Rosemary Ryan competed in the women’s 5,000 metres at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, finishing 8th in her heat.

Born in Limerick, Ryan attended the University of Limerick from 1996 to 1998 before transferring to Boston University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in clinical exercise physiology.

A member of Bilboa AC in Cappamore, Co. Limerick, she won nine senior Irish national titles across track, road and cross country events – including the 5,000 metres in 2006 and two national half-marathon titles in 1999 and 2003. She competed in the World Cross Country Championships five times between 1999 and 2006. At the 2002 World Cross Country Championships in Dublin she was part of the Irish team that won bronze over the short course.

She is married to Tom Carey, a former Irish 10,000 metres champion, and worked as a sports development officer with Limerick City Sports Partnership.