Rugby icon Fiona Coghlan and First Brand Ambassador for Dacia Ireland
We talk cars with Fiona Coghlan, the women who led the Women’s Rugby team to an historic Women’s Grand Slam in 2013 and Dacia Ireland Ambassador
If you were a car what car would you be? Something dependable & reliable whilst trying to look good. I am loving my Dacia Duster as it is all of the above and affordable.
Do you have a favourite car gadget? Handsfree for the phone, as I’m always chatting to someone whilst driving.
Who taught you to drive? My Dad, he would often bring me down to Dollymount Beach for lessons. Passed my test first time, so he must have been good enough. On my 17th birthday he bought me a Renault 5, as it meant he didn’t have to be driving me around to all my training sessions and could have a lie-in at the weekend.
What’s the fastest you have ever driven ( legally)? 120km/h. Don’t feel the need for speed so I stick to the limits. However would like to see what the autobahns in Germany are like with no limits.
What would you do with your last litre of fuel? How far would a litre get me??
Whom do you most admire in your industry? All my former rugby team-mates that committed so much to get to where we have. As a student then a teacher I had more time than most in the squad but I struggled to fit everything in. For those who worked longer hours or had children, I genuinely don’t know how they did it.
What was your best career decision to date? To go to University in Limerick, otherwise I wouldn’t have been playing rugby. It was a big deal for me to leave Dublin, as I was such a home-bird. For the first few months I used to go to Limerick on a Tuesday morning and back home on Thursday evenings. Once I got involved in the rugby club I had a great circle of friends and a great social life developed. It was then difficult to get me back to Dublin at all. Even when I moved back to Dublin 10 years ago I continued to play for UL Bohemians in Limerick, as it was such a great club. My car could drive to Limerick on its own at this stage.
What is on your car stereo right now? I was never allowed pick the music for the team bus or changing room, I don’t know why!!!!. I don’t have a specific genre of music I like and would listen to pretty much anything but the younger members of the squad weren’t impressed with my choices. Currently I have Ed Sheeran on repeat, easy good listening.
One item you couldn’t live without? My hair-dryer. There have been some frightful times when I have forgotten my hair-dryer.
How do you relax? Spend time with friends out for dinner. Having missed so many birthdays & weddings etc over the years, it is great now to be able to say Yes to every event. Going to sporting events is still very high on my list of ways to relax. I was lucky enough to be in Scotland for the Men & Women’s Team winning the Six Nations Championship, it was strange but great to be experiencing it as a fan.
Describe yourself in one word? Dedicated.
Geraldine Herbert
30th July, 2015
