News

From Pitch to Pendants

11th December 2024

Category: Develop

Anna McGann revels in a challenge. They’re not always welcome but each one has forged a stronger link in the chain of her resilience.

Her life has been full of them over the past few years, testing her mettle in ways few could have anticipated. The launch of her jewellery brand, Chaos The Label, emerges from one such testing period, standing as a testament to her bravery and determination – attributes that mirror her playing style on the rugby pitch.

For much of the past 18 months, McGann’s life has revolved around her efforts to make it back to full fitness after an ACL injury. A member of the Ireland Women’s 7s squad that qualified for the Olympic Games, McGann suddenly found herself in a race against time to be fit for Paris 2024.

Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Martin Seras Lima

Having played a key role in securing Ireland’s golden ticket to the global showpiece, McGann got back to work. She was keenly aware that there were only twelve places up for grabs and the competition was increasingly fierce. However, just a month after experiencing the highlight of her playing career, McGann tore her cruciate ligament at a Rugby Europe event in the Algarve.

While she would return in the weeks leading into the Games, McGann was ultimately left with too big a mountain to climb. Throughout her recovery, the dream of becoming an Olympian remained her guiding star, but there’s a limit to how much focus one can give to rugby when sidelined from the action.

She soon began to find respite from the frustrations of a tight timeframe by channelling her energies in a new direction… although it wasn’t an entirely revelatory experience.

“From a young age I knew that I wanted to have my own business one day,” she shares. “You could say it’s in my blood because my mother had her own dressmaking business. Seeing her thrive in her own creative way really inspired me.

“Her influence meant that fashion and jewellery always intrigued me as a kid. Unfortunately, I wasn’t brave enough wear anything different back then. I towed the line like most do.

“It’s only really in recent years and as my confidence has grown that I’ve been able to express myself a bit more and tap into the different sides of my character. I think a lot of that has come from being surrounded by such influential and empowering women.”

McGann has never underestimated the importance of her teammates. A close-knit group, they have been known to rally around each other in times of need. While everyone had a part to play, she was particularly grateful to have the likes of Kathy Baker and Eve Higgins by her side for much of the recovery trail – a shared journey that brought moments of comfort and camaraderie.

Anna and Kathy Baker

Still, there were days when McGann simply wanted to be left alone. The daunting nature of the path to full fitness could feel overwhelming at times and the weight of her reality would hit her like an unexpected punch. She needed space to recalibrate and it was in those quiet, reflective periods that a new purpose began to emerge.

“I remember feeling very sorry for myself at first,” McGann reveals. “I had my bad moments, I had my bad days, I had my tears. All I could see was this long and winding road ahead of me and I realised that I needed something to help me out of a dangerous slump.

“Nine months is a long time if you choose to look at it that way but once we got the surgery booked in and began to make a plan around my recovery, I started to reframe it as an opportunity.

“The following week I began to google things like ‘how to run a business.’ I reconnected with my EY mentor who shared a few tricks of the trade. From there I did plenty of research, I started developing a website and I also managed to find a supplier!

“All I was missing was a name!”

Creating her brand proved to be a family affair. Sitting in the kitchen at home, McGann began to brainstorm and duly landed upon several viable options. However, her mother and sister advised that while there were cool names in the mix, the winner needed to carry a deeper meaning.

‘Chaos,’ though an amusing reflection of McGann’s whirlwind life – a source of endless amusement for her family – seemed to hit the right note. More than just a quirky name, it perfectly captured the spirit of her journey and became the foundation for a brand that has quickly grown into a well-thought-out and carefully structured business.

“I was very naïve as to how difficult and intricate the process would be just to get the ball rolling,” McGann admits. “It has certainly kept me on my toes. Thankfully people like Aoife Lane at Rugby Players Ireland have been able to help me focus on the excitement rather than the fear.

“Yet while I’m very grateful for all the support I’ve received, I sometimes struggle to get away from the reality that everything relies on me to function.

“I suppose you could say it’s a bit like sport. If I drop the ball, everything stops. That’s a lot of pressure for any one person to handle but when you are exposed to those high-pressurised environments so often you begin learn how to get on top of them as best you can and keep going.”

Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Martin Seras Lima

Despite her capacity to keep trucking on, McGann acknowledges that the wheels very nearly came off her business venture entirely when she narrowly missed out on selection for the Olympics.

“That was heartbreaking,” McGann concedes. “It was probably that little bit harder because I was named as a reserve, so I knew just how close I had come. Thankfully, I had the business to distract me from the disappointment for a little bit every day.

“I think that whole experience made me rethink the whole dual career stuff. Balancing a career in professional sport with college or establishing a business is very difficult, but if you love doing something then you’ll make time for it.

“You might put that to me in a few months’ time and I’ll think a little differently,” she adds, “but for now Chaos is definitely my release!”

Chaos’ first line launches this week. Dubbed the ‘OG Collection,’ it is dedicated to the strong women McGann has encountered throughout her life, but particularly her mum, Terry.

“My mother is the definition of strength,” McGann says. “Unfortunately, I lost my Dad last August. It’s been an incredibly difficult time for us as a family. We’ve all dealt with it in our own way and have taken time to find our feet again.

“Throughout it all, my mother has been a pillar of strength. Not only strong for her kids, but for herself too. I’m in awe of her every day. She is my inspiration.

Anna McGann and her mother Terry
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Tom Maher

“One of the biggest steps in this whole venture was sharing my idea for Chaos with her. As a former designer it would have been easy for her to pick holes in my plans. Yet, from the very outset she has backed me to the hilt. She never doubted me, even when I began to doubt myself.

“As any businessperson will know, it’s not always plain sailing. There were days when I felt the walls crumbling in on top of me and that I wasn’t able. Mum never saw it that way. She stepped in – as she always does – and set me back on the straight and narrow, reminding me that she believes in me and what I am doing.

“That’s the greatest testimonial anyone can ever receive.”

While Chaos is still in its infancy, McGann is appreciative of how far she has come in what has been the most significant chapter in her life. Personal growth has been an unintended consequence.

As she looks back on her first design samples, McGann can’t help but laugh.

“Everyone has to start somewhere,” she says. “That’s probably the hardest part. Many of us have the seeds of ideas in our heads but don’t have the conviction to follow through with them. I’m so proud to see how far Chaos has come in that time.

“The entrepreneurial spirit you need comes from my Dad,” she believes. “I miss being able to go to him for advice. He always knew the right thing to say. I’m sure he’d love to have been able to be part of this adventure, but equally I don’t think Chaos would ever have existed without his lasting impact.

“Dad was always a firm believer that if you want to do something with your life, go do it. It can be scary and you will have to face down some incredibly tough days but if you put the hard work in, stay with it and believe in it, you can achieve what you aspire for.

“Dad always told me to aim high, so I have always had big dreams. Now I’m making them happen.”