Ireland’s document caps holder in hockey has mentioned being made an MBE is “surreal, but very special”.
Shirley McCay, 33, who performed 316 instances for Ireland and appeared on the Tokyo Olympics, has been made an MBE within the Queen’s Birthday Honours for companies to hockey and the neighborhood in Northern Ireland.
Originally from Drumquin in Co Tyrone, Ms McCay discovered to play hockey at Omagh Academy earlier than representing the Irish underneath 16 and underneath 18 sides and gained her first senior cap in 2007.
Playing in defence, she was a key member of the Irish workforce which completed runner-up within the World Cup in 2018.
She now works because the expertise supervisor at Ulster Hockey for the underage boys’ and women’ programmes.
She mentioned: “It has been an extended journey. We went to the Olympics in Tokyo final 12 months which was wonderful.
“There was a variety of uncertainty round whether or not it will go forward in any respect which made it all of the extra particular ultimately.
“There were no friends or family there to support us but it was amazing, it was very sweet.”
Ms McCay recalled the second when she found that she was to be honoured for her sporting profession.
She mentioned: “I used to be truly in Belfast purchasing and my sister despatched me an image of this very majestic trying envelope.
“All I may take into consideration was what bother I had acquired into. What rushing nice or no matter I had acquired.
“When she opened up the letter and sent me pictures of it, it was all very exciting and surreal, completely unexpected but very special.”
She mentioned she hopes the honour will assist to extend the profile of hockey in Ireland.
“It is concerning the publicity and visibility for hockey, placing it on the map.
“Plenty of colleges in Ireland play hockey, notably for the ladies. It is nearly getting the message on the market and selling the sport.
“I am very grateful to be in a job that I love and it is so nice for me to give those opportunities to young girls and boys to explore their dreams and give them the best possible experience.”
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