104 participants selected for Gaelic Games ‘Leading Provincial Females’ Programme

The successful applicants have been announced for the inaugural Gaelic Games ‘Leading Provincial Females’ Programmes, taking place in Connacht, Leinster, Munster, and Ulster.

The 104 participants selected represent 28 counties and will commence their leadership journeys over the coming weekend.

This 12-month programme, secured through the support of the Sport Ireland Women in Sport fund, will run from October 2023 until July 2024, with follow-up work to be completed thereafter.

The Leading Provincial Females programme is designed for females aged 18+ interested in personal development and potentially leading teams.

Four programmes will be held in each of the four provinces and all participants will attend two days, one at the start of the programme and one at the end, which will examine their leadership skills.

Attendance is also required at a mid-point evening session, again focusing on leadership skills, while participants must complete at least two modules from themes across the four strands of coaching, officiating, administration and PR/Media between each of those dates, minimum four in total.

This is a blended course, consisting of face to face sessions and online webinars, and the benefits are multi-fold for participants.

They will have the chance to engage with like-minded future leaders in Gaelic Games, while also gaining insight and understanding of their own leadership styles.

Training and advice will be provided by experienced leadership trainers.

This programme is for females who wish to develop and hone their leadership skills, while also furthering development as a coach, match official, administrator or any volunteer role in Gaelic Games.

 

GAA President, Larry McCarthy, commented: “The strength of the Gaelic Games Associations is in the calibre of the volunteers who carry out inspirational leadership roles at club, county and national levels. Our participation in the Leading Provincial Females programme further underlines our commitment to integration as set out in our Strategic Plan.

“Maintaining our leadership role in communities is helped when we are reflective of the communities that we serve, and that means giving an opportunity for all voices to be heard equally. The Leading Provincial Females programme is an important part of this, and I look forward to the fruits of their work and the contribution they make for the benefit of the Gaelic Games family.”

 

Speaking on behalf of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association, President Mícheál Naughton, added: “From our previous experience of the LGFA’s Provincial Female Leadership programme, we are acutely aware of the many positive benefits that a programme such as this can bring to participants. We are delighted that this programme is now extended to include the entire Gaelic Games family, and we are looking forward to the watching how the 104 participants grow and evolve throughout its duration. It is crucial for all members of the Gaelic Games family that we have more female leaders emerging to assume key roles and bringing with them their many skillsets. Our various units can only benefit from the Leading Provincial Females programme and this is yet another superb joint initiative between the LGFA, the GAA and the Camogie Association, while we are also pleased to see Rounders and Handball involved. I wish each and every one of the participants the very best of luck as they commence their respective journeys on this programme. We are sure to see much more of them in key positions in the years to come, both on and off the field of play.”

 

Hilda Breslin, President of the Camogie Association, said: “I am delighted to see the commencement of the Leading Provincial Females Programme scheduled to take place across this weekend and next weekend. This programme aims to empower and equip potential female leaders in sport with the necessary skills and knowledge to become effective leaders within their clubs and communities.

“We believe that by investing in the personal and leadership development of women, we are not only strengthening our sport, but harvesting a culture that helps to motivate and inspire future generations. We are grateful for the support and collaboration of the LGFA and the GAA in making this programme possible. Together, we are working towards a future where women in sport are given equal opportunities to excel and lead.”

 

The participants selected are as follows:

 

Connacht

 

Name	Club	County
Emma Wilson	Killererin	Galway
Jessica Duggan	Fr. Griffin’s Eire Og	Galway
Joni Liddy	Kinvara	Galway
Sarah Reynolds	Tuam Cortoon	Galway
Victoria Flanagan	Salthill-Knocknacarra	Galway
Siobhan Hickey	Fr Griffin’s Eire Óg	Galway
Teresa Murphy Carolan	Fr. Griffin’s Eire Og	Galway
Niamh McGuire	Monivea Abbey	Galway
Clare Owens	St Joseph’s	Leitrim
Joanne Duffy	Balla	Mayo
Sinéad Clarke	Shrule-Glencorrib	Mayo
Megan Gaughan	Tulsk	Roscommon
Michelle Hughes Walsh	Roscommon Gaels	Roscommon
Nicola Brennan	Tourlestrane	Sligo
Pauline O Neill	Coolera Strandhill	Sligo
Aoife Gordon	Enniscrone / Kilglass	Sligo

 

Leinster

Name	Club (if any)	County
Breege McGinty	Starlights	Dublin
Deirdre Bowes	St. Margaret’s	Dublin
Gráinne Coleman	Beann Eadair	Dublin
Niamh Keaveney	Whitehall	Dublin
Niamh Ní Chonaill	Ranelagh Gaels	Dublin
Sheona Leydon	Naomh Ólaf	Dublin
Thea Clerkin	Fingal Ravens	Dublin
Pamela Nolan	Good Counsel Liffey Gaels	Dublin
Sandra Murphy	Na Dubh Ghall	Dublin
Audrey Solan	Sallins	Kildare
Blathnaid Tennyson	Coill Dubh	Kildare
Sandra McGonagle	Kilcock	Kildare
Vicky Hayden	Round towers	Kildare
Brid Kenny	Rower Inistioge	Kilkenny
Lucy Elvidge	Dunnamaggin	Kilkenny
Elma O’ Connell	Barrow Rangers	Kilkenny
Lenora Lyons	Naomh Éamann	Laois
Carol Murray	Longford Slashers	Longford
Deirdre Breen	Hunterstown Rovers	Louth
Alison Boyle	Eastern Gaels	Meath
Liadan O’Riordan	Drumree	Meath
Niamh Russell	Bective	Meath
Zelda Utangec	Clara	Offaly
Karen Cunningham	Athlone	Westmeath
Ursula Gillivan	Moate	Westmeath
Elaine Farrelly	Delvin	Westmeath
Ann Kavanagh	Tara Rocks Ballynastragh Gaels	Wexford
Kerry Field	An Tóchar	Wicklow

 

Munster

 

Name	Club	County
Claire McNamara	Feakle-Killanena	Clare
Mary Eileen O Connor	Cratloe	Clare
Clodagh Mc Mahon	Kilrush Football club	Clare
Aisling Ahern	Mayfield GAA	Cork
Anna Barrett	Keelnameela	Cork
Christina O’Connor	Newmarket	Cork
Eileen O’Brien	Sliabh Rua	Cork
Katie O Riordan	Bishopstown	Cork
Lisa Walsh	Ballyphehane	Cork
Niamh Ní Chaoimh	Erin’s Own and Killeagh	Cork
Noreen Thatcher	Aghada	Cork
Olivia Curtayne	Mayfield	Cork
Orla Crowley	Mayfield	Cork
Michelle Flaherty (Mulvihill)	Moyvane	Kerry
Aoife Sheehan	Granagh Ballingarry	Limerick
Lavinia Duggan	Na Piarsaigh	Limerick
Lorraine Collins	Ahane	Limerick
Orla Donnelly	Ahane	Limerick
Margaret Walsh	Galbally	Limerick
Mary King	Killeedy	Limerick
Catheriona Kennedy	Slieve Felim Rapparees	Tipperary
Emma Carey	Thurles Sarsfields	Tipperary
Lucy White	Mullinahone	Tipperary
Sharon O Dwyer	Newcastle & Ardfinnan	Tipperary
Therese Maxwell	Toomevara	Tipperary
Fiona Murphy	Ballybacon-Grange	Tipperary
Lena woods	Toomevara	Tipperary
Niamh Roche	Galtee Rovers	Tipperary
Tricia Bolger McCarthy	Cappoquin Camogie Club	Waterford
Michelle Galvin	Ballyduff Lower	Waterford
Taylor Murray	Dungarvan Camogie Club	Waterford

 

Ulster

 

Name	Club	County
Shauna Adams	Sarsfields	Antrim
Debbie Murray	Naomh Pól	Antrim
Moira Birt	St John’s Carnlough	Antrim
Jayne Bell	Naomh Seamus	Antrim
Caroline Henry	Eire Og	Armagh
Elaine McKeown	Tír na nÓg	Armagh
Jennifer Cousins	St Paul’s	Armagh
Angela Hamilton	Shercock	Cavan
Karen Traynor	Killinkere	Cavan
Louise Reilly	Laragh Utd	Cavan
Aine McElholm	Na Piarsaigh CLG Doire Trasna	Derry
Cáit Passmore	Eoghan Rua Coleraine	Derry
Eilish Deeney	Brian Ogs Steelstown	Derry
Mary Fitzpatrick	Doire Trasna	Derry
Saoirse O’Neill	Na Piarsaigh Doire Trasna	Derry
Mary Jo Boyle	Erin’s Own Lavey	Derry
Nicole Laverty	CLG Sean MacCumhaills	Donegal
Monica Gribben	Naomh Adhamhnáin Letterkenny	Donegal
Nicole O’ Leary	CLG Sean MacCumhaills	Donegal
Emma McManus	An Riocht CLG	Down
Emma-Jane Morgan	St Bronagh’s Rostrevor	Down
Kimberly Robertson	East Belfast	Down
Orla Morgan	Clonduff	Down
Sandra Hughes	Carryduff	Down
Sinead McGrath	Aghaderg	Down
Eilish O’Neill	Beragh Red Knights	Tyrone
Sinead McGinn	Tattyreagh St. Patrick’s	Tyrone
Fionnula Horisk	Beragh Red Knights	Tyrone
Mary Wilson	Ballinderry	Tyrone