31 females graduate from the LGFA’s inaugural BUA Programme

THE Ladies Gaelic Football Association acknowledged the 31 graduates from the inaugural BUA Programme in Dublin last Sunday, February 13.

The 31 graduates, representing 19 counties, were saluted at a special graduation ceremony held at the Bonnington Hotel in the capital.

The BUA Programme is a self-development initiative aimed at supporting young people in the LGFA to develop life skills and qualities to benefit themselves and their local communities.

Aimed at females aged 16-19 years of age, ‘BUA’ was conducted through expert-led workshops and self-reflection, before participants put their enhanced leadership skills into practice through a club action project.

The participants engaged in learning and covered topics essential for young people, including:

• Resilience
• Dealing with change
• Building trust and respect
• Conflict resolution
• Problem solving
• Project planning and delegation

In addition, LGFA-specific topics including introductions to coaching, officiating and administration were also covered.

The BUA Programme began in June 2021 and concluded in February 2022, with Dublin star and five-time TG4 All-Ireland Senior medallist Lyndsey Davey serving as Programme ambassador.

LGFA-specific modules between each leadership session were conducted by some of the most recognisable names in Ladies Gaelic Football, including Cork star Orlagh Farmer, Meath’s TG4 All-Ireland Senior winner and 2021 Senior Players’ Player of the Year, Vikki Wall, Kildare’s Mary Hulgraine, former Monaghan ace Sharon Courtney, and ex-Waterford player Michelle Ryan, a current analyst on TG4’s Peil na mBan Beo coverage.

Hailing the graduates from the BUA Programme, Ladies Gaelic Football Association President, Mícheál Naughton, said: “It is vitally important for the LGFA as an Association to attend to the needs of our young members, and to put structures in place that will allow them to flourish and reach their full potential. Our inaugural BUA Programme has proven to be a terrific success and our participants engaged fully right from the start.

“We hope that the BUA Programme will provide our graduates with key tips and strategies that they can now carry forward and apply in their everyday lives. These are young females that we hope to see emerging as leaders in our Association in future years – and we look forward to following their journeys. I would also like to thank the leading inter-county stars who engaged with the Programme participants, and who helped to enrich the lives of these young females with their courteous and selfless interactions.”

The full list of graduates from the LGFA’s inaugural ‘BUA’ programme is as follows:

Name	Province	County	Club
Jessica Hull	Ulster	Armagh	St. Peter’s GAC Lurgan
Jasmin Brennan Dowling	Leinster	Carlow	Eire Og
Saoirse Kiernan	Ulster	Cavan	Ballymachugh
Laura Galligan	Ulster	Cavan	Cavan Gaels
Clodagh Doyle	Ulster	Cavan	Cavan Gaels
Lauren Sheridan	Ulster	Cavan	Cavan Gaels
Aoife Murphy	Ulster	Cavan	Lurgan Ladies
Lia Hogan	Munster	Cork	O Donovan Rossa
Lucy Clarke	Ulster	Donegal	Naomh Colmcille
Leah Ní Ghairbhigh	Ulster	Donegal	Naomh Muire Íochtar na Rosann
Hazel Grady	Leinster	Dublin	Ballinteer St Johns
Ciara McKeown	Leinster	Dublin	Man O’War GFC
Lauren Fanning	Leinster	Dublin	Skerries Harps
Ceri Rogers	Leinster	Dublin	St Margarets GAA
Ella O’Toole	Connacht	Galway	Corofin LGFA
Jane Mullin	Connacht	Galway	St. Furseys LGFA
Enya O’Brien	Leinster	Kildare	Raheens
Alannah Brennan	Leinster	Laois	Ballyroan Abbey Ladies
Éadaoin Casey	Connacht	Leitrim	St. Josephs
Clara Bowles	Munster	Limerick	Oola LGFA
Roisin Flaherty	Munster	Limerick	Ahane LGFA
Shauna Lynch	Munster	Limerick	Oola LGFA
Kayla Frayne	Connacht	Mayo	Breaffy lgfa
Louise Craven	Leinster	Meath	St Marys GFC Donore
Annie Martin	Leinster	Meath	Walterstown
Abi Carolan	Ulster	Monaghan	Magheracloone Ladies
Bernadette McKeon	Leinster	Offaly	Edenderry
Niamh McDonagh	Connacht	Sligo	St.Nathys
Ellie Jane Quinn	Tyrone	Tyrone	Pomeroy
Gemma McCaughey	Leinster	Westmeath	Milltown Rathconrath
Mia Walsh	Leinster	Wexford	Rathgarouge Cushinstown

For further information on the programme, contact LGFA National Development Officer, Niall Mulrine: niall.mulrine@lgfa.ie

For media queries, contact LGFA National Development Manager, Lyn Savage: lyn.savage@lgfa.ie