News
Bríd to share story of resilience at Wander Wild festival

By Michelle Crean
A live chat with a former Cork footballer and current AFLW star will be a highlight at next week's Wander Wild festival.
GWS Giants player Bríd Stack, who previously won 11 All-Ireland titles and fractured her neck while plying in Sydney, spoke to the Killarney Advertiser this week saying she is looking forward to chatting to Shane Finn on the theme of 'Resilience'. Shane will record a live episode of his hugely popular ‘Pushing Limits’ podcast in St Mary’s Church with Killian Buckley who quit a top-chef job for the mountains.
Bríd lives just over the border in Rockchapel and had her wedding reception in the Killarney Oaks Hotel in 2016. The Maths and PE teacher set up the My Core Supplements with family members before heading to Australia in October 2020 in the height of the pandemic.
The mother of one had to quarantine for weeks with her husband Cárthach and their then one-year-old Carth Óg or Ogie as they call him.
"I was happy to play club football but then I got a call from Greater Western Sydney Giants enquiring if I'd be interested and I was taken aback at the start," Bríd explained.
At the time she was pregnant with her son and months after delivery and a strong fitness routine felt strong enough to take up the offer.
"I trained like a dog for months. I said I'd do a season". However, in her first practice match she fractured her neck and injured a nerve down her right arm.
"I was a couple of millimetres from being paralysed."
She added that the healthcare system in Australia was "second to none".
"It definitely was a factor in making a full recovery." Bríd played for two more seasons and is now home working as a teacher.
The 36-year-old is looking forward to the Wander Wild festival.
"I've never had a chance to attend. It's wonderful having a festival celebrating the great outdoors on your doorstep."
You can hear Bríd's full story live on the podcast next Friday (March 24) at 7.30pm.