Today we’d like to celebrate all our female coaches & volunteers who have contributed to the growth of our sport and the increase in female participation. 👏🏻
We’d like to highlight the coaches & volunteers who are leading this years Barbells & Brunch event this month; Claire McLarnon, Villy O’Malley, Niamh Whelan, Liane Marshall, Rosie McCann & Sharon Keegan. Here’s a little bit about each of them:
Claire McLarnon : (Ulster)
I started assisting with my club’s kids classes around 2018, before starting my official coaching qualifications the following year. I love to see young children move with confidence, develop and enjoy our sport. As a coach, I have developed with some of the original youth athletes, who are now taking to the international platform.
Over the last five years, I have also had the opportunity to work with all ages and levels of athletes; from complete beginners at grassroot projects, to our international teams. For me, coaching is about connection, support and sharing the joy of our sport; empowering people (especially females) to find what they want, or need from weightlifting. Whether that is someone who needs to find their space to feel strong in their own world, or supporting talented athletes to become independent, resilient, successful competitors. I endeavour to align my coaching style with my values – fun, care and commitment.
Villy O’Malley : (Munster)
I started my coaching journey in CrossFit. In 2016 I obtained my Weightlifting Level 1 coaching cert and have been coaching weightlifting ever since. I’ve had the privilege of coaching at international events representing Weightlifting Ireland (WI) and now at a national level, getting the opportunity to work with other coaches as part of the WI Development Squad (Youth, Junior, U23s) Team. I’m on the pathway to Coach Developer and look forward to working with the education team to develop new and existing coaches.
My coaching style? It’s all about the athlete, building trust, meeting people where they’re at, and fostering a strong sense of community. Inspired by CrossFit and my basketball days in the States, I prioritise safe spaces, positive vibes, and accountability.
Sharon Keegan : (Leinster)
I am a seasoned entrepreneur, business consultant, and mentor for women in business and sport. I’m a passionate advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion and is dedicated to mentoring women in entrepreneurship and sport helping to build resilience, confidence and community. I’m a masters athlete and started my competitive journey in 2024 with 365 Weightlifting Club.
I hope to represent Ireland at international competitions in the coming years ahead and will continue to support and advocate to grow our amazing weightlifting community.
Liane Marshall : (Munster)
I’m the head coach of Spartan Weightlifting Club in Ennis. I started Olympic weightlifting in 2014 after transitioning from CrossFit and loved it so much that I decided to complete my level 1 coaching qualification. After some friendly persuasion I set up Spartan Weightlifting Club in 2019.
I love being able to help athletes learn the lifts and watch how they grow every session. A large percentage of Spartan athletes are female & it’s exciting to see the changes in attitudes towards women in this sport.
Rosie McCann : (Ulster)
I’ve been weightlifting for six years and coaching for one, and as the lead coach at Mid Ulster Weightlifting Club, I absolutely love helping people reach their potential. It is so rewarding watching someone grow in confidence, build strength, and achieve things they never thought possible.
At our club, we have females of all ages training together—our youngest lifter is 12, and her mum trains with us too! It creates such a supportive and encouraging atmosphere, where everyone pushes each other to be better. My goal as a coach is to make sure every lifter, no matter their experience, feels valued, capable, and excited to show up and put in the work.
Weightlifting can be challenging, but in the right environment, it’s also incredibly empowering.
Niamh Whelan : (Leinster)
I started volunteering at Weightlifting Ireland events in 2019, which is where my love for Olympic weightlifting began. In 2021, I took up the sport myself, with my boyfriend as my coach. He showed me the patience and skill required to become a coach in the sport. This inspired me to pursue coaching myself, and in 2022, I earned my Level 1 certification. Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to coach at club, provincial, and national-level competitions.
I’d describe my coaching style as encouraging and detail orientated—I’ll push you to bring out your best and show you just how strong you really are. But my favourite part of coaching is seeing incredibly strong women enjoying their time in the gym and stepping onto the platform with confidence.
With my day job in science and R&D, problem-solving and precision are second nature to me. I bring this ethos into my coaching. I love to create a supportive and encouraging environment where lifters of all levels can develop their strength, improve their technique, and enjoy this amazing sport!
