A Community Conference:
In 2022, a renowned wedding venue in Ireland became the gathering place for 140 delegates united to celebrate a decade of shared vision. This remarkable event was an International Conference, bringing together attendees from both Ireland and the Netherlands, who came together for a single day (or longer, depending on how late the celebrations continued). The shared vision that united everyone in the room was the promotion of Acceptance and Equality of Expression through the magical power of sport. The choice of a wedding venue was a fitting backdrop for such an occasion, symbolising love, community, and the relationships that bound the attendees together, as the Pink Ladies + Hockey Ball soared to life.
The ball marked a decade of the Pink Ladies + Hockey Club, a thriving off-season hockey community founded by Etain Kidney in 2011. Over the years, the club has grown into a vibrant network mirroring the full spectrum of life’s experiences—births, deaths, marriages, and everything in between. This special evening was not only a celebration of the club’s success but also an opportunity to present the Spirit of the Pink Ladies Award, affectionately known as ‘Kate’s Awards’. This accolade honoured Kate, a spirited and beloved Pink Ladies member who tragically passed away in 2020 after a courageous battle with illness. The event offered a chance for all who attended to share stories, rekindle friendships, and celebrate together. Remarkably, in just 10 years, the club had grown from a simple paid Facebook advertisement into a thriving WhatsApp group of nearly 140 members—and still growing.
The Club:
The Pink Ladies is an off-season LGBTQ+ hockey club that kicks off each April, running for 12 weeks before culminating in an international tournament which rotates every year between the EuroGames, the GayGames, or the OutGames—fondly referred to as “Gay Olympics” by Rachel Barry, a current member. Preparation for the tournament begins as soon as the domestic hockey season wraps up, with both new and returning members descending upon Pembroke Hockey Club during the bright Tuesday evenings.
A fly on the wall at one of their sessions might be surprised by their unique dynamic: while some members are fully focused on honing their hockey skills, others have absolutely no intention of picking up a hockey stick. Instead, they happily mingle on the sidelines, often over a flask of tea, coffee or hot chocolate. Club captain Lynn Hanly even recalls a moment in 2024 when a spontaneous CD swap unfolded on the sidelines, epitomising the group’s laidback and inclusive spirit. Lynn herself describes these sessions as a “Melting Pot” where everyone just gets on, no matter their commitment to the game.
For those eager to play or improve their hockey skills, expert coaching and training sessions are readily available. But what truly makes the Pink Ladies special is their unwavering inclusivity. Whether you’re an ex-international player, a seasoned league veteran, a complete beginner, or someone who just wants to enjoy the social aspect of sport, everyone is welcomed with open arms. It’s not just about hockey—it’s the sense of community and belonging that draws members back year after year.
This openness has given rise to vibrant subgroups within the community. Among them are The Blue Ladies, who bond through brave sea swimming, and The Green Ladies, who share a love for hiking. Some members thrive on organising quiz nights and social events, or are keen travelling supporters, while others are devoted to the sport itself. Regardless of their involvement, all members embody the spirit that defines the Pink Ladies, but while the season may comes to a finale, the friendships are year round.
The club thrives on members who give back, with an ever-growing pool of volunteers eager to contribute their time and skills. There is a place for everyone, ensuring all feel valued. As Rachel eloquently puts it: “It goes beyond being a hockey club—it’s women supporting women in sport for life.”
The Birth of the Pink Ladies:
A decade ago in 2015, marriage equality was enshrined in the Irish Constitution, a monumental step forward for LGBTQ+ rights. But even earlier, back in 2011, the Pink Ladies had already begun their journey, creating a safe, inclusive space for sport and community.
How did it all begin?
The credit goes to Etain Kidney, whose vision and determination turned a simple idea into reality. While many of us have ideas—defined as “a thought or suggestion as to a possible course of action”—few follow through with such purpose. Etain, however, was different. The first spark of inspiration came while Etain was attending a Gay Entrepreneurs Conference in the mid-2000s, where she struck up a conversation with an Irish tennis player from Out Tennis, who had represented Team Ireland at Queer sporting events. That interaction stayed with her, catalysing an idea that grew into something much larger.
Around this time, Etain found herself on a walk with a friend lamenting the Irish gay scene, which she felt was confined to drinking based activities on Georges Street in Dublin. Meanwhile, her own love for hockey, which she had played in school, was rekindled after rejoining the sport at 28 with Muckross Hockey Club, reminding her of the joy she had lost when she dropped out of sport as a teenager. Combining her passion for hockey, her frustrations with the limited social scene, and her inspiring conversation about Out Tennis, Etain took action. She created a simple Facebook ad, which led to the first five members showing up for the inaugural training session at the Patterson Pitch in UCD in 2011.
The rest is history, as the Pink Ladies grew from that small beginning into a thriving, inclusive community that has made its mark on Irish sports, and beyond.
With no clue how to run a training session but plenty of ambition to get the team off the ground—and on a trip away together—the Pink Ladies steadily grew. From 8 members to finally reaching 11, they had enough to field a team, and that meant one thing: they were ready to play. Their first outing took them to face the London Royals at the Gay Games in 2011.
Etain recalls their first tournament fondly. Unlike the more polished English and German squads, the Pink Ladies were a bit rough around the edges when it came to the hockey. But none of that mattered to the Irish team—they were too busy having the time of their lives. Etain fondly described the experience as “Festival Vibes!” The joy and energy of the event solidified their purpose, and true to her action-oriented mindset, Etain didn’t just stop at attending. After testing the waters for one year, she took things a step further and offered to host the Games herself in 2012.
That year, the Pink Ladies hosted 100 players from various countries at Pembroke Hockey Club, renting out a pub in Dublin for celebrations and arranging accommodations at the Bewley’s Hotel across from Serpentine Avenue. It was a bold move that paid off. By the end of the event, it was clear to everyone: the Pink Ladies were here to stay, and they were now a beloved part of the international LGBTQ+ sports community.
What followed was exponential growth. In 2012, the club swelled to 26 members, reaching 30 in 2013, 40 in 2014, and eventually blossoming into the busy 140-member WhatsApp group of today. For anyone feeling lonely or searching for a place of acceptance, fun, and equality, the Pink Ladies have proven to be just that—a community that celebrates diversity and uses the power of sport to bring people together. “It’s the thing I’m most proud of in my life—other than my kids,” says Etain.
“Lifechanging”
After speaking individually with Etain, Lynn, and Rachel, one word consistently surfaced when describing the impact of the Pink Ladies on their lives: life-changing. Rachel shared her perspective as an LGBTQ+ woman, explaining how finding a community isn’t always easy and is often confined to nightclub-centric events. The Pink Ladies offered her something far more meaningful—a welcoming space to connect with others beyond those limitations. Etain echoed similar sentiments, reflecting on the challenges of finding inclusive spaces in the past.
For Lynn, who came out later in life, the journey was particularly difficult. A seasoned hockey player with Loreto Hockey Club, she discovered the Pink Ladies through her love of the sport. She found a supportive community in an environment she was already comfortable with, reducing the need to search for belonging elsewhere. Now the Club Captain, Lynn speaks warmly of the relationships the Pink Ladies have built with international teams, particularly the Dutch players.
The connection with the Dutch team began in 2013/14, during a tournament in Holland where the Irish team were introduced to what Etain fondly refers to as the “Baby Gays”, due to their youthful age profile. To the Irish players’ surprise, the Dutch girls were camping around the pitch, creating a lively and fun atmosphere. Their international relations were cemented in a bar in Paris during the Ireland Women’s famous silver medal in the 2018 Hockey World Cup versus Holland, which coincided with their EuroGames tournament in France. The bond remains strong, with the Pink Ladies heading off to Amsterdam for a mixed competition this May, ahead of the 2025 EuroGames—where the Baby Gays are already regarded as one of the strongest contenders.
Etain highlighted how the Pink Ladies have also created a space for families to witness their loved ones embracing their true selves through the lenses of sport. The club is filled with countless stories of how it has transformed lives for the better, but one particularly poignant example stands out. One player, who had been estranged from her parents, experienced a reconciliation after they came to watch her play for the Pink Ladies. In that moment, her identity was not only seen and understood, but also accepted by her parents for the first time, marking a profound and life-changing turning point for their relationship.
The Pink Ladies welcomes everyone into a community that values people and their individualism using hockey as a medium. All three of the girls spoke fondly of the prosperous friendships they have matured with each other as well as their international counterparts, most notably the English and Dutch representatives who have even managed to whittle their way into the WhatsApp group. While a hockey club in nature, the Pink Ladies is a social scene connecting a community beyond borders and without barrier.
As Lynn puts it: “It’s a lovely community you can walk into and be accepted without question. It’s not just a hockey club.”