2026 LGFA U17 PDP National Festival Day shines in the sun!

Unforgettable memories were made during the 2026 U17 Player Development Programme (PDP) National Festival Day held in the glorious surroundings of the Offaly GAA Centre of Excellence, Faithful Fields in Co. Offaly.

This special day witnessed 28 teams representing 13 Counties descending on the Offaly venue and sharing their experiences of the 2026 Player Development Programme. Participants engaged in 15-a-side games, absorbed advice on various topics including nutrition and hydration, engaged in some team building activities and danced between games to music provided by the mobile disco present.

The U17 PDP has significantly expanded since the shift to a non-competitive approach in 2024, aiming to retain current players in the U17 age bracket, a demographic often prone to dropping out of the sport.

The U17 PDP is not only a player development programme but also places a huge emphasis collaborating closely with coaches via coach education webinars and in person coaching days, influencing coaching session content and enhancing communication strategies to engage players effectively. Moreover, the program focused on creating coaching environments conducive to the long-term development of players within Counties.

Research informing the PDP program highlighted that players engage in the sport for enjoyment, improvement, fitness, stress relief, and socializing, while reasons for discontinuing include lack of playing time, training enjoyment, excessive competitiveness, and perceived unfair treatment.

The festival day at the Faithful Fields effectively showcased key messages for both players and coaches.

LGFA National Development Manager Niall Mulrine commented: “Well done and congratulations to the 13 Counties, covering the four provinces, who participated in the 2026 National PDP Festival Day. Developing underage players is fundamental to the future of our game and we are proud to provide an initiative that assists with the retention of teenage girls in Ladies Football. The PDP is a wonderful opportunity not only for players but for coaches to grow and learn, and to then assist young players involved in the LGFA.”

The 13 Couties who took were present at the 2026 U17 PDP National Festival Day were as follows:

Connacht: Galway, Roscommon

Leinster: Dublin, Meath, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Wicklow, Kildare

Munster: Tipperary, Limerick

Ulster: Down, Cavan

For further information, please contact:

• William Harmon: harmon@lgfa.ie
• Emily Martin: martin@lgfa.ie