Northern Ireland's most-capped netballer and a doctor who has combined the sport with two decades of elite Gaelic football for Armagh.
Caroline O'Hanlon was born in Bessbrook, County Armagh, and began playing both Gaelic football and netball at an early age, following her father Charlie, a three-time Armagh county football champion. She studied medicine at Queen's University Belfast and has worked as a doctor at Craigavon Area Hospital, Daisy Hill Hospital, and as a GP, while building a decorated dual sporting career. O'Hanlon made her Northern Ireland netball debut in 2002 and became the country's most-capped player of all time, reaching her 130th senior appearance in November 2025. She represented Northern Ireland at the 2003, 2011 and 2019 World Cups and the 2014, 2018 and 2022 Commonwealth Games, being appointed captain in 2016 and carrying the Northern Ireland flag at the 2018 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony. Domestically she won Netball Superleague titles with Manchester Thunder in 2019 and 2022, having previously played for Team Northumbria and UWS Sirens. Alongside her netball career, O'Hanlon has played senior Ladies' Gaelic football for Armagh since 2000, becoming a three-time All-Star and the county's Player of the Year in 2014, the same year she captained Armagh to the Ulster title. She has managed the demands of both sports for over two decades, at times playing a Netball Superleague match on a Saturday followed by a Gaelic football fixture for Armagh the next day, and was backed by former Australia coach Lisa Alexander to continue playing into her forties.
Being Northern Ireland's most-capped netballer while simultaneously enjoying a two-decade elite Gaelic football career with Armagh
How They Played
Versatile centre and wing attack renowned for composure, tactical intelligence and remarkable physical longevity
Lasting Impact
A celebrated dual-sport icon in Northern Ireland and Ireland, admired for balancing medicine, netball captaincy and inter-county Gaelic football at the highest level
Career Honours
- Northern Ireland's most-capped netballer (130+ caps)
- Northern Ireland Netball Captain (2016-)
- 3x Ladies' Gaelic Football All-Star (Armagh)
- Carried Northern Ireland's flag at the 2018 Commonwealth Games
| Club | Period | Apps |
|---|---|---|
| Team Northumbria | 2014–2015 | — |
| UWS Sirens | 2017–2017 | — |
| Manchester Thunder | 2018–2022 | — |
| Leeds Rhinos Netball | 2023–2024 | — |