Dublin, Fermanagh, Galway and Kerry stars unveiled as new Glenveagh Homes Gaelic4Girls ambassadors

INTER-COUNTY stars from Dublin, Fermanagh, Galway and Kerry are today unveiled as new ambassadors for the LGFA’s Glenveagh Homes Gaelic4Girls programme.

Leah Caffrey (Dublin), Bláithín Bogue (Fermanagh), Louise Ward (Galway) and Síofra O’Shea (Kerry) have come on board to support the hugely-successful Gaelic4Girls initiative.

Leah Caffrey is a four-time TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship winner with Dublin and the Na Fianna player, who is vice-captain for the county team, is also a four-time and current TG4 All Star.

Fermanagh’s Bláithín Bogue is a 2017 TG4 All-Ireland Junior Championship winner with the Erne County and the Tempo Maguires player was also crowned TG4 Junior Players’ Player of the Year in 2022.

Louise Ward is fresh from captaining Galway’s Kilkerrin-Clonberne to a third successive All-Ireland Senior Club title before Christmas and she’s also a vastly-experienced inter-county star who captured a TG4 All Star award in 2019.

And Síofra O’Shea, who was captain of the Kerry team that won the 2023 Lidl National League Division 1 title, is an exciting forward talent from the Southern Gaels club currently working her way back to fitness following a knee injury sustained last year.

Leah, Bláithín, Louise and Síofra will join four returning Glenveagh Homes Gaelic4Girls ambassadors,  namely Armagh forward Aimee Mackin, Clare’s Laurie Ryan, Roscommon’s Jennifer Higgins and Meath ace Emma Duggan.

The Gaelic4Girls programme has been a huge success story for the LGFA since its inception in 2008 – and is boosted once again next year by the presence and support of sponsors Glenveagh Homes.

 

In 2024, 16 Irish counties are represented among the 25 clubs, while John Mitchels (Liverpool/Britain) will also participate in the Glenveagh Homes Gaelic4Girls programme.

The programme gets underway with an induction webinar next Monday January 29, followed by coach education webinars, workshops and the on-field activities.

Welcoming on board the new and returning Glenveagh Homes Gaelic4Girls ambassadors, LGFA President Mícheál Naughton said: “I am delighted that we are announcing such high-profile and successful players to serve as Glenveagh Homes Gaelic4Girls ambassadors, and it’s great to welcome back our previous ambassadors, who have demonstrated such passion for, and commitment to, the Glenveagh Homes Gaelic4Girls programme. The eight players are wonderful role models and superb ambassadors for their families, clubs, communities and counties and they will bring huge expertise to the roll-out of the 2024 Glenveagh Homes Gaelic4Girls programme. I am looking forward to following the progress of the 25 clubs and I wish to acknowledge the ongoing support of Glenveagh Homes, who have also come on board as sponsors of our LGFA National Volunteer of the Year awards. Glenveagh Homes understand the power of Ladies Gaelic Football to make a real difference at grassroots level and they have been terrific sponsors since coming on board with us in 2021.”

Speaking on behalf of programme sponsors, Glenveagh Homes Head of Community Engagement, Annette McGarry, added: “Glenveagh are delighted to continue our support for the Gaelic4Girls initiative, now fully entrenched in our communities’ programme, which is focused on building strong, inclusive communities from grassroots. We are thrilled to see such a high calibre of ambassadors from across the country helping to drive the programme forward, inspiring the next generation of footballers both on and off the pitch. Best of luck to all the new ambassadors in their new roles and thanks to the existing ambassadors for their continued support of such a vital sporting programme for young girls.”

The full list of participating clubs reads as follows:

Connacht (2): St Brigids & The Neale (both Mayo).

 

Leinster (11): St Colmcilles, St Patrick’s Donabate & Tyrrelstown (all Dublin), Suncroft (Kildare), Ballymore (Longford), Roche Emmets & Wolfe Tones (both Louth), Moynalty (Meath), Newtown, Blessington & Kilbride (all Wicklow).

 

Munster (5): Cratloe (Clare), Cobh & Gabriel Rangers (both Cork), John Mitchels (Kerry), Clonmel Óg (Tipperary).

 

Ulster (6): St Michaels (Armagh), Steelstown Brian Ógs (Derry), St Michaels (Down), Derrygonnelly Harps & Tempo Maguires (both Fermanagh), Stewartstown (Tyrone).

 

Britain (1): John Mitchels (Liverpool/Britain).

 

Gaelic4Girls 2024 will culminate with cluster blitz days later in the year.

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Gaelic4Girls is a 10-week programme incorporating coaching sessions with fun non-competitive blitzes aimed at increasing participation in Ladies Gaelic Football. The programme targets girls aged between 8-12 years who are not currently registered with a Ladies Gaelic Football club.