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Dublin: 12 °C Wednesday 22 May, 2013

From Katie to Sonia: Here’s Ireland’s top ever sportswomen

From All Stars and Olympians to inspirational captains and cross country champions – these ladies have done Ireland proud.

TO CELEBRATE International Women’s Day TheScore.ie has compiled a power rankings list of our favourite Irish sportswomen.

We whittled a list down from 30 to 15 and, finally, arrived at a top 10 featuring some of the finest women to ever represent the country, and their counties, at sport.

Have a read, pay your dues and let us know who we have omitted.

Katie Taylor

Abbiegayle Ronayne and Katie Taylor 25/2/2013

(INPHO/Morgan Treacy)

Olympic Gold Medallist and four-time world champion. Irish hopes for Rio 2016 rest on the Bray boxer but she handles pressure like a pro.

Sonia O’Sullivan

Sonia O'Sullivan 10/8/2002 DIGITAL

(Pic: INPHO/Patrick Bolger)

The Cork native won Gold at the World Athletics Championships in 1995 and won a Silver at the 2000 Olympic Games.

Juliet Murphy

Juliet Murphy celebrates with Eamonn Ryan 7/10/2012

(Pic: INPHO/Morgan Treacy)

The Reblette star has won seven All-Ireland titles in eight seasons. She has picked up five All Star awards.

Fionnuala Britton

Fionnuala Britton celebrates taking bronze in the Women's 3000m Final 3/3/2013

(Pic: INPHO/Morgan Treacy)

Britton’s star is on the rise. The long-distance runner is the two-time European Cross Country champion and won Bronze in the 3000m at the Euro Indoor Champs.

Ciara Grant

Ciara Grant and Giulia Perelli 30/5/2007

(Pic: INPHO/Lorraine O’Sullivan)

Grant was a member of Arsenal Ladies’ treble and quadruple-winning sides. She made 102 caps for Ireland before her international retirement last year.

Sycerika McMahon

Sycerika McMahon with the 600 meter Freestyle Cup 30/11/2012

(Pic: INPHO/Presseye/Kelvin Boyes)

The Belfast swimmer is one for the future but already has European medals to her name. She won bronze and silver and respective long and short course championships last year.

Fiona Coghlan

Fiona Coghlan 23/2/2013

(Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan)

Coghlan, a full-time school teacher, is finally getting the recognition her rugby efforts deserve. Led Ireland to a first-ever Triple Crown this year.

Derval O’Rourke

Derval O'Rourke on her way to qualifing 1/3/2013

(Pic: INPHO/Morgan Treacy)

The sprint hurdles athlete won Gold at the 2006 World Indoors in Moscow. She has two Euro Champs silvers to her name and represented Ireland in three Olympics.

Catherina McKiernan

Catherina McKiernan 7/6/1998

(Pic: INPHO/Vesna Djilas)

The Cavan long distance runner won European Cross Country Gold in 1994 and has four World Cross Country silvers on her cluttered mantlepiece.

Angela Downey

Angela Downey 1990

(Pic: INPHO/Billy Stickland)

The Kilkenny camogie star won 12 All Ireland medals in a storied career that spanned three decades.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS: Kathleen Mills of Dublin won 15 All-Ireland camogie titles from 1941 to 1961. Una O’Connor played alongside Mills and won 13 All-Irelands in Dublin colours.

What do you think? Should Michelle Smith be included? How about Chloe Magee, Annalise Murphy or Mary O’Connor?

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