart’s rugby heritage and contemporary efforts to support women’s wellbeing.
The integration of health education alongside competitive rugby demonstrates how sports organisations can serve broader community needs. By combining athletic competition with vital health messaging, organisers ensure that Stewart’s legacy continues to save lives while inspiring future generations of female athletes.
As McCool emphasised, the ripple effect of such awareness initiatives extends well beyond the immediate audience. When individuals receive important health information, they naturally share it within their social networks, creating exponential reach that can prove life-saving.
Why it Matters
Rosie Stewart’s story illustrates the profound intersection between athletic achievement and public health advocacy. Her tragic death from breast cancer at 33 transformed personal loss into community action, establishing an annual event that honours her rugby contributions while addressing the very health challenges that claimed her life. This memorial match demonstrates how sports can serve as powerful platforms for serious health messaging, reaching young women who might not otherwise engage with traditional healthcare communications. By embedding cancer awareness directly into a sporting celebration, organisers ensure that Stewart’s legacy extends far beyond the rugby pitch, potentially saving countless lives through early detection and education. The event’s success highlights how communities can transform grief into positive social change, creating lasting impact that honours the departed while protecting the living.
